One of the main challenges in Kids Ministry is making sure that your ministry doesn't put kids to sleep. This is becoming even more of a challenge today as kids are growing up with more media than ever before. The approach we take really determines whether their attention will be captured or released. Obviously the programming, talent and environment play a large part in this. However, I think that there's a systemic issue that we need to take a deeper look at. Are you trying to keep their attention or engage them?
Don't compete for a child's attention; you'll lose the majority of the time. There are so many things constantly competing for a child's attention: TV, video games, homework, sports, dancing, YouTube, etc... The point I'm trying to make is that attention doesn't translate to transformation. Attention only means "the act or faculty of attending, especially by directing the mind to an object." When you have a child’s attention, you only get their mind. But to see transformation, you need more than just the mind, you need to capture a child’s heart! To engage, however, is to take ownership of something, to be involved with it. That is precisely what we need more of in Kids Ministry, to have the kids take ownership, not just to pay attention.
So you're saying, "Ok, I get it...now what?" Truly, it's more of a philosophy change but there are some pragmatic, simple steps that you can take to capture and engage kids and not just get their attention.
1. "The younger kids follow the older kids, the older kids want to lead." By the time a child has reached 4th or 5th grade, they have heard the vast majority of the Bible stories many times. They have seen the object lessons and they have watched all the cool videos you can throw at them. Those things are good and definitely have a place in Kids Ministry, however, at this age, the kids are beginning to feel a sense of wanting to give back, to take the knowledge they have gained and do something with it. We are doing them an injustice if we are teaching them for years and not giving them an avenue to purse these goals. One thing we have done here at Valley Family Church is called "Kidamazoo UP." It's a discipleship program for 4th and 5th graders that allows those who have this desire to lead and further develop their knowledge in the Word, to do so. We take one week out of the summer and the kids come for a full day and spend three hours on biblical teaching each day. We also provide various workshops on how to serve in Kids Ministry and interactive team building activities. Once a child has completed this program, they have full access to assist with serving in Kids Ministry whether it is helping a younger kid find a Bible verse or showing a first time visitor around the environment. It has increased our level of interaction during worship and during times of teaching. This is the model we have used, but you can modify it to what works best with you and your ministry.
2. "Cheap laughs are pricey." Fun is a part of Kids Ministry, hands down! If you don't make kids laugh and enjoy the service, it'll be tough to keep them coming back. However, if you gauge your attention level by the laughs and jokes, than transformation may be eluding you. They are kids and want to have fun, but they are also people and want to be challenged and encouraged. Just because we’re teaching kids doesn't mean we need to water down the gospel; we just need to communicate it in a way that is understood by their vocabulary. Simply put, kids don't speak "Christianese." Instead of saying we are righteous, say that we are clean in God's eyes...that He sees us as perfect because Jesus passed the test for us.
Grab their engagement and not their attention and you'll see results. You'll always have some kids that don't pay attention and you have to also be okay with that. Remember that behind every so called "problem child" there is a troubled story that explains the way they are. Take time to listen and you'll be surprised at what you find.
Tim
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