BEING A KID FRIENDLY CONGREGATION PRESENTED BY LISA KAMMERER, ASSOCIATE IN MINISTRY

A KID FRIENDLY CONGREGATION HELPS KIDS SENSE THAT THEY ARE PART OF THE CHURCH NOT A APART FROM THE CHURCH

YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THESE CHILDREN ARE NOT MEMEBERS YET CHILDREN ARE MEMBERS WHEN THEY ARE CONFIRMED KIDS WILL GET THEIR TURN YOU HAVE TO BE A CERTAIN AGE TO HELP WITH THIS QUIET!!! STARES FROM THOSE IN THE PEW NEAR YOU IT WOULD BE BEST IF YOU REMOVED YOUR KIDS WHEN THEY ARE FUSSY OR LOUD WHY CAN'T THESE KIDS JUST BE LIKE OUR KIDS WERE? OUR KIDS KNEW HOW TO SIT IN CHURCH, STOP MAKING A MESS! THERE ARE CHEERIOS IN OUR PEWS! YOU COLORED WHERE? NO GLITTER ALLOWED! YOUR FINGERS ARE STICKY!

SOMETIMES WE UNKNOWINGLY SAY KIDS ARE NOT ALLOWED BY WHAT WE SAY & DO HOW DOES THIS UNSPOKEN MESSAGE AFFECT OUR KIDS AND FAMILIES? HOW DOES THIS AFFECT OUR KIDS' RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS?

A KID FRIENDLY CONGREGATION IS WHERE A KID KNOWS THAT THE ADULTS WHO ARE IN CHARGE LOVE KIDS IT'S NOT A PROGRAM KIDS ARE NOT IN CHARGE OF DECISIONS IT'S NOT A SEPARATE SPACE IN OUR CHURCH BUILDING

IT'S AN ATTITUDE THAT SAYS... KIDS BELONG HERE KIDS ARE WELCOME KIDS ARE MEMBERS OF THE BODY OF CHRIST WE VALUE YOU SO MUCH WE PLAN, DESIGN, AND SAY WORDS DELIBERATELY TO INCLUDE KIDS

HERE'S WHAT KID FRIENDLY CONGREGATIONS DO

UNDERSTAND THAT IN ORDER TO MAKE KIDS FEEL WELCOME, WE NEED TO WELCOME THEIR PARENTS CLEAR SIGNAGE AND A CLEAN AND WELCOMING SPACE PERSONAL WELCOME AND INVITE KNOWING WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE ARE ABOUT POLICIES THAT PROTECT KIDS CLEAR COMMUNICATION SO PARENTS KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE

CREATE A SENSE OF BELONGING INTENTIONAL CONNECTIONS SOMEONE LIKE ME A COMMUNITY... SOMETHING MORE THAN SUNDAY WORSHIP CONSISTENT LEADERS FRIENDSHIP TIES

MAKING KIDS FEEL COMFORTABLE SPEAK THEIR LANGUAGE JUST MY SIZE ENVIRONMENT CLEAN ATTRACTIVE SPACE THINGS FOR KIDS IN LOTS OF AREAS OF OUR CHURCH EMBRACE TECHNOLOGY

RELAXED FIT RESPECT PERSONAL SPACE DON'T OVERWHELM WITH TOO MUCH FRIENDLINESS USE ONE ON ONE CONVERSATIONS TO BUILD CONNECTIONS

TALK TO KIDS WARMLY GREET KIDS (MORE THAN THE HANDSHAKE AT THE DOOR) PLAN WAYS FOR KIDS TO TALK TO EACH OTHER AND OTHER ADULTS ENCOURAGE CONGREGATION MEMBERS TO TALK TO KIDS INCLUDE KIDS IN ALL AREAS OF MINISTRY PROVIDE SPACE AND AREAS FOR PEOPLE TO GATHER AND VISIT TALK TO KIDS OUTSIDE OF CHURCH

INVOLVE KIDS IN ALL AREAS OF CHURCH WORSHIP CHILDREN' MESSAGE CHILDREN'S SPACE/WORSHIP BAG CHILDREN PRAYING USHERING/GREETING/READING COLLECTING SPECIAL OFFERINGS DISPLAYING THEIR PROJECTS A SPECIAL WORD OR MESSAGE TO LISTEN FOR CROSS GEN MINISTRY SERVICE PROJECTS DINNERS EDUCATIONAL EVENTS SOCIAL EVENTS SUNDAY MORNING TIME SPECIAL MINISTRY MUSIC: SINGING, PLAYING INSTRUMENTS DECORATING DRAMA ART SERVICE PROJECTS PRAYER PARTNERS

INVOLVE KIDS IN ALL AREAS OF CHURCH IN PRINT HIGHLIGHT KIDS ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN NEWSELTTERS, ON SOCIAL MEDIA, OR ON A CHURCH BULLETIN BOARD MAKE OUR PURPOSE AND NEEDS KNOWN TO THE CONGREGATION ANY WAY WE CAN FEATURE KIDS ART HOW WE SPEAK DO WE INCLUDE KIDS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR CHURCH? SO WE USE EXAMPLES FROM KIDS' LIVES USE KIDS' PRAYERS ALL OUR COMMITTEES ARE KIDS INVOLVED IN OUR STEWARDSHIP, EVANGELISM, OUTREACH, OR PROPERTY? CAN KIDS SERVE ON OUR COMMITTEES OR TASK FORCES?

A KID FRIENDLY CONGREGATION VALUES THE GIFTS OF CHILDREN IT'S NEVER TOO EARLY TO HELP CHILDREN CATCH THE WONDER OF BEING GOD'S WORKERS IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD!

OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, WALK THOUGH YOUR CHURCH AND VIEW IT THROUGH A CHILDREN'S EYES HAVE YOUR COMMITTEE TAKE A TOUR ASK A GROUP OF KIDS TO TELL YOU WHAT THEY LIKE OR DON'T LIKE ABOUT EACH SPACE INVITE A NEW FAMILY TO BE SECRET VISITORS

HERE ARE SOME UNEXPECTED FAMILY FRIENDLY IDEAS ADD CHILD SIZED FURNITURE TO AREAS NORMALLY USED BY ADULTS ESTABLISH RESERVED PARKING SPACES CLOSE TO THE DOOR FOR PARENTS WITH BABIES CHILD SIZED RESTROOM SINKS, STOOLS, OR DRINKING FOUNTAINS DO A SOCIAL MEDIA PROJECT AS A CHURCH ARTWORK OR PICTURES AT KID'S EYE LEVEL OR KID'S ARTWORK AT AN ADULT'S EYE LEVEL CHANGING STATIONS IN WOMEN'S AND MEN'S RESTROOMS A NOTE IN THE PEWS ABOUT HOW KIDS ARE WIGGLY AND WELCOME

QUESTIONS & BEST PRACTICES BRING IT ON!