Do you ever feel like you’re shouting into a void when it comes to communicating with your KidMin parents? No matter how many times you remind everyone that water day is coming or that VBS signup is here, there will always be a few folks who ask you about VBS the week it starts or that forget about a change of clothes and a towel. While I know we are always prepared for those moments with some buffer room at VBS and an extra towel on water day, it’s not always the ideal scenario. It is every KidMin pastor’s dream to have 100% parent involvement in their ministry.
Parents play an essential role in helping to maintain and grow the seeds that you plant during Kids’ Church. They need to feel connected and informed about what is going on in your ministry, but the reality is that sometimes those relationships are difficult to establish and maintain. Not all parents are as invested as we would like, and it can cause a lot of unnecessary stress and tension if you don’t stay ahead of it. Here are some ways to help strengthen your KidMin parent relationships in your ministry:
Create a Regular Communication Plan
As with any relationship, communication is the most important element. Parents want to stay up-to-date on what is going on but often don’t have the forethought to reach out and ask you. Stay ahead of the game. To strengthen KidMin parent relationships, make it your team’s responsibility to be the primary communicator, not the parents’. If you’re not a great communicator, feel free to have someone on your team agree to oversee communicating events/important information to parents. It doesn’t necessarily have to be done by you specifically, but you’ll want to be sure you have someone covering that role. A parent who feels communicated to will be more likely to stay involved because they have time to plan.
Does your church already have a weekly newsletter or a Facebook page where they hear important announcements? See if your ministry can be plugged in to add important information in those places. If not, make one yourself! Having a bi-weekly newsletter could increase your engagement with a minimal increase of work on your team’s end.
Remember the Importance of Parents
I’m 99.9% positive that, at some point in your ministry career, you’ve dealt with a parenting style that you didn’t necessarily agree with. Unfortunately, that is part of the job as a KidMin pastor. The bottom line is this: they are the parents. No matter how tempting it may be at times, it is not our job to parent. It is our job to minister. If you’re dealing with a behavior issue, instead of trying to fill a parenting void, offer to sit down and counsel the parents and figure out how you can help. It truly does take a village to raise a child and being a parent is no easy task. Make it your goal to make every parent feel like you’re in their corner. After all, you are!
Show Up
One of the most significant aspects of your role as a KidMin pastor is to really learn your kids. Learn what they like and don’t like. Dig into tough situations they may be going through. More importantly, show their parents that you genuinely care. Consider having all of your kids bring in their sports/extracurricular activity schedules. You won’t be able to show up to every single event, but something as simple as showing up for a soccer game on a Saturday will make a huge impact on that child’s family. Parents need to know that they are invested in their children long-term and not just when they are in church on Sundays. Be intentional about the investment you’re making. Strengthening the relationship with the parents starts with your relationship to the students.
Host Something for Families
Each quarter, invite families to come together for a KidMin event. This is a great time to have families in the community with each other, but also for you and your team to get time face-to-face with families, and maybe a time to meet new families as well! Some Ideas would be
1. Hot Chocolate + Coffee Hour
Bring everyone together an hour before Sunday service for coffee and hot chocolate! Make time to mingle and share about the upcoming events in your ministry. Having this regularly before already planned activities can create a rhythm for parents to connect with you and your team!
2. Back-to-School Bash
Celebrate the start of a new school year with games, treats, and an introduction to your ministry’s new curriculum plan! The beginning of the school year is a great time to set the tone for what is to come as people come back to church after summer! Gather everyone to remind them of the importance of engagement and inclusion in your ministry.
3. Picnic in the Park(ing Lot)
Have everyone bring their dinner to the closest park, or just have a party in the parking lot! Setting up a speaker with some fun music, some outdoor games, and chalk can make for such a fun family event. Make time to chat with families as they are there and create connections between families as well.
4. Movie Night
Family fun night, anyone? Pop some popcorn and turn on your favorite movie! From classic VeggieTales, The Chosen, Up, or Narnia, you can find licensing for tons of movie options here: https://us.cvli.com/. These are so fun to host over the summer, but they can work all year long! Make sure you build some time in before the movie starts for any announcements and connections.
Parent relationships can often be difficult, but if you maintain them correctly, they can be a tremendous asset to your ministry. To strengthen KidMin parent relationships will strengthen your ministry overall. As you bring more parents into the fold, the hope is that they will also begin to bring others into the midst. At the end of the day, we are all working together to help the next generation have a real encounter with Jesus. In case no one has told you lately, you’re doing a great job!
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