Tags: christmas

5 Tips for Volunteer Appreciation

Christmas is the perfect time of year to shower your volunteers with a little extra appreciation and thanks for all they do in your ministry! But it can be tricky to come up with creative ideas year after year and not feel like you're stuck in a gift-giving rut. That’s why I’m excited to share this guest blog post from Jaden Howard, a DKM Vendor, on 5 tips for Volunteer Appreciation! These tips come from and helped create her Ugly Christmas Sweater Party Volunteer Appreciation Event.  What an honor to love and appreciate such an awesome team of volunteers! The goal of volunteer appreciation is to express gratitude and to make your volunteers feel seen and known. Although we all want to be like Oprah and shout out “you get a car…. you get a car” at all of our volunteer gatherings, we understand the limits of a ministry budget and the...
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Last Christmas

🎵 "Last Christmas, we shared these ideas & freebies, but some of you weren’t here. This year, to save you some time, I’m bringing them back in case you missed them." 🎵 Ok, so maybe those aren’t the lyrics, but it’s true! (And you already have my heart anyway, kidmin leader.) Here are our top posts and freebies from Last Christmas! Making Plans: Advent Devotional for KidMin Leaders Many of our resources and freebies are geared toward the kids and families in your ministry, but this one is for YOU, kidmin leader. It’s an overview and preview of a weekly Advent devotion written specifically with children’s ministry leaders in mind.  3 Candy Cane Games for Your KidMin SUBSCRIBER-ONLY ACCESS: Play these fun candy-cane-themed games in your kidmin this Christmas! They’re...
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3 Things to Do Weekly Between Now and the End of the Year

It's the final countdown of the year and the peak of the holiday season! Between Thanksgiving, Advent, and Christmas, it's a busy time of year. To help you stay focused on the reason for the season and stay sane amidst the chaos, here are 3 things to do weekly between now and the end of the year: Rest: What’s one way I can truly rest in the next 7 days? How can I be intentional to take time off and rest in His presence? Release: What’s one burden I need to hand over to God? What's something I can delegate? What feelings of guilt or stress do I need to let go of? Refill: What spiritual practice or activity brings me life? What sparks joy for me in this season, and how can I prioritize it this week? Each week, ask yourself these questions and set aside time to rest, release, and refill. Your heart, family, and ministry will be...
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4 Ways to Help Kids Slow Down this Christmas

The Advent season is all about waiting and preparing. Even if your church doesn’t lean into the traditional Advent themes of hope, peace, joy, and love, this season gives us a powerful opportunity to help kids (and ourselves) slow down and focus on Jesus. But let’s be honest. Slowing down in December feels nearly impossible. Between Christmas programs, family gatherings, school events, and sugar-fueled excitement, kids (and adults) are moving at full speed. That’s why Advent matters. It invites us to pause, breathe, and remember what we’re really celebrating. So how can we help kids embrace that slower rhythm of waiting and preparing their hearts for Jesus? Here are a few simple ways to help them do just that: Talk About Waiting - Kids don’t love waiting (and honestly who does?). But waiting is something God uses to grow...
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What is Advent? Printable for Kids

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Share this printable with the kids in your ministry to teach them an overview of Advent! You could even send it home and encourage them to color a candle each week of Advent. Whether your church celebrates Advent in the traditional sense or not, this simple, overview printable is a great resource to share with kids and families to teach them about the Advent season![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the printable here!" align="center" css="" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F11%2FDKM-What-is-Advent-Printable-for-Kids.pdf|target:_blank"][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="139422" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=""...
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20 Creative Ways to Teach the Christmas Story

When you teach the Christmas story every year, it can be hard to find new and engaging ways to teach it. Here are 20 creative and interactive ideas for teaching the Christmas story in your children's ministry this year! Use these ideas during Sunday services, family events, on Christmas Eve, or anytime you want to help kids connect with the story of Jesus’ birth in a fresh way. Find a printable version of this list here.  Interactive Storytelling Ideas Story Stations: Set up simple stations that walk kids through each part of the Christmas story (announcement, journey, birth, angels, shepherds). This event turns the story stations into an "escape room" challenge for kids to decode and discover! Live Nativity Remix: Let kids act out the story using costumes, puppets, or even Lego sets. Christmas Escape Room: Create simple puzzles and clues...
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10 Tips for Planning Christmas in Your KidMin

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] 10 Tips for Planning the Christmas Season in Children’s Ministry The Christmas season in children’s ministry is full of opportunity and activity. Between Christmas programs, family events, Advent lessons, and volunteer appreciation, it can feel like there’s always more to do. But what if this Christmas you could lead from a place of peace instead of pressure? Here are some practical tips to help you prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus with your kids and families, and join us on November 13 for an online workshop all about making Christmas manageable and meaningful in your kidmin. 1. Start early. Christmas always comes on the same day every year, but it still somehow manages to sneak up on us. The earlier you start planning, the more freedom you’ll have to stay organized and calm once December...
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Candy Cane Tag Printable

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Use these candy cane tags in a variety of ways to help kids learn about the significance and symbolism of this special Christmas treat! Attach them to real candy canes as a take-home treat or attach them to candy cane ornaments (purchased or handmade by the kids)! We've even included a simple bead candy cane craft idea with the tags! [/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download here!" align="center" css="" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F11%2FDKM-Candy-Cane-Poem-Tag-Updated.pdf|target:_blank"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="139753" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" link="https://deeperkidmin.com/product/candy-cane-christmas-4-week-elementary-series/"][/vc_column][vc_column...
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Top 10 Christmas Worship Songs for Your KidMin

Your kids will love singing along to these Christmas worship songs that help remind them about why we celebrate Christmas! Seeds Kids Worship - "Joy (Luke 2:8-14)" - This one literally has kids singing the story of Jesus' birth! Listen here. Doorpost Songs - "Go Tell It On the Mountain" - Here's a bubbly, upbeat version of the classic Christmas carol. Go tell everyone: Jesus Christ is born! (My preschooler has been singing this one non-stop!) Listen here. Yancy - "Christmas Time" - Slow things down and remind kids of the true meaning of Christmas: love, peace, joy and most of all Jesus. Listen here. Amber Sky Records - "Christmas This Year" - This is a favorite in our house and in our ministry! Listen here. Doorpost Songs - "Unto Us" - The familiar words of Isaiah 9, “Unto us a child is born,” come to life in a brand new way in this...
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Christmas Cards Printable

Need a simple and fun activity for Christmas that encourages kids to think about sharing the joy of Christmas with others? Print these sweet Christmas cards on cardstock, cut, then let kids color and write a special Christmas note inside! Perfect for early arrivers, a family activity, or a small group activity. Download the Cards here! These Christmas Cards are included in the Make It Christmas Family Devotion, a devotional/activity book organized into four weeks of Christmas experiences to help families focus their Christmas on Jesus! It’s available in 2 versions to give the option to make it a kit with materials or provide just the book with printables. Learn more about this unique Christmas family devotion...
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Last Christmas 2024

🎵 "Last Christmas, we shared these ideas & freebies, but some of you weren’t here. This year, to save you some time, I’m bringing them back in case you missed them." 🎵 Ok, so maybe those aren’t the lyrics, but it’s true! (And you already have my heart anyway, kidmin leader.) Here are our top posts and freebies from Last Christmas! Wondering to Bethlehem Advent Devotional for Kids If you’ve been around long, then you know how much I love talking about the imagination and learning. Developing a child’s biblical imagination is a key element of their spiritual development, which is why I am STOKED for the newest Advent Devotional for Kids: Wondering to Bethlehem. Learn more about it here. 3 Things Every Child Needs to Know About Christmas There are a lot of things kids...
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Making PLANS: Advent Devotional for KidMin Leaders

Many of our resources and freebies are geared toward the kids and families in your ministry, but this week is for YOU, kidmin leader. It's an overview and preview of a weekly Advent devotion written specifically with children’s ministry leaders in mind. So block out 20 minutes on your calendar for the first week of Advent, grab your Bible, print this free sample of week 1, and spend time with Jesus this Advent season. Praying for you as you place your hope in Him.  The Advent season is one of eagerness and anticipation. For KidMin Leaders, it’s also a time for planning. Every prayerful plan you develop and implement will guide others toward Jesus. Whether you plan with a team or on your own, there’s a significant amount of preparation to be done this time of year. This interactive Advent devotional was created just for you, the KidMin...
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Making PLANS: Advent Devotional for KidMin Leaders Free Sample

Many of our resources and freebies are geared toward the kids and families in your ministry, but this freebie is for YOU, kidmin leader. Here’s week 1 from a 4-week Advent devotional written specifically with children’s ministry leaders in mind. So block out 20 minutes on your calendar during the first week of Advent, grab your Bible, print the following pages, and spend time with Jesus this Advent season. Praying for you as you place your hope in Him.   Download the Advent Devotional Sample Here   If you enjoyed this Advent devotional, download the full month (4 weeks + Christmas Eve/Day)...
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10 Verses Kids Need to Know For Christmas

Christmas is about the coming of our Savior, and it's our job as children's ministry leaders to remind kids and families of that, give them space to explore and experience the story, and point them back to Scripture every chance we get. So here are 10 verses kids need to know for Christmastime, especially as we enter the season of Advent. Many of them are short enough for kids to memorize, and you can use them in your curriculum, Christmas events, Advent resources, and more! Find all of our Christmas and Advent resources here. Isaiah 9:6 (NIrV) - "A child will be born to us. A son will be given to us. He will rule over us. And he will be called Wonderful Adviser and Mighty God. He will also be called Father Who Lives Forever and Prince Who Brings Peace." (And here's a worship video that will help kids memorize it!) 2 Corinthians 9:15...
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Candy Cane Games for Your KidMin

Play these fun candy-cane-themed games in your kidmin this Christmas! They’re perfect for large group or small group time! These games came from our Candy Cane Christmas 4-week series! Download a printable version here! Candy Cane Face Supplies: candy canes (at least 36) To play: Invite 3 kids up on stage, and give them a basket of at least 12-15 candy canes. Kids have 1-2 minutes to hang as many candy canes on their face as possible (in lips, over ears, on nose, etc.). The child with the most candy canes at the end of the game wins! Candy Cane Chaos Supplies: candy canes (1 per person) To play: Give each person a candy cane that they must hook/hang on their finger and put their other hand behind their back. When you say go, everyone has to try and get other people to drop (or grab) their candy canes without dropping...
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5 Ways to Prepare for Christmas in Your KidMin

It may only be October, but Christmas is coming! I don't know about you, but I've already started listening to Christmas music. :) The Christmas season can be one of the most joyful—and hectic—times in children’s ministry. With all the excitement of celebrating Jesus’ birth, it’s easy to get caught up in the chaos. But planning ahead can help you lead your ministry well and ensure the focus stays on the true meaning of Christmas. So here are 5 ways to prepare for Christmas in Your KidMin: Start early. Starting early is key. December will be here before we know it, especially when juggling multiple events, lessons, and volunteer coordination. Begin planning for Christmas as early as October (or even earlier if you’re able!). This will give you time to prepare Jesus-centered lessons (find our favorite Christmas curriculum...
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12 Days of Christmas Scramble Game

Play this fun, active game in your ministry this Christmas season! Here’s how to play: Divide the group into teams of 12. Hand each of the players one of the objects from the 12 Days of Christmas. When the leader shouts “go” the teams must silently line themselves up according to where their object goes in the song by communicating without words to the other 11 players. You can redistribute the objects several times to see if they can get it faster! Another option is to randomly hand out the pages of the printable to the group as a whole and encourage kids to make a full set of the 12 days of Christmas by finding all of the other pieces/people they need! Download the Game Printable Here! This game comes from one of the lessons in Sing to the Lord, a 4-week Christmas series that teaches kids about why and who we...
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Advent Devotional for Kidmin Leaders Free Sample

Many of our resources and freebies are geared toward the kids and families in your ministry, but this freebie is for YOU, kidmin leader. Here’s week 1 from a 4-week Advent devotional written specifically with children’s ministry leaders in mind. So block out 20 minutes on your calendar this week, grab your Bible, print the following pages, and spend time with Jesus this Advent season. Praying for you as you place your hope in Him. Download the Advent Devotional Sample Here   If you enjoyed this Advent devotional, download the full month (4 weeks + Christmas Eve/Day)...
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Christmas Scavenger Hunt Printable

Share this fun Christmas Scavenger Hunt Printable with the families in your church to send them on a fun family activity hunting for Christmas lights and decorations all December long! Download the printable here! This activity is one of the many included in our Christmas Karaoke December Family Faith Kit! Christmas Karaoke is a 4-week devotional resource that provides devotions and activities for kids and families, focusing on 4 Christmas hymns: Angels We Have Heard on High, O Little Town of Bethlehem, Joy to the World, and Silent Night. Learn more about Christmas Karaoke...
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What Live Christmas Trees Remind Us About Children’s Ministry

Are you team live Christmas tree or team fake Christmas tree at your house? I'm team real Christmas tree all the way. Always have been. Always will be. I love the smell, the excitement of decorating the tree, and the process of choosing just the right tree to take home from a local Christmas tree farm (I have a whole checklist of Christmas tree requirements). I even tried to plan the birth of my second child around being able to go get our live Christmas tree as usual. :) Our live Christmas tree twinkles in the corner of our living room, and it's got me thinking about our calling to serve kids and families. As we head into Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, I hope these reminders bring you encouragement, hope, and energy as you make the final preparations for some of the biggest services of the year. Here's what live Christmas trees can...
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Christmas Connect 4 Printable Game

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Play this printable, Christmas version of Connect 4 to add a little fun to your Christmas celebrations! Print off and share with your families as part of a fun Christmas Eve activity to do at home, or print off several copies and use them in your ministry throughout December![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the printable game here!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2022%2F10%2FDKM-Freebie-Christmas-Connect-4-Printable-Game.pdf|target:_blank"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="92634" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" link="https://deeperkidmin.com/product/christmas-countdown-chain/"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text]This printable game is one of the...
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Help Families “Treasure These Things in their Hearts” this Advent Season

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]This post is an excerpt from the family devotion included in the Family Advent Calendar Kit from Vanessa Myers of Family Faith Builders.  "But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." Luke 2:19 When you think about Christmas, what are some things that come to mind? Your first response might be opening presents! Maybe you also said Christmas lights, candy canes, trees, ornaments, baking cookies, or traveling to visit family. How many of you said the birth of Jesus? As Christians, it's the whole reason we celebrate Christmas! We don't celebrate because we get gifts, but we celebrate because Jesus was born on this earth as a gift from God to save us from our sins so we could live forever with Him in heaven one day. As Christians, we also celebrate the season of Advent. This...
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