The floor. It's one of the best places to make an impact in kids' lives.
Whether it's playing a game before service, putting a puzzle together or being in a small group, the floor is where kids like to hang out.
It takes humility to get on the floor. You have to leave your comfort zone and enter the world of kids.
I think we sometimes forget what it's like to be a kid. For a preschooler, when they see you standing up, you look like a tall, intimidating figure that is staring down at them. For an elementary student, you tower over them like an imposing giant.
We know that when you are ministering to children, it is important to make direct eye contact. To make direct eye contact, you have to be on the same level. This usually means bending over or getting on the floor where they are playing.
When Walt Disney was designing and building the main street of Disney Land, he told his engineers to get down on their knees as they drew up the plans. He wanted to make sure they were at the same eye level as the children who would come to the park.
I had a volunteer leader who would get down on her knees at the door and welcome each preschooler with a smile. She would say to them, "I am so glad you are here, I've been waiting all week to see you. We're going to have so much fun today learning about Jesus." Needless to say, kids loved to come to her class.
I remember a short object lesson I did with some preschoolers in their class. They were playing with building blocks. I got down on the floor with them and we built a church building together. I then explained to them that the church is not a building, but rather it is the people who walk into the building. They got it.
Kids won't remember everything you teach them. But they will remember that you were there for them. They will remember that you took the time to know their name and spend time with them on their level.
How much time are you spending on the floor?
