RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

There are 10 things that every preschooler needs from your ministry. Let's talk about this.

Prayer

Nothing of eternal value will be accomplished in preschoolers' lives without prayer.  God can do more in seconds than we can do in a lifetime. 

Pray regularly for the preschoolers in your ministry.

Encourage your volunteers to pray for the preschoolers that are in their class.

Pray with the children each weekend.

Teach the children to pray.

Call parents and ask them how you can pray for their children.

Put a prayer verse on the wall in each preschool room.  Pray it each week for the children in the room.

Recognition 

Every child wants to be known and to know that he or she is valued. Preschoolers need to be recognized and called by name. Learn the children's names.  Each week find at least one good thing to recognize about each child and acknowledge it. 

Eye Contact

Children need to be looked in the eye when engaged in conversation to feel you're genuinely interested in them. This usually means getting down to prechoolers' eye level.

Security 

Preschoolers are growing up in a scary world. Parents hold them close for fear of kidnapping, abuse or endangerment.  Church must be a safe place. Go the second mile to make sure every team member has been background-checked, interviewed, reference-checked and approved.

Have a thoroughly secure check-in and check-out system.  Put in place volunteer procedures and policies that provide security. 

Care 

Even at their young ages, preschoolers can sense when someone genuinely cares about them.  They need leaders who'll care enough to pray for their boo-boos, send them "miss you" cards when they are absent, and cheer for them at their kindergarten graduation.

Happy Birthday 

Birthdays are a big deal for preschoolers. They need you to celebrate their special day - so sing, bring a birthday treat and give them a small gift.

Opportunity 

Preschoolers need the opportunity to hear God's truth and build a foundation for faith development.

Open Ears

Every child needs someone who'll listen with open ears.  So really listen - to preschoolers' stories, questions, fears and small talk.

 Laughter 

Every preschooler needs to be able to laugh...to have fun...to be able to be a child.  Preschoolers need leaders who'll encourage this through age-appropriate activities that allow laughter to happen spontaneously.

Empowerment 

God has given each preschooler unique talents and abilities.  Empower your preschoolers to use these talents and abilities through learning experiences and activities where they can succeed. 

Here are 10 things that preschoolers need from your ministry.

PRAYER - nothing of eternal value will be accomplished without prayer.  God can do more in seconds than we can do in a lifetime.

Pray regularly for the preschoolers in your ministry.

Encourage the volunteers to pray for the children in their class or program.

Pray with the children each weekend

Teach the children to pray.  Some of the sweetest, most genuine prayers that have ever been uttered came from preschoolers.

Call parents and ask them how you can pray for their children,

Put a prayer verse on the wall in each preschool room - a unique prayer for this year in a child's life. Pray it each week for the children in that room.

RECOGNITION - every child wants to be known and to know that he or she is valued. Preschoolers need to be recognized and called by name.  Learn children's names and use them.  Every week find at least one good thing to recognize about each child and acknowledge it.

EYE CONTACT - children need to be looked in the eye when engaged in conversation so they feel that you're genuinely in them.  This usually means getting down to a preschooler's eye level.

SECURITY -  preschoolers are growing up in a scary world. Parents hold them closely for fear of kidnapping, abuse or endangerment.  Church must be a safe place.  Go the second mile to make sure every team member has been background-checked, interviewed, reference-checked and approved.

Have a thoroughly secure check-in and check-out system.  Put in place volunteer procedures and policies that provide security.

CARE - even at their young ages, preschoolers can sense when someone genuinely cares for them.  They need leaders who'll care enough to pray for their boo-boo, send them "miss you" cards when they're absent and cheer for them at their kindergarten graduations.  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY - birthdays are a big deal for a preschooler.  They need you to celebrate their special day - so sing, bring a birthday cake and give a small gift to the birthday child.

OPPORTUNITY - preschoolers need the opportunity to hear God's truth and build a foundation for faith development.

OPEN EARS - every child needs someone who'll listen with open ears. So really listen...to preschoolers' stories, questions, fears and small talk.

LAUGHTER - every preschooler needs to be able to laugh, have fun and be able to be a child.  Preschoolers need leaders who'll encourage this through age-appropriate activities that allow laughter to happen spontaneously.  

EMPOWERMENT - God has given each preschooler unique talents and abilities.  Empower your preschoolers to use these talents and abilities through learning experiences and activities where they can succeed.  

RULES - preschoolers need clear rules to follow, accompanied by loving guidance, opportunities to make choices and consistent consequences.      
 

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?  

Preschoolers need 11 things from your ministry - put them all together and they spell preschooler. 

Prayer - Nothing of eternal value will be accomplished without prayer.  God can do more in seconds than we can do in a lifetime.

Pray regularly for the preschoolers in your ministry.

Encourage your team to pray through their preschool ministry rosters.

Pray with the children each weekend. 

Teach the children how to pray.  

Call parents and ask them how you can pray for their children.

Put a prayer verse on the wall in each preschool room - a unique prayer for this year in a child's life.  

Recognition - Every child wants to be known and to know that he or she is valued.  Preschoolers need to be recognized and called by name..  Learn children's names and use them.  Every week find at least one good thing to recognize about each child and knowledge it. 

Eye contact - Children need to be looked in the eye when engaged in conversation to feel you're genuinely interested in them. This usually means getting down to a preschooler's eye level.

Security - Preschoolers are growing up in a scary world.  Parents hold them closely for fear of kidnapping, abuse or endangerment.  Church must be a safe place.  Go the second mile to make sure every team member has been background-checked, interviewed, reference checked and approved. 

Have a thoroughly secure check-in and check-out system.  Put in place volunteer procedures and policies that provide security. 

Care - Even at their young ages, preschoolers can sense when someone genuinely cares for them.  They need leaders who''ll care enough to pray for their boo-boo's, send them "miss you" cards when they're absent and cheer for them at their kindergarten gradations.

Happy Birthdays - Birthdays are a big deal for preschoolers. They need you to celebrate their special day - so sing, bring in a birthday treat and give them a small gift.

Opportunity - Preschoolers need the opportunity to hear God's truth and and build a foundation for faith development.

Open Ears - Every child needs someone who will listen with open ears.  So really listen...to preschooler's stories, questions, fears, and small talk.

Laughter - Every preschooler needs to be able to laugh...to have fun...to be able to be a child.  Preschoolers need leaders who'll encourage this tough age-appropriate activities  and learning experiences.  that allow laughter to happen spontaneously.  

Empowerment - God has given each preschooler unique talents and abilities.  Empower your preschoolers to use these talents and abilities through learning experiences and activities where they can succeed.

Rules - Preschoolers need clear rules to follow, accompanied with firm and loving guidance, opportunities to make choices and consistent consequences.

If you are not making preschool ministry a top priority in your church, you are missing out. 

Secular preschool content creators understand this and have recently made a pivot to engage more preschoolers.  They have started producing more content aimed at preschoolers. They understand that if they want to engage the next generation, then it must begin in the early years of a child's life. 

In a recent survey, 72% said their primary audience is 2-to-5 year olds.  This is an 8% increase compared to 2020.    

"If you are not serving the youngest person in the household, you are missing out.” Amy Friedman, head of kids and family programming at Warner Bros.

Friedman says looking forward, some of the key themes and elements that will resonate with preschoolers are:

• music geared for preschoolers

• multi-leveled humor

• joyful, meaningful stories and characters
  

• live action

• 3D animation
  

From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

How did Timothy learn about God's Word at such an early age?  

The answer is this - his mother and grandmother were intentional about teaching him God's Word early in his life.  Please, please, please hear me.  Preschool ministry should be one of the most important ministries in your church.  

Put your best PEOPLE serving in preschool ministry. 

Make preschool ministry a high PROFILE ministry in your church.

Significant PROGRAM funding should be poured into preschool ministry.

Don't miss out.  So much is at stake.  Invest your time, talents and treasures into ministering to preschoolers and their families.  

Preschool ministry is not babysitting.  Preschool ministry is not childcare.  Preschool ministry is not just fun and games.

Preschool ministry is ministry at the most strategic time in a person's life.

God wants to start working in the hearts of preschoolers even now.  And He wants it to happen through you and your preschool ministry. 

Don't miss out on this!

Last fall, HBO Max and Cartoon Network released a significant amount of new programming and content for preschoolers.

Amy Friedman, head of kids and family programming at Warner Bros., had this to say about the new programming.

 

"If you are not serving the youngest person in the household, you are missing out."   

 

Kidscreen Magazine had this to say about this new emphasis on providing content for preschoolers. 

 

72% of programming providers say their primary audience is the 2-to-5-year-olds.  This is an 8% increase over 2020.                                

In the race to a child's heart, the first one there wins.

The church must remember why we are ministering to preschoolers. It is to help them discover that Jesus loves them and wants to be their forever friend.  There is no greater cause to give our time, treasure and talent to.

Preschool volunteers remember why you are doing this and be encouraged.  You are a difference maker. Many of the preschoolers you are ministering to will grow up and become leaders of the church in the future.  

Will you go all out to see this happen?  

Ask today's preschoolers what some of their favorite shows are and you're likely to hear Paw Patrol.  I can confirm this in my family.  My nephew was all about the Paw Patrol when he was a preschooler.  In addition to watching the show, he also had Paw Patrol bed sheets, cars, stuffed animals, toys and games.

The television show started in 2013 and is still going strong today.  It is geared for preschoolers and most kids become interested in the show around the age of 3.  And a new Paw Patrol movie was released in theaters a few days ago. 

So why is Paw Patrol so popular with preschoolers?  What can we learn from this television show, movie and product line that will help us better engage with the preschoolers in our ministries? 

Paw Patrol is obviously about dogs and preschoolers love dogs.  There is something about puppies that attracts preschoolers.  

Note for ministry:  Kids love animals.  Maybe that is why they enjoy hearing the story of Noah's ark and other Bible lessons that involve animals.  Be sure to give kids a look at the animals in the Bible.  I have an entire teaching series for elementary kids that is based on animals.  Check it out at this link. 

Preschoolers also like the fun rhymes and songs in the show.  Parents say their kids are constantly repeating the rhymes like "Rubble on the double" and "Chase is on the case."  

Note for ministry.  Make sure your key truth each week rhymes.  It has been proven that kids learn and retain truths better when they rhyme.  My Connect12 curriculum rhymes the key truth each month.  Here are some examples.

"The Bible is true...I can trust it through and through."

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

"I will go and share...my faith everywhere."

When you have kids rhyme the key truth, it will move into their long-term memory.

Preschoolers see the dogs as superheroes.  In the show, they save the day and help people. Kids love superheroes and the Paw Patrol characters take them on heroic adventures.  Kids also imagine themselves being a superhero one day.  

Note for ministry.  There are so many stories of superheroes in the Bible.  Ordinary men and women (and kids) that God empowered in an amazing way.  Take them through these stories and help kids see that they can do great things through Christ.

Songs.  Did you know that songs are a great way to help preschoolers memorize and remember important truths? Paw Patrol incorporates catchy tunes. 

Note for ministry.  Check out Yancy's new album - Little Praise Party...Ready Set Go.  Great songs.  The children in your ministry will love it.  You can get the songs at this link.

Figure it out.  In the show, there is always a problem that needs to be solved.  Preschoolers love to figure things out and help solve problems.  Preschoolers' minds are still developing, so they want something that will challenge them and give them a problem to solve.

Dr. Tovah Klein, the director of the Barnard College Center for Toddler Development and author of How Toddlers Thrive, says...

"The lead character is a child, but he is a 'big kid' and that represents the bigger, adult world. The puppies are the small world and they are given responsibility to solve the problem, usually a big problem. That is where the excitement comes in.  The children may be small but they can do big things, just like the pups."

Note for ministry: Incorporate puzzles, mysteries and games that kids have to solve. 

Quick Review.  Preschooler love Paw Patrol because...

• It's about dogs and preschoolers love dogs. How can you incorporate dogs and other pets into your lesson?
  
• It has fun rhymes and songs in the show.  Use rhymes and songs to emphasize key truths.
• They love superheroes.  They see the puppies a heroes and identify with them.
  
• They love music. Songs help kids learn.  Use music in your lessons, events, etc. 
• They get to figure out the problems in the show.

Want to connect well with preschoolers?  Today, let's talk about a simple thing you can do to connect well with preschoolers.  

What do you think it is?

Let me give you a clue that might reveal what it is.

When Walt Disney was building Disneyland, he had the construction workers get down on their knees so they could see through the eyes of a child and build from that viewpoint.   

Especially when they were building the stores and shops on main street.  And in some of their bathrooms you will see short urinals and sinks made for kids.

Figured it out yet?  Here's the answer.  

When you are talking with a preschooler, get down on their eye level.  You can bend over or better yet kneel down in front of them so you can talk with them face-to-face.  

We forget what it's like to be a small child looking up at this giant person talking down to us.  It's hard to make good eye contact when the person is way above you.

What kind of impact would it make this weekend, if your volunteers and greeters got down on their knees, looked the children in the eyes and said, "We are so excited that you are here.  We've been waiting all week to see you!"

I have personally watched this happen and saw the children respond with a smile and eagerness to join in with the class.  

Try it this weekend and watch what happens. 

Do you ever feel like your ministry is useless?  You pray, pray and pray.  But nothing of eternal value seems to happen.  I am often like that.  I labor and labor and labor and in return I see no visible fruit.

When this happens, I have to remind myself of this promise found in Isaiah 55:11.

"It is the same with My word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it."

If you feel that way at times, then you need to claim that promise as well.  Believe and know that God is at work.  He is working in the hearts and minds of the people you are trying to reach. 

Years ago, I was serving in a church as the associate pastor, kids' pastor and outreach pastor.  If you have served in a smaller church, then you know what that means. You fill several roles as needed, which is quite often.  

One day, I was out going door to door to invite people to attend our services.  One of the doors I knocked on had a man in his 50's answer the door.  As we began to talk, he shared with me that he had served in the military for many years and was now retired.  

When I asked him about his relationship with Jesus, he told me he was an atheist.  He went on to brag about the ungodly lifestyle he had lived while in the military.  He said he had committed fornication and adultery with over 200 women.  

I shared the Gospel with him and explained that God could forgive his sins and give him a brand new start if would repent and turn to Jesus as his Savior.  He wasn't ready to make that decision and told me bluntly that he had no intention of doing so.

I continued to pray for him and share verses with him as the days and months passed by. The time quickly came when I had to go back to college to finish my ministry degree.

I was disheartened by this.  It seemed I had labored for months to help this man experience Jesus' love but it seemed to be of no avail. 

I went back to college and several months quickly passed by.  One day I opened my mail and there was a letter about my friend the atheist. 

The letter shared how he had continued to attend church and how God had continued to work in His life.  The atheist was being drawn to God through the Holy Spirit's work in his life. 

A few weeks later another letter came.  This letter shared how my atheist friend had finally stepped across the line of faith and given His life to Christ.  He was a new man!  Old things were passed away.  He was on fire for God.

You may be reading this today and you are on the verge of quitting ministry.  It seems you have sown the seeds faithfully but nothing is happening.  There are no visible signs that God is at work.  

I want to encourage you today.  Keep sowing those seeds.  God is at work and He will accomplish great things through you, if you don't get discouraged and give up.  

That was a reminder for me.  The promise is true.  Our labor is not in vain.  Even when we feel like nothing is happening, something is happening.  God is at work.  His Word is at work.  The convicting power of the Holy Spirit is at work.  The Word you are sharing with kids and families will bear fruit.  Some of the fruit you will see come to pass will be down the road.  Maybe even years from how. 

Now is not the time to quit.  The spiritual fruit of your labor is coming!

And in the end, when you are looking back at your ministry, you will see all that God did through you and you will blown away.  The fruit will be 30, 60, even 100 fold from what you planted.  

So the next time you are teaching that class of 3rd grade boys and you are wondering if they are hearing anything you say, remember - your labor is not in vain. 

The next time you get stressed out trying to get 15 preschoolers to listen to your Bible story, remember - your labor is not in vain. 

The next time you are having a hard time getting through to a pre-teen, just remember that your labor is not in vain.  

What an honor and privilege we have to serve Jesus.  He keeps great records and great will be your reward in heaven.