RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

In this article, I shared 5 things guests hate doing at church.  The first one was waiting in line.

People hate waiting in line.  I do.  Don't you?  If you need a reminder, visit your local DMV for a refresher course.

Each weekend, there are 3 times that have the potential to cause people to get "stuck in line" at your children's ministry.  These are 3 times that you should monitor closely.

Time #1 - First-Time Guest Registration.  You want to make the registration/check-in process for new families as quick as possible.

One way you can shorten the time is by having a separate check-in area for first-time guests.  Don't make them wait in line with your regular attendees.

Another way to shorten the time is by having a simple registration form.  The more information you have to collect from them, the longer it will take.  Trim down your registration form to the basic need-to-knows.  You can also do away with paper registration forms and collect the information on a computer or tablet.  It's quicker to type it than write it...and you get the added bonus of being able to actually read what it says versus trying to decipher someone's handwriting.

Two weeks ago, I timed the check-in process for a new family.  Literally.  I took the stopwatch on my iPhone and timed it.  It took 5 1/2 minutes from the time they stepped up to the registration table to the time they arrived at the classroom door.

Not bad...but not great either.  I'm working to get it down to 3 minutes.  We are preparing to move to a digital form like I mentioned above.  I believe this will shave off some of the time.

Time #2 - Check-In for regular attenders.  How long does it take your families to check in?  How long do they have to wait in line?  Monitor this closely.  If you have lines backing up, it's time to add some additional check-in stations.  If you're using digital check-in, how fast is it?  Are the computers or tablets running at optimal speed?  Do you need to get a better internet connection?  Update some computers?  Invest in a new check-in system?  Regular attenders should be able to check in with a time frame of 1 minute or less.

Time #3 - Pick-Up.  Having to wait after service can be even more frustrating than before service.  Families are ready to see their kids...ready to go eat...ready to get home.

Monitor this.  How long are parents having to wait to get their child?  Are there lines?  Are parents getting impatient?

One way you can shorten pick-up time is by being prepared for service to be out.  Have someone keep you informed about how far along the adult service is so you can know when to wrap up.  Have someone give you a 10-minute and 5-minute warning.  When parents are arriving is not the time to start organizing take-home papers or start wrapping up the lesson.  Have everything wrapped up and ready before the first parent comes to the door. 

Another way is you can shorten the pick-up time in preschool is by placing the take home papers outside the classroom.  We have created "clothes lines" on the wall outside the door and this where we hang them for parents.

Honoring ratios and room capacities is another important factor in cutting down pick-up time.  If a room is overcrowded, the pick-up time will naturally be longer.  Make sure you maintain a proper volunteer-to-child ratio as well as honoring room capacities.

A few weeks ago, I timed how long it took parents to pick-up their 4-year-olds at one of our campuses.  It took 6 1/2 minutes from the back of the line to the door.  That is not good.  The big reason was we didn't have the other 4-year-old room open.  Hence the long wait.  We have corrected this and last week I timed the same room and it was down to 3 1/2 minutes.  Better...but I'm hoping to get it down to 2 minutes or less.

It's important to remember that people decide in the first 8 minutes of they are going to come back to your church or not.   You don't want them spending those first 8 minutes waiting in line.

There are some danger zones in children's ministry when it comes to safety and security.

Taking kids to the bathroom is one of those areas where there is the potential for something to happen that could devastate your children's ministry.  I know of several cases where abuse took place in this situation.

The best defense is to have a policy in place that clearly defines the procedure for taking a child to the bathroom.

Here are some of the best policies to have in place.

Best Foundational Policies for all ages:
1. Everyone who serves must have a background check, reference calls, and a personal interview before serving.  No exceptions.
2. No one is ever alone with a child.  There must always be two adults present.
3. The bathrooms the kids use should be "Kids Only" bathrooms.  Make this clear with signage, etc.

Best Policies for Nursery:
1. Only females are allowed to change diapers.
2. Have a security camera in every room.

Best Policies for Preschool:
1. Have direct access to the bathroom from the classroom.
2. If you have to walk the child to the bathroom, always make sure at least 2 adults accompany the child.
3. Look and make sure no one is in the bathroom before allowing the child to enter.
4. Stand outside the door while the child is going to the bathroom.
5. If a child can't get his or her zipper back up and you have to help him or her, make sure you have two adults present and if possible help in an area that is in the sight of others (without embarrassing the child of course).  Another option is to call the parents and ask them to come and help.

Best Policies for Elementary:
1. Have direct access to the bathroom from the classroom.
2. If you have to walk the child to the bathroom, always make sure at least 2 adults accompany the child.
3. Look and make sure no one is in the bathroom before allowing the child to enter.
4. Stand outside the door while the child is going to the bathroom.
5. Do not send older elementary kids into the bathroom with younger elementary kids. 

What are some other policies you follow?  Share with us in the comment section below.

Summer used to be my busiest time in children's ministry.

VBS...Camps...Day Trips...Outreach Events...Preschool Events...the list went on and on.

And then Fall would come.  And we would enter Fall...exhausted.  At a time when we should have been hitting on all cylinders, we were running on fumes.  Why?  We had burned most of our tank during the summer.

We've learned that we should put most of our time, energy, resources, and events where we get the most return.  For us, that's the weekend service.  Week in and week out, we keep that our main focus...even during the summer.  When people ask if we do VBS, I say, "Yes...every weekend."

We still do a few things during the summer...but not much.  Why?  Because we want to go into the Fall with a full tank. 

How busy is your summer?  If it's causing you to go into the Fall riding on fumes, you may want to consider cutting some things.

Busyness doesn't always equal effectiveness.

I hate waiting in line.

Are you like me?  When you're pushing your cart toward the check-out lines at a store, you scan to see which line is the shortest.  I don't know anyone who looks for the longest line to get in.

And how many times have you asked how long the wait is at a restaurant, found out it was 20-30 minutes, and went somewhere else?

A recent study by Columbia University showed that a line of 10 people can have a large impact on purchases and increasing the length from 10 to 15 customers leads to a 10% drop in sales.

We hate waiting in lines...even at church.

Here's some steps you can take to ensure parents aren't "hating the wait" at your church.

See how long parents are having to wait in line.
Get in line with a timer and actually time the wait.  How long is it?  30 seconds?  3 minutes?

Look for ways to cut down the wait time.
What are some small tweaks you can make that will cut down the wait time?  Putting the preschool take home papers on the wall outside the classroom?  Stapling elementary papers together so you're only handing parents one thing instead of three things?  Having coats and jackets ready?

Create more lines.
No wonder we have to wait in line at Wal-Mart or Target.  They normally only have 2 out of 100 check-out lines open.  Okay maybe I'm exaggerating a little, but there is some truth to it.

Not sure why they build all those check-out stations...they only use a small percentage of them. (perhaps they could take the money saved from building unused check-out stations and buy some carts that don't go "clank, clank, clank" while you're pushing them.  Can I get an amen?)

The point is this.  If your lines are getting long, then create more lines.  Have two people checking out kids instead of one.  Have 4 check-in kiosks instead of 2.

Remember that unoccupied time seems longer than occupied time. 
Frustration comes primarily from being "aware" that time is passing.  Parents who have nothing to do but check their watches in line will be more frustrated.

What are some things you can do to help occupy parent's time while they're in line that will help take their mind off the wait?

Put a video monitor with scrolling announcements or trivia that is visible from the lines?  Theaters do this with the pre-roll before the movie starts.  Disney does this in their lines.

Talk to parents while they are waiting in line.  I like to walk up and down the line and spend a few seconds with parents while they are waiting.  It's a great opportunity to connect and build relationships.

Train your team to pull "line stopping" situations to the side. 
There are times when a parent needs to talk, an incident report needs to be signed, an issue needs to be addressed or a parent has questions.

These should not happen in line, but to the side, so the line is not slowed down.

Train your team to smile and be friendly.  Once you get to the door, being greeted by a smiling, caring, friendly volunteer helps soften the wait they just experienced.  Being greeted by a moody, negative volunteer amplifies the frustration they have felt waiting in line. 

Bottom line:  The longer the line, the lower the parent's positive reaction to the experience.  I want to challenge you to take a hard look at your line lengths and then take steps to shorten it.

Remember, the parent standing in line may be giving this "God thing" a try for the first-time.  Make sure a frustrating wait in line isn't a hindrance.

A recent study shows that 15% of kids between the ages of 10-17 kids bully others. 

Kids who bully don't fit any one profile.
Males are more likely involved in physical and verbal bullying.  Girls are more likely involved in social or psychological bullying.

Bullying begins showing up as early as preschool.  Kids who tend to blame others for their actions or who tend to make negative assumptions about others are more likely to engage in bullying, as are kids who have difficulty following rules or like to have things their own way, or who have friends who bully others.

Some are being bullied themselves.
6-7% of kids have both been bullied and have bullied others.  Kids who bully tend to have been subjected to more abusive treatment in their families.

Children who have less-involved parents are more likely to bully others, as are those who have siblings or parents who model or endorse aggressive behavior. 

Kids play a wide range of roles in bullying.
Some children assist those who are bullying, by encouraging the behavior or even joining in.  Others reinforce bullying by laughing or providing support for the children who are bullying.

Kids who engage in more-explicit forms of bullying (such as physical and verbal intimidation) tend, on average, to attain less education, to have more employment problems, to be more likely to drink heavily and use illicit drugs, and to have more police contact as adults. 

As Children's Ministry Leaders, we must teach that bullying is wrong and that we must respect others.
Early childhood offers an opportunity to start teaching children that bullying is wrong.  As children age, we must set consistent limits and show kids how to succeed without hurting others.

We must also be aware of children who are at risk of becoming involved in bullying, as a perpetrator, victim, or bystander.

Need more help with preventing bullying in your ministry?  Check out this link.

Technology is quickly becoming a big part of the preschool world.

In fact, today's preschoolers are being called "Generation C."

Generation C represents kids who from an early age, are connected to technology.

Here's some interesting facts about Generation C.

• 25% of kids are using the internet daily by age three
• 50% of kids are using the internet daily by age five
• For kids 8 and younger, 27% of all digital media is screen-based
• 60% of all best selling educational apps are geared towards preschool children
• 30% of apps on parents’ devices are downloaded by their children

In years past, parents prepared their children for kindergarten by teaching them how to count to ten, grip a pencil, identify shapes and colors, etc.

Today, children entering school have a few more items on their must-know list – all related to technology.

• How to use a mouse to move the cursor on the screen
• Know where the main buttons on a keyboard are
• Have familiarity with at least five interactive applications, games or activities
• Know some technical terminology, like: digital camera, iPad, computer, internet, mouse, keyboard, and printer
• Be able to type their name on a QWERTY keyboard
• Understand the basic functions of an internet browser

 Are you prepared to effectively minister to Generation C? 

The carpet is the original carpet...and the building is over 50 years old.

Stain-glassed windows.

The brightest thing in the room is the teacher's hair bow.

Beige metal folding chairs.  Nuff said about that.

Bulletin boards that look like they were stolen from a school classroom.

You can hear the adult Bible study classes above you because you're stuck in the basement.

Wood paneling that was put up in 1967.

Kids who are first-time guests are frightened because they think they're in a hospital.

Your nursery cribs are in compliance with all safety regulations...before 1955.

You have theming on the walls that was hand-painted by someone in your church who is obviously not a professional artist.

An overhead projector with a transparency that says "Father Abraham" is the best technology in the room.

There's a flannel-graph board sitting in a prominent place.

The only way guests can find your children's area is by following the smell of dirty diapers.

The ceiling tiles have so many water stain spots that it takes an hour to count them.

The paint on the walls is so old that it has been in style...3 times.

You wouldn't know it was the children's area unless someone told you.

Your congregation primarily consists of people over the age of 60.

Your preschool toys consist of a Curious George pop out of the box, Weeble Wobbles, Fisher Price little people family farm that says "moo" when you open the barn door, corn popper push toy, Fisher Price little people school bus, a Stretch Armstrong, and a Cabbage Patch doll that's missing half it's hair.

There are Bibleman VHS tapes on the shelves.

Kids eyes don't light up when they walk in.

If this is you and you're ready for a makeover, I recommend...

www.wackyworld.tv
www.littlemountainproductions.com
www.worldsofwow.com
www.creativeforkids.com
www.jonathanmartincreative.com

Money spent enhancing your children's ministry area is one of the best investments your church will ever make.

How do you look at your volunteers?

As a teacher?

As a person to fill an empty spot?

As someone who can help you accomplish your goals?

As an awesome worship leader for kids?

As someone who is good at calming crying babies?

As a father figure for boys who come from single parent homes?

As a great leader who can invest in kids?

I want to challenge you to see your volunteers in another way.  Not as above...but as a someone God has called you to disciple.

You are not called to make volunteers.  You are called to make disciples.  (Matthew 28:19-20)

Volunteering is a key component of discipleship.  And when you pour into your volunteers, you're playing a key role in their discipleship.

You are called to disciple the adults that serve in your ministry just as much as you are called to disciple the kids in your ministry.  

When you see your volunteers in this light...it will change the way you look at them.

You'll invest in them not just so the children's ministry can grow...but so they can grow in their faith.

You'll train them not just so they can become better teachers...but so they can love God's Word more.

You'll pray for them not just they'll show up for their preschool class...but you'll pray they will find and fulfill God's purpose for their life.

How are you looking at your volunteers? 

Your car has a dashboard that tells you lots of important things.  It's a big indicator of the health of your car.

It's important to have a dashboard for your ministry.  Key elements that you check each week that help you determine the health of your ministry.

Here are 10 items I have on our ministry dashboard.  I check these every Monday morning.  They are not the only indicator of health...but they are key indicators of kids and families taking significant spiritual steps.

Overall church attendance
Are we growing?
How is our attendance compared to this time last year?
What percentage of the overall church attendance is children?

Children's Ministry attendance
Are we growing?
How is our attendance compared to this time last year?
How is the attendance in each area? (nursery, preschool, elementary, pre-teen, etc.)
How is the children's ministry growth compared to the overall church growth?

Small Groups
How many children did we enroll in a small group this week?
How many total children do we have enrolled in small groups?
What percentage of the overall children's ministry attendance is enrolled in a small group?

Volunteers
How many total volunteers served?
How many new volunteers joined the team this week?
How many volunteers do we have compared to this time last year?
What areas do we need more volunteers in?

New Believer's Class
How many children went through our new believer's class? (parents must attend with them)
How many children have been through the class this year?

Baptisms
How many children were baptized this week?
How many children have been baptized this year?

Kids serving
How many kids served this week as greeters, ushers, praise team, tech team, etc.?

Parent & Child Dedication
How many parents and children have we dedicated this year?

New families
How many first-time families did we register?
How many first-time families have we registered this year?

Returning new families (we have a system to track new families who return)
How many new families came back for the second time?
How many new families came back for the third time?
How many new families have returned this year?

What's on your dashboard?  What other indicators do you check?  Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.

Yesterday I hosted the church tour at the Children's Pastor's Conference in San Diego.  We visited three area churches for an inside look at their facilities and ministries.  We got lots of great ideas.  Here's some pictures I took on the tour.  Enjoy a sneak peak inside these three wonderful children's ministries.

Church #1 -  The Rock Church (therocksandiego.org)
The church was founded in February 2000 by Pastor Miles McPherson.  Currently over 15,000 people attend the Rock every Sunday in-person or online.  They have 2 campuses, with another campus launching this summer.

At the Point Loma campus, "Rock Kids" ministers to an average of 1,100 children each week ranging from infants-5th grade.  The Point Loma campus also serves as the home for their weekday preschool and academy.



Church #2 - First Christian Church (ffchb.com) 
Their Children’s Ministry facility is called The Pier, and houses a five-day-a-week preschool and four, themed, large group gathering areas:  the Lighthouse, the Tree House, the Beach House and the TEK house.  Each venue hosts a different age group and employs a unique set of teaching methods.



Church #3 - Shadow Mountain Community Church (shadowmountain.org)
Shadow Mountain is a church of 8,000 in attendance each weekend with Mountain High Kid's Ministry ministering to 900-1000 children.  Their mountain-themed building and classrooms instantly attract children, making coming to church a fun experience.

They focus on building relationships with children and parents, so that learning and sharing about Jesus is through life conversations.  Shadow Mountain Preschool is housed in the Mountain High Kid’s Building and offers weekday enrichment classes for ages two through pre-kindergarten.

David Houle is a futurist and author of the “The Shift Age."  In a recent CNN interview, he talked about the future of education.  Take note of what he says.  The implications will not only affect how kids learn at school, but at church as well.

"In the next decade, there will be more transformation at all levels of education than in any 10-, 20-, or perhaps 50-year period in history.  Generational forces at play will accelerate these changes.

The aging baby boomers - who I call the “bridge generation,” as they have bridged education from the middle of the 20th century to now - are retiring in ever increasing numbers.  They have held on to the legacy thinking about education, remembering how they were taught.  Their retirement opens up the discussion about transformation.

At the same time, we have the rising digital natives as the students of tomorrow.  This generation, born since 1997, is the first that was likely to grow up with a computer in the house, high-speed Internet, parents with cell phones and often a touch screen app phone as their first phone.

They are the first generation of the 21th century with no memory of the 20th.  They are the first generation born into the information-overloaded world; for them, that’s simply the way it is.  The digital natives are different than prior generations and need new models for education.

Let’s take a quick look for all levels of education to see what some major transformations will be:

Preschool
A child born in 2009 is one of the younger digital natives.  In upper-middle class households, they are the first children for whom all content can be found on screens.  They are using touch screen and other interactive computing devices starting as early as 2, and therefore walk into the first day of preschool or nursery school with a level of digital skills.

This will spark greater use of digital devices and interactive learning at this first level of education.  Classrooms will increasingly have interactive touch screen devices.

K-12 education
The elevation and integration of digital interactivity is soaring in K-12 education.  School districts are setting up cloud computing to provide always-available information for always-connected education communities.

Schools that used to make students turn off cellular devices during the school day are allowing them to remain on and become an integral part of the classroom education.  If all of the world’s knowledge and information are just a few keystrokes away, why make the classroom the only unconnected place students experience?

Self-directed learning - the interaction of the student with learning courses on a computer - will accelerate education and provide more students with the opportunity to learn at a challenging pace.

Connectivity will bring the world ever more into the classroom and will allow for the grammar school and the high school to be more involved in the local community and the larger global community.

The year 2013 will bring about the first steps in a transformation that, by 2020, will leave education at all levels profoundly different from it is today."

Here's my thoughts...

The church normally lags behind changes in education.  It's time we flip that and get on the edge of these transformations.

Are we trying to use the 20th century, lecture-style model of learning to communicate to a new generation of kids and then wondering why they are not engaging with us?  "Ssshhhhh....sit still and listen to me download information" has to change to sounds of kids talking, sharing, and discovering together with a trusted guide.

How can we leverage technology to teach God's Word to kids who are digital natives?

It's time we shift from inactive environments to interactive environments. 

What thoughts or ideas do you have?
How do you think churches can make the shift to this new model?
What are some things you are doing to effectively connect with today's kids?

Share your thoughts with us below.