Activities or Games in Children's Church
Activities and games in children's church can build relationships while reinforcing bible lessons. Kids may be more willing to listen through a skit, object lesson or memory verse than they would through a lecture. Help them take part in fun things to broaden their understanding of God, the Bible, church and Christianity.
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Icebreakers
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Welcome children to church using an icebreaker that helps them have fun and encourages them to trust each other. Race ping pong balls on spoons from one side of the room to the other or have a whistling contest after giving each child two crackers to eat. Use traditional games such as "Duck, Duck, Goose" or "Red Light, Green Light" to offer a familiar element to new kids. Encourage kids to participate, but don't require them to. If they refuse, have a volunteer or another teacher sit with them and cheer on the kids who are taking part in the icebreaker activities.
Crafts
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Building an object or creating something artistic lets kids express themselves in the learning process. A Bible lesson about Jesus on the cross may inspire kids to create their own cross out of sticks and string you provide them. Giving younger kids a page to color that references a lesson you just taught them can help them retain the information. Inspire creativity and always ask kids to tell you about what they made.
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Memory Verses
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Pick a verse from the Bible that relates to your lesson. Challenge kids to memorize the verse and give them notecards with the verse on it to help them memorize the verse over the course of the next week. Reward kids who can recite the verse from memory with a prize, such as a small toy or sticker. Allow new kids to receive a prize if they are willing to read the verse and say it as best as they are able to from memory after a few tries.
Object Lessons
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Keep your lessons practical by using a familiar item as a part of your teaching. A balloon can represent the "weight of sin" that is lifted when someone becomes a Christian and a flashlight can affirm Jesus' challenge in Matthew to "Let your line shine before men." Let kids come up with the application some weeks. Teach your lesson and then pull out a random item and ask kids how it reminds them of what the lesson they just heard.
Skits
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Use scripts, improv or prompts to create a presentation that builds on your lesson. After reading scripture, ask for volunteers to act out how they thought everything happened. Encourage kids to take liberties without compromising the integrity of what they read. Use puppets or adults if kids aren't willing to act, and develop a troupe of regular characters who add fun to the learning environment. Write your own skits, purchase a book or find resources online.
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References
- Children's Church Ministry: Children's Church Games
- Children's Church Ministry: Free Children's Church Object Lessons
- Children's Church Ministry: Children's Church Skits
- Religious Resources: Activities for Children
- Ministry to Children: Children's Church Games for Kids Ministry
- Kid's Sunday School: Activities
Resources
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