Ah, summer is finally here! The sun is shining, schools are out, and the excitement is palpable. As a KidMin leader, you’ve worked hard all year to create a dynamic and engaging ministry for your kids. But with the summer break comes a new set of challenges: keeping your Kidmin summer engagement high and the kids excited about church.
As you plan your summer activities, remember that the summer months can be a time of transition and change for families. Some may take vacations or trips, while others may adjust their schedules to accommodate summer camps or outdoor activities.
Don’t get discouraged by having fewer students in kids’ church than normal. You’ll be back to a full classroom soon enough, so keep your KidMin fresh, fun, and engaging over the summer for the students who are there.
Here are six ways to help you keep your KidMin summer engagement up:
1. Rest
Before we dive into the fun stuff, let’s talk about something equally important: rest. As a KidMin leader, you pour your heart and soul into creating a ministry that kids love and parents want their kids to be a part of. It’s no secret that keeping things running smoothly takes a lot of physical, mental, and emotional energy. So, take a deep breath and give yourself permission to rest.
Whether you need a day off to catch up on sleep or a week-long reset to recharge, make sure you prioritize self-care. Your KidMin will thank you for it! Remember, burnout is a real thing, and it’s essential to take care of yourself so you can continue to serve your kids with passion and enthusiasm. It’s difficult to pour into others when your own cup is empty. No matter what rest looks like for you, ask for help when you need it so you can be the best version of yourself for the families you minister to.
2. Revisit VBS Material
You will be spending several days sharing the love of God with your KidMin and other children in your community during VBS. Once you’ve finished, you’ll probably be basking in the glow of an amazing week of ministry. Now’s the time to ask your kids what they enjoyed the most about VBS while it’s fresh in their minds. What were the things they loved and can’t wait to do again next year? What things did they not quite grasp that you could focus on more throughout the rest of the year? Write everything down now and keep it in a place where you won’t lose it. Your future self will thank you for it when it comes time to plan VBS next year.
Take some time to revisit the awesome material you shared with your kids. Choose a memory verse, song track, game, or activity sheet that made such a big impact on their lives to review each week. They’ll love getting to do fun VBS activities in Kids Church, and you’ll love seeing the excitement on their face when they participate and engage with the activities you’ve planned.
Sharing these reminders with your kids over the summer can help keep what they learned fresh in their minds. It’s a great way to encourage them to continue growing in their faith and staying connected with God.
3. Follow-Up
As you welcome new families into your church community over the summer, make sure you follow up with them regularly. This could be as simple as sending a quick email or making a phone call to check in on how they’re doing.
You can build trust and create a sense of belonging by showing your new friends that you care about their well-being and are invested in their families’ journey. Making newcomers feel like they’re seen, valued, and appreciated makes all the difference when it comes to growing your ministry. Who knows? A simple follow-up call might just lead to an entire family giving their hearts to the Lord!
4. Create Summer Activities
Now that we’ve covered the essentials of rest, review, and follow-up, let’s talk about some fun summer activities you can plan for your KidMin. Here are a few ideas to keep your Kidmin summer engagement up:
- Host a summer picnic or cookout to welcome new families.
- Organize a Minute to Win It competition.
- Rent a karaoke machine and have kids sing their favorite worship songs.
- Host a water-themed activity day for parents and kids. When else will parents get the chance to throw water balloons at their kids?
The key is to keep things fresh and exciting while still incorporating elements of your VBS program or regular Sunday services.
5. Keep Communication Open
Communication becomes even more crucial as families adjust their schedules over the summer. Ensure you’re keeping your kids (and their parents) informed about upcoming events, changes in schedule, or important reminders.
Use social media, email newsletters, or whatever works best for your ministry to stay in touch with your families. By keeping them informed and up-to-date, you can help them feel more connected to your church community, even when they’re not physically present.
6. Celebrate Milestones
Finally, don’t forget to celebrate your kids’ milestones and achievements over the summer! Just because you don’t see them every week doesn’t mean they’re not learning, growing, and reaching new goals. Whether they’re mastering a new skill, learning a memory verse, or simply growing in their faith, recognize these accomplishments and shower them with praise and encouragement.
Celebrating these important milestones can help build confidence and self-esteem in your kids while encouraging them to share their faith with others.
For students who are away for the summer, have a place where they can share updates and still feel included and connected to their friends and church community.
Remember that keeping your KidMin summer engagement high requires creativity, intentionality, and a willingness to adapt to changing circumstances. By prioritizing rest, revisiting VBS material, following up with new families, creating summer activities, keeping communication open, and celebrating milestones, you can help your kids stay connected to God and their church community even when school is out.
