RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY: football

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10 Reasons Preschoolers are Tougher Than Football Players

7:11 AM Dale Hudson

Preschool ministry is such an important part of the church.

Research shows that the first five years of a child's life are vital. Early experiences provide the base for development and functioning throughout life. Children learn more quickly in their early years than at any other time in life.

I tell parents the most challenging years of parenting are the preschool and teenage years. I also believe preschool ministry is one of the most challenging but rewarding areas of children's ministry.

Preschool volunteers are my heroes. In honor of preschool volunteers everywhere...here's 10 reasons why preschoolers are tougher than football players.

Football players smell after a game...ever smell a preschooler after an accident?
Football players hit hard...preschoolers bite hard.
Football players begin running out of energy in the 4th quarter...preschoolers never run out of energy.
Football players yell in warm-ups...preschoolers yell so loud you can hear them over 100 adults in a restaurant or airplane.
Football players eat protein bars...preschoolers eat glue sticks and crayons.
Football players hide family secrets...preschoolers tell family secrets.
Football players throw passes...preschoolers throw tantrums.
Football players aren't always brave enough to say what they're thinking...preschoolers always say what they're thinking.
Football players ask questions about plays...preschoolers ask questions about everything.
Football players play with one ball...preschoolers play with hundreds of balls in the ball pit.

Friday Night Tykes - Are We Pushing Kids Too Hard? (The Debate)

5:37 AM Dale Hudson

This Sunday night, America will celebrate the ultimate football contest...the Super Bowl.

Many of the players will be living a dream they've had since they were a kid. And many of them begin preparing for this as a kid.

A TV show on the Esquire network called "Friday Night Tykes" has sparked debate about how hard you should push children in sports.

You can see what's causing the controversy in the video below. If you'd like to share your thoughts in the comment section below, we'd love to hear them.

How to Get Your Volunteers to Show Up for Training...Every Week!

6:17 AM Unknown

Do you face the challenge of getting volunteers to show up for training? I do. People's lives are crazy busy and they're not looking for one more thing to add to their schedule. But training and growing volunteers is a vital part of Children's Ministry.

I have found there is a key opportunity for training each week that many Children's Ministries overlook. That's the 10 minutes before you open the doors for the worship service / class time.

Recently we have become very intentional about using those 10 minutes to pour into our volunteer team. Here's what the 10 minutes looks like...

Laughter. We have fun. We spend a minute or so letting people tell jokes or funny stories.
Recognition of a volunteer who goes the second mile. We name something specific they have done and the impact it had on kids and parents.
Devotional/training piece. One simple thought that helps everyone grow.
Prayer Requests/Prayer. We pray for individual needs and for God to work in us and through us as we serve.
Team cheer. We literally get in a huddle like a football team and do a team cheer. Right now it's a chant that says "What time is it? What time is it? It's time to serve! It's time to love on! Go God's Kids team!" I know it sounds cheesy...but it works. People go out enthusiastic and with a sense of anticipation.

Think about this. A football team huddles before each play. It's quick..it's to the point...it communicates what's next...and it gets everyone on the same page. Try doing the same thing with your volunteers before service. It works!

Posted by Dale Hudson