“Technology isn’t a wow anymore. Play, and things that allow kids to express themselves, is a wow.”
An example of this is the change that has taken place at the New York toy fair over the last few years. Just three years ago, the tech toys section was several aisles wide and was filled with robots, DIY kits, tablets, mobile apps, interactive dolls and more. But now at the fair, you will find the tech aisle has been drastically downsized.
Why the shift? Because kids and parents are not saying, "I want more tech toys." Rather they are looking for products that facilitate what children have always loved to do. Create. Learn. Explore. Build. That's what engages kids.
Here's an example. 5-year-old Brianna is given a doll by her parents that has the latest technology embedded in it. Since she's never known a world without technology, she isn't wowed by the technology of it. What she wants to know is can she comb the doll's hair? Can she take it take it swimming with her? Can she push it in a stroller? Can she have a tea party with it?
This is good news for children's ministries. Most ministries can't afford or get access to the latest and greatest technology to use for teaching kids about Jesus. But that's okay. They don't have to. As long as they provide kids with opportunities to learn through hands on play, simple and interactive games, creative crafts and projects and active learning experiences, they will be able to engage kids and "wow" them.
This is not to say we shouldn't stay in the know about technology and use it when it is available, but it is to say that technology is not the end goal. The end goal is to give kids the opportunity to learn through their own creativity and natural curiosity.
And that's what parents desire as well. When they pick up their child from your classroom, they are not thinking, "Did they wow my kid with the latest technology?" Instead they want to know if their child was engaged and learned something about God.
Give kids the opportunity to create, learn, explore and grapple and you will "wow" them...whether it's through the latest technology or through a simple craft.
