Children's Ministry Resources
Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me ..." (Matt. 19:14). Here are resources to help you bring children to Jesus.
Click on a tab below to view a list of resources related to children's ministry in general or based on age level, programs or strategies, and issues faced, as well as training resources for teachers and other children's workers.
Many of the links below will take you to articles on other sites or to one of our affiliate stores. While seeking to choose sites and books that are doctrinally sound the Ministry Tools Resource Center makes no claim to total endorsement of any listing. Links to other sites will open in a new page to allow you to keep the list available to look at additional children's ministry resources.
General
Children & Their Walk with God
Articles:
Books & Booklets:
- Leading Kids to Jesus by David Staal
- What Communion is all About for Kids
- What Baptism is All About for Kids
Curriculum by Ministry Tools Resource Center:
Ideas & Resources
- Appreciation Cards for Children's Workers:
- Children's Bibles
- Children's Bookmarks
- Children's Books
- Children's Devotionals
- Christian novelty items, toys, prizes
- Lanyards
- Sports & Recreation Equipment
- Postcards - Kids Absentee: Value Pack, 100
- Puppets
- Room Supplies: Classroom Furniture, Tables, Boards, Storage Supplies
- Stickers
Other Resources You Might Want to Check Out:
Age
Nursery - Infants & Toddlers Ministry
Articles:
- 7 Reasons to Serve in the Church Nursery
- 8 Ways to Make Your Children's Ministry More Than Babysitting
- How to Make Your Nursery Safe and Sound
- Just a Nursery Worker? Ouch!
- Looking for Foundation Builders?
- Foundation Builders Need Jesus' Heart
- Foundation Builders Need Jesus' Approach
- Let the Little Children Come
- Never Too Young to Learn
- What New Parents Need From Your Nursery
Books:
- Baby Beginnings Nursery Kit: A Complete Resource for Creating a Great Nursery by Gospel Light
- Baby Beginnings Nursery Smart Pages, with Cd-Rom and DVD by Gospel Light
- First Impressions by Lynda Boardman
- The Safe and Caring Church Nursery by Jennifer Root Wilger
- The Warm and Wonderful Church Nursery by Lori Haynes Niles
Resources:
- Cards for Baby Celebration - Congratulations, Baby Dedication
- Play-n-Worship: Play-Along Bible Stories
by Group Publishing
- Room & Supplies Resources: Baby Gear & More
- Room & Supplies Resources: Infants & Toddlers Furniture & Supplies
Training Resources:
Early Childhood Ministry (Preschool)
Articles:
- 3 Tips for Teaching Preschoolers
- A Place Preschoolers Want to Be
- A Place Preschoolers Don't Want to Be
- Methods for Preschoolers
- Motivating Preschoolers to Learn
- Preschoolers & Scripture Memory
Books:
- Preschool Smart Pages--Book and CD-ROM by Gospel Light
- Turbocharged!: 100 Simple Secrets to Successful Preschool Ministry by Group Publishing
Training Resources:
Grade School Ministry
Articles:
- 3 Things Gradeschoolers Need to KNOW
- 3 Things Gradeschoolers Need to FEEL
- 3 Things Gradeschoolers Need to DO
- 3 Tips for Teaching Grade School Students
- A Place Grade School Children Want to Be
- A Place Grade School Children Don't Want to Be
- Grade School Children & Scripture Memory
- Methods for Grade School Children
- Motivating Grade School Children to Learn
Books:
Training Resources:
Pre-Teen (Tweens) Ministry Ministry
Books:
- Preteen Ministry Smart Pages by Gordon West
- BeTween Everything: Teacher Helps for Transitioning Tweens by Barbara Bruce
Issues
Discipline - Classroom Management
Articles:
- An Umbrella for Classroom Discipline
- Basics for Classroom Discipline
- Basic Understandings
- Classroom Discipline Must Get Beyond
- Dealing with the Root Cause of Problem Behavior
- Discipline Issues Making Your Teachers Want to Quit?
- Helping Bible Teachers with Problem Students
- Hidden Messages in Disciplining
Teacher Training Resources:
- Biblical Authority versus the Authoritarian and Permissive Teachers Worksheet
- Discipline Issues: What to Do About Specific Challenges Download
- Effectively Handling Classroom Discipline Workbook
- Handbook on the Basics of Classroom Discipline
Ministering to Children Who Hurt (Divorce, Loss, Tragedies)
Articles:
Books:
- Comforting Children in Crisis by Group Publishing
- Group's Emergency Response Handbook for Children's Ministry
Organizations:
Teacher Training Resources:
Safety Issues
Articles:
- A Starting Point in Church Safety
- Are You Disaster-Prepared?
- Background Checks, Anyone?
- Child Safety - Part 1: The Child Protection Policy Defined
- Child Safety - Part 2: Planning & Creating A Child Protection Policy
- Child Safety - Part: 3 Writing and Implementing a Child Protection Policy
- Creating Safe Kidmin Environments in Established Churches
- Critical Lockdown Procedures
- Incident Reporting - A Tool For Improving Child Safety
- Medical Emergencies - Be Prepared
- Not at My Church!
- Planning for Child Safety & Security
- Safe and Sound
- Safeguarding Children with a Good First Aid Kit
- Safety First
- Screening Procedures for Childhood Ministry
- Securing Your Facility - Simple Changes That Make a Big Difference
- Security Plans
- What You Need to Know About Check In and Check Out
Books:
- On Guard: Preventing and Responding to Child Abuse at Church by Deepak Reju
- The Missing Ministry: Safety, Risk Management, and Protecting Your Church - deals with total church safety issues including children
Teacher Training Resources:
Safety Issue: Allergies
Articles:
Strategies
Bible Learning Activities for Children
Articles:
- Are Crafts More Than Busywork?
- Fun & Games and Bible Learning?
- Teachers Maximizing Time When Using Puzzles?
Resources:
- Coloring Idea Links
- Crafts Idea Links
- DVDs for Kids
- Felt Story Sets:
- Game Idea Links
- Music for Children
- Puzzles
- Skits Idea Links
- Toys
Teacher Training Resources:
Children's Church
Articles:
Resources:
- Children's Church Curriculum
- Children's Sermons & Object Lessons
- Music for Kids Praise & Worship CDs & DVDs
Children's Curriculum
Holiday and Seasonal Resources
Articles:
Books:
- Seasonal Specials for Children's Ministry: All-New Ideas for 13 Holidays by Group Publishing
Teacher Training:
Ministry Resources for Specific Holidays, Seasons, or Events:
- Back to School
- Christmas
- Easter
- Halloween
- Independence Day
- New Year's Day
- President's Day
- St. Patrick's Day
- Thanksgiving
- Vacation Bible School
- Valentine's Day
Mid-Week Program
Articles:
Outreach
Resources:
- God Loves You! Salvation Booklet - (Package of 20)
- Memory Cross Tracts
- Case for a Creator for Kids by Lee Strobel
- Case for Christ for Kids by Lee Strobel
- Case for Faith for Kids by Lee Strobel
- Case for Grace for Kids by Lee Strobel
- Salvation by Colors Bracelets
- Tracts for Children
Sunday School
Articles:
Resources:
Training
Children's Ministry Training
Articles:
- The Importance of Children's Ministry
- Standards Every Church Ought to Have for Their Children's Ministry
Books:
- Building Children's Ministry by Tina Houser
- Childhood Education in the Church by Robert E. Clark, Roy B. Zuck
- Children's Ministry in the 21st Century by Rich Chromey, Craig Jutila, Pat Verbal
- Children's Ministry in the Way of Jesus by David M. Csinos, Ivy Beckwith
- Children's Ministry Leadership: The You-Can-Do-It Guide by Jim Wideman
- Children's Ministry on Purpose: A Purpose Driven Approach to Lead Kids toward Spiritual Health by Steven J. Adams
- Children's Ministry Smart Pages with CD-ROM by Gospel Light
- Children's Ministry That Works: The Basics and Beyond by Craig Jutila
- Children's Ministry Volunteers That Stick by Jim Wideman
- Gospel-Centered Kids Ministry: How the Gospel Will Transform Your Kids, Your Church, Your Community, and the World by Brian Dembowczyk
- Growing a Healthy Children's Ministry by Steve Alley
- Kids Ministry that Nourishes: Three Essential Nutrients of a Healthy Kids Ministry by Jana Magruder
- Lead the Way God Made You: Discovering Your Leadership Style in Children's Ministry by Larry Shallenberger
- Leadership Essentials for Children's Ministry: Passion, Attitude, Teamwork, Honor by Craig Jutila
- Making Your Children's Ministry the Best Hour of Every Kid's Week by Sue Miller & David Staal
- Postmodern Children's Ministry: Ministry to Children in the 21st Century Church by Ivy Beckwith
- The Christian Educator's Handbook on Children's Ministry, 2d ed.: Reaching and Teaching the Next Generation by Robert J. Choun, Michael S. Lawson
- The Growing Leader: Healthy Essentials for Children's Ministry by Craig Jutila
- The Ultimate Survival Guide For Children's Ministry Workers by Ivy Beckwith
Children's Teachers Training
Articles:
- Be-Attitudes for Teachers
- Teaching Methods
- Teach an Adult Book to Children? Why?
- Teach an Adult Book to Children? How?
Books:
- Be-Attitudes for Teachers
- Handbook on the Classroom Discipline
- Follow Me As I Follow Christ: A Guide to Teaching Children in Church by Cheryl Dunlop
- Teaching with Heart: A Guide to Cherishing and Challenging Children in the Christian Classroom by Jody Capehart
Training Session:
Workbooks:
Worksheets & Handbouts:
- Effective Scripture Memorization Worksheet
- Guided Conversation Worksheet
- Heart Transformation or Behavior Modification? Worksheet
- Keys to Visualizing the Story Without Visual Aids Worksheet
- Play: It's How Kids Learn Worksheet
- Sharpening Your Bible Teaching Methods Resource
- Tips for Using Object Lessons Worksheet
- Using Puppets in the Classroom Document
- Without a Good Parent-Teacher Relationship Worksheet
Also Check Out:
TrainBibleTeachers.com provides lists of resources on about 60 different topics and issues along with some administrative helps for developing a teacher training plan.
May God use you to point children to the Lord. These children's ministry resources can assist as you reach and teach them but also remember the impact of the example of your life and building relationships with them.
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