Effective Children's Ministry

Archive for the ‘Quick Tips’ Category

One sure way to help kids memorize bible verses is to say them out loud. An article on the Psychology Today website confirms what we have probably known all along!

They looked at people’s memory for items like a list of words. They found that if people studied the list by reading half of the words silently and the other half by saying the words out loud, that he words spoken aloud were remembered much better than those that were read silently.

There are lots of games and strategies to make out-loud repetitive learning fun. Speaking out the Word of God is a proven help to remembering.

Kathy Vincent (aka Scripture Lady) has some great ideas from making out-loud learning fun for kids.  Here is a great one. Check it out and see if you would like to use it this week with your class or club

CRAZY STAND UPs  Bible memorization from Scripture Lady

Who would have thought that a sink plunger could be so useful to a puppeteer?

This cheap and readily available object makes a great stand for small half-body puppets.  James, over at CMMonthly.com has found that the plungers keep the puppets upright and clean.

I can imagine that they would be ideal, not only in a store room situation, but also on a table behind the staging, during a performance. It will be much easier to spot and lift the right puppet at the right time with them standing in a row.

And just think of the satisfying **Schlurp** sound when you detach them after the show!

For details, visit this post on James’ site.

Would you like to see a video of two of the cutest kids on the planet showing what they have learned about the Crucifixion? They use finger gestures to help recall the “5 mighty miracles of the cross”.

Hop over to becomingsaturated.com.

I defy you not to grin from ear to ear when you watch the girls and then try to remember the gestures so that you can teach your kids!

Catherine and I once turned up at a children’s service with the wrong bag of visuals.  We had identical bags for a youth event and a childrens event – not a good idea! Fortunately Catherine is a tremendously good story-teller! So the loss of the picture cards was not an enormous handicap to her telling the Bible story.  She used her gestures and voice to dramatize the lesson, and gripped us all.

But from that day onward we kept a list of everything that was needed, and before we loaded the car we eye-balled each individual item. Oh yes, and we colour coded the bags!!

Lists are invaluable. Most of us use them when we go shopping, pack for holidays and  plan for Christmas. They are equally useful (and for us older folk, essential!) in kid’s ministry.

Doing craft? List every required items. Then you won’t find yourself without wet-wipes to clean hands after a messy activity.

Leading worship? List your visuals and equipment. I once forgot the amplifier for my electric guitar! I have also left behind electrical extension cables and overhead projector slides.

Giving a powerpoint presentation? List all the connectors, extension cables and projector screen, if required. Put your presentation notes on the list too, if you work from a sheet of paper.

Teaching a Bible lesson? List all your visual aids and presentation equipment, together with any objects or demonstrations you will be using.

Even after all our years in kid’s ministry, we still find making lists one of the best ways to ensure a trouble-free setup and a smoothly run meeting.
You might even like to transfer a list onto your computer, so you can print a checklist each time to leave to take part in a meeting.

There is no better way to help kids memorize Scripture than to set it to music. Someone who has this ministry is Scripture Lady, Kathy Vincent.

Not only does she get children excited about the stories and adventures in the Bible, but with singing and actions she helps them fix the truths in their minds and hearts. You can see Kathy in action in a demo video on her site. If you are like us, you will find yourself singing the songs all week! After one viewing of this video Catherine and I were singing: “He came to SEEK!  He came to SAVE!  He came to seek and to save that which was lost!” And it lived with us for days after.

But Kathy isn’t keeping all the tricks-of-the-trade to herself!  She wants   to get us all singing the Bible with our children!

If you would like to learn how you can set Scripture to music visit her blog post. And while you are there, sign up for  Scripture Lady’s free email newsletter. It’s packed full of great ideas to help you get creative in your teaching and reviewing of the Bible.

If you think that making music is not for you, check our our post for the unmusical among us!