RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Do you like rhymes? If you do, then you are going to love this article. 

Are you aware that rhymes can be a big part of seeing kids learn Biblical truth?

Here's why.  When something rhymes,  a child is more prone to memorize it.  

Let's start in the early years of a child's life. Rhymes are patterns, so they help children learn easy recall and memorization.

Rhyming prompts children to repeat sounds and patterns, reinforcing their grasp of word sounds.

Rhyming also makes memorizing things fun.  As the words and phrases mesh together, it creates patterns that motivate kids to learn.  

Rhyming also helps move truth into kids' long-term memory.  Our goal should be to help kids remember the truths that we teach them for a lifetime.  Rhyming the truths plays a big part in this. 

Research has found that children who are familiar with nursery rhymes when they enter kindergarten often have an easier time learning to read. This is because rhyming helps them discover many common word patterns (such as those in quick/stick or down/crown). The more familiar these patterns become in oral language, the more easily children will recognize them when they begin to encounter them in print.

I believe it is extremely helpful when you use this strategy to teach kids Biblical truth.  

In my Connect 12 elementary curriculum, I have made all the key truths into rhymes. The results have been phenomenal.  The kids who have gone through the curriculum can say all 12 of the key truths. A year later, they can still say the key truths from memory.  Here are a few examples.

The Bible is clear to say...Jesus is the only way.

Jesus is my best friend...on Him I can depend.

This is my story...worshiping God and declaring His glory. 

The Bible is true...I can truth it through and through.

Churches across the country are using this strategy to teach kids Biblical, foundational truth. 

You can see sample lessons at this link.

When it comes to helping kids memorize Biblical truths. I don't know another curriculum that is as intentional as this.

Today's kids have so many messages coming their way.  How are you going to get the truth to stand out and be brought into their long-term memory?  I believe rhymes are a great, proven strategy for this.

As children's ministry leaders, our goal should be to get the truth of God's Word into children's long-term memory.

Are you only placing God's Word into children's short-term memory?  A week later they have forgotten the truth and cannot recall what they "learned."  

I have seen this played out as children try to learn multiple Bible verses in one week.  They succeed in repeating it once with someone helping them, but can't recall the verse a week later.

Life change happens when children get God's Word in their long-term memory.  Children can apply God's Word and truth to their life when they are able to recall it. 

I believe that spiritual fruit only happens when we see God's Word embedded in children's long-term memory.   

Last week, I tested the children to see if the key truths we have taught them have been successfully placed in their long-term memory.  I was excited to see them recall and be able to say key truths they had learned months ago. And guess what...a year from now they will still be able to say all of the key truths we have taught them.

Want to know how this happened?  Let's look at how to get your teaching into children's long-term memory.

Repetition. 

Repetition is a key part of moving truth into kids' long-term memory.  Did you know if a child hears something one time a month their retention rate will be 10%.  But if a child hears something six times or more in a month, their retention rate will go up to 90%.

This verse from the Bible reminds us of this.  Look what it says in Deuteronomy 6:7.

"Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up." 

Less is more.

Instead of trying to get kids to remember a new verse and key truth each week,  focus on helping them learn one Bible verse and one key truth per month.

Make it rhyme.  

Did you know that kids learn a lot better when something rhymes?  Turn your key truth into a rhyme. 

Here are a couple of examples from my Connect12 curriculum.

The Bible is clear to say...Jesus is the only way.

The Bible is true...you can trust it through and through.

If you'd like to learn more about Connect12 curriculum, you can see sample lessons and videos at this link. 

Music.

Music helps kids memorize things long-term.  Turn your key teaching truth into a song. Have the kids sing the song each week and you will see what you are teaching them go into their long-term memory. 

For my Connect12 curriculum, I have a talented friend that turned all of our key truths into cool songs that kids love. 

Here's an example.

If you are reading this in an email and can't see the video, you can go to this link to watch it. All of these songs are available for purchase at this link.

Make learning the key truth and Bible verse fun. 

Use fun games, contests, activities, etc. to help children memorize the key verse and key truth.  When a child finds something fun and exciting, they will engage with you.

Use visual aides.

Create flashcards that include the words.  Have them put the cards in the right order, see how fast they can do it, etc. Put the key truth or verse on the board and then take away a word at a time to see if they can still say it. 

Have kids make up motions for the words of the verse or truth.  

Motions are a great way to help kids place what you are teaching into their long-term memory.  

If we place truth into children's long-term memory, we will be equipping them and helping them build a foundation that they can use for the rest of their life. 

Imagine years from now, that one of the children you taught is sitting in a college dorm room.  His or her roommate says that the Bible is just a book of fairy tales and is not true.  When the kid you taught hears this, they are immediately reminded that "The Bible is true...you can trust it through and through."

Please...please...please...make sure you are helping children place the truth in their long-term memory.  They will need it for the rest of their life. 

When you help them get the truth in their long-term memory, you are setting them up for spiritual success as they grow up and face the spiritual challenges of the world they live in.