Earlier this week we talked about how it can be difficult for kids’ ministry leaders to adapt teaching to the different learning styles of boys and girls. Today I want to share some practical ways to teach kids if we really want them to retain and apply what they’re learning.  

Three Ways to Craft a Kids’ Ministry Lesson That Sticks 

How do you create kids’ ministry lessons that stick with your kids after they leave church on Sunday morning? Here are three ways:  

1. Engage kids in learning experiences. Let them experience the story. Let them think about and discuss how they would act and respond if they were in the situation. Touch, smell, and taste help kids remember. Help kids identify what the people in the story were feeling.

2. Make it easy for kids to remember the key takeaways. Repetition is key. Repeat key points at least five times. Honor kids’ attention spans and their need to participate by letting them verbalize the takeaways back to you. This will really help them lock in those takeaways.

3. Challenge kids to do something with what they learned. Provide ways they can apply the lesson into their week. Make the lesson personal. Teach more than just the facts. Information without application doesn’t lead to growth. Remember that kids will forget much of what you say if you don’t get them involved in the process.  

As we present the stories of Scripture to children, we need to be mindful to always present God’s desire to be in their life. The stories within the Bible illustrate God’s pursuit of mankind. Kids today need to know God desires a relationship with each one of them.