Raising the Fun Factor

September 2019 FUN is a central element of any after-school program. Can you increase student engagement by adding more fun into your small group? In our online leader workshop this month, we shared practical ways to make Bible lessons more fun and interactive for kids. We also discussed some of the following points on why…Continue reading Raising the Fun Factor

Starting Off Strong

The first day of club is like the first day of school: it’s absolutely essential to setting the tone for the year. In our online workshop for leaders earlier this month, we talked about the following tips for starting the year off strong in small groups.  1. Set a positive group culture. A few years…Continue reading Starting Off Strong

Icebreaker BINGO for kids

This is a fun first day of club activity to get kids talking to one another in a small group or large group setting. The activity template can be downloaded and adapted for your club or group, or used as is. Materials: Copies of the Icebreaker Bingo sheet, one per child Pens, pencils or other…Continue reading Icebreaker BINGO for kids

Enhancing Your Cross-Cultural Connections in Ministry

You may not immediately think of your Crossroads ministry as “cross-cultural.” But the reality is that kids in your club and their families most certainly come from a variety of backgrounds, traditions, religions, races and ethnicities. In our diverse modern culture, virtually all ministry is “cross-cultural” and effective connections and relationship building will depend up…Continue reading Enhancing Your Cross-Cultural Connections in Ministry Continue reading Enhancing Your Cross-Cultural Connections in Ministry

Behavior: Collaborative Problem Solving

Collaborative Problem Solving By Kim Kline, Director of Ministry Development At club, one of our biggest challenges is dealing with difficult behaviors of kids. In our last online workshop for leaders, we discussed this topic and presented some strategies for dealing with difficult behavior, including collaborative problem solving.  The idea behind collaborative problem solving is…Continue reading Behavior: Collaborative Problem Solving Continue reading Behavior: Collaborative Problem Solving

Principles for Managing Difficult Behavior

February 2018 This month, our leaders engaged in an online workshop on dealing with difficult behaviors in club. Check out some of the content from that discussion below. If you missed it, check our events page for upcoming online workshops. Here are some key principles we for managing difficult behaviors in club: Remind When a…Continue reading Principles for Managing Difficult Behavior Continue reading Principles for Managing Difficult Behavior

One Simple Thing You Can Do Now to Change A Child’s Life Forever

Thanks to Dale Hudson from Relevant Children’s Ministry for this re-posted article.  How can you impact a child’s life?  How can you be a difference maker for a child who is struggling? If I ask you to make a list, you might write down things like prayer, quality time, teaching the Bible, influencing the child’s…Continue reading One Simple Thing You Can Do Now to Change A Child’s Life Forever Continue reading One Simple Thing You Can Do Now to Change A Child’s Life Forever

Top 10 Reasons Kids Misbehave in Children’s Ministry (And How to Fix It)

Thanks to Relevant Children’s Ministry for this re-post.   The easy thing to do is to quickly place the blame on a child when he or she is misbehaving in class.  While it is true, we all have a rebellious nature we acquired from the fall that can cause us to misbehave on our own…Continue reading Top 10 Reasons Kids Misbehave in Children’s Ministry (And How to Fix It) Continue reading Top 10 Reasons Kids Misbehave in Children’s Ministry (And How to Fix It)

How to Rock Your Small Group Discussion Time

1. Establish a safe environment. Early in the year, make sure that you talk with your group about what you expect small group discussion time to look like, and clarify the boundaries. Set ground rules regarding respecting one another’s turn to talk, listening to others, and being accepting of what others have to share. In…Continue reading How to Rock Your Small Group Discussion Time Continue reading How to Rock Your Small Group Discussion Time

8 Tips for Communicating With Kids One-on-One

Thanks to Andrew VanDerLinden from Organized KidMin for this article! Kids crave the attention of adults. In today’s culture it is rare for a child to have the undivided, uninterrupted attention of anyone, especially an adult. If you want to stand out in the eyes of the kids in your ministry, practice these 8 Tips for Communicating…Continue reading 8 Tips for Communicating With Kids One-on-One Continue reading 8 Tips for Communicating With Kids One-on-One

Turkey Talk!

A fun Thanksgiving themed set of conversation cards to use with your Small Group. Turkey Talk: Conversation Cards For a full Thanksgiving themed lesson which includes these cards, see our Curriculum Store….Continue reading Turkey Talk!