The 5 I’s for Connecting with Families This Summer

Summer will soon be upon us, and that means more travel, family vacations, and sporadic attendance for both your volunteers and the kids you serve. But summer can be a prime opportunity to connect with families in the midst of their summer activities outside of Sunday mornings. This week, we’re sharing 5 tips to connect with families this summer from Cheri Kulhawick and Becky Sargent of Church Resource Spot! Find their resources on Deeper KidMin here, and explore all our summer resources here. 

We can sometimes assume that because we teach or lead in a children’s ministry, we are instantly connected to the children and families we serve. In reality, it takes some intentionality to build relationships that make a difference.

God equipped us with the Holy Spirit and His love to help us develop connections with others. Follow His leading as you build relationships with your KidMin families.

By developing personal connections, we weave threads of trust, empathy, love, and understanding that are vital to build a supportive and thriving children’s ministry. So as you think about summertime in your kidmin, keep these 5 I’s in mind (and download this free resource for practical ideas to implement these tips!):

1. Inquire – Ask good questions. Go beyond the surface level. Be a good listener and repeat what they say to show you’re listening. This also helps you remember important details. Listen to children’s and parents’ stories, their passion, and their journey. Take time to invest and truly ‘see’ and value people’s stories. Follow up. Check back and ask about outcomes, answers to prayer, solutions for challenges, etc. This demonstrates your love and concern for children, parents, and their families.
2. Intention – Be intentional about spending time with your families. As you learn about their life and family, engage with them outside the church setting. Do things like going to a ball game, attending one of the kids’ plays or recitals, and attending family celebrations if you are invited. Invite a family to play mini-golf someday or get a quick lunch after church. Ask a parent to help you shop for supplies for an upcoming KidMin event. By inviting them, you show that you value spending time with them and finding opportunities for conversation.
3. Innovation – Don’t be afraid to use some out-of-the-box ways to connect with your KidMin families! Get creative. Invite a family to go on a walk to collect leaves, have a hot chocolate picnic, or even do a nature scavenger hunt at the church or a local park. Wear your sunglasses and deliver muffins or donut holes to your kids’ families. Be creative and surprise a KidMin family with an act of kindness like delivering dinner – you’ll be surprised at how far that goes! Use what you know about the family to bless them! Love in action.
4. Inspiration – Pray for your KidMin families by name. Ask parents and children how you can pray for them. Text or email a note that they were prayed for today. Follow up on the prayer requests; ask for outcomes and praise God together when answers are seen. (DKM Subscribers can use this free printable to make praying for their families a habit!)
5. Instruction – Allow people to teach you what they know. This is a great connection point and builds up the person you ask. They can see you value them and their talents and skills. In the same token, be willing to teach people something you know how to do. People know you care when you’re eager to share! It’s an excellent opportunity to spend time together, continue the conversations, and have fun! If a parent is crafty, ask them to show you how to make a craft. If they are good at building things, ask them to show you and help you build something. If they can write, ask them to show you what to look for in editing your newsletter.

Incredible Blessings!

If you seek to connect with your children’s ministry families on a sincere heart level, God can move in your heart and theirs and lead to some incredible blessings! Ask God for wisdom and ideas for connection. Watch and see what He may show you.

Want more ideas and scripts for implementing these tips? Check out this free download! 

Author bios:

Cheri Kulhawick loves setting others up for success. Creating ministry resources is her sweet spot. In her spare time, you can find her in the garden, on a pontoon ride, or on a rockhounding adventure.

Becky Sargent is a ‘seasoned ministry veteran,’ which we all know is code for grey hair! She has worked with kids for over 50 years and served as a pastor’s wife for 30 of those years. Becky’s favorite ministry spot is engaging kids in hands-on, creative Bible teaching.