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.
Links to other sites will open in a new page to keep the list available to look at additional ministry resources. While seeking to choose sites and resources that are doctrinally sound, we make no claim to total endorsement of any listing. Where possible, we link to merchants with whom we have an affiliate relationship. These sites may use cookies to track your activity to ensure that Ministry Tools Resource Center gets commissions from any sales.
General
Children & Their Walk with God
Articles:
- Children & Prayer
- Children & Serving
- Children & Spiritual Gifts
- Children & the Bible
- Children & Worship
Books & Booklets:
- Leading Kids to Jesus by David Staal
- Show them Jesus: Teaching the Gospel to Kids by Jack Klumpenhower
Curriculum by Ministry Tools Resource Center:
Ideas & Resources
Age
Ministry to Children at various age levels begins by understanding their characteristics and how to best reach them.
Early Childhood Ministry (Preschool)
Articles & More:
- About Early Childhood as a Broad Age Grouping
- Understanding & Ministering to Infants (ages birth - 2 yrs.)
- Understanding & Ministering to Toddlers (ages 2-3 yrs.)
- Understanding & Ministering to Pre-Primary (ages 4-5 yrs.)
Books & Other Resources:
- 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
- Bibles For Ages 0 to 2 years - Babies & Toddlers
- Bibles For Ages 3 to 5 years - Beginners & Preschoolers
- Big Book of Bible Activities, Songs, and Rhymes for Early Childhood by Standard Publishing
- Big Book of Bible Story Coloring Activities for Early Childhood by Standard Publishing
- Big Book of Bible Story Coloring Pages for Early Childhood by Standard Publishing
- Cards for Baby Celebration - Congratulations, Baby Dedication
- Devotionals for Ages 3-5
- How to Do Bible Learning Activities: Ages 2-5 by Karen Klein
- Picture Books for Babies & Toddlers
- Picture Books for Ages 3-5
- Play-n-Worship: Play-Along Bible Stories
by Group Publishing
- Preschool Smart Pages--Book and CD-ROM by Gospel Light
- Room & Supplies Resources: Baby Gear & More
- Toys for Babies & Toddlers
- Toys for Ages 3-5 years
- Turbocharged!: 100 Simple Secrets to Successful Preschool Ministry by Group Publishing
Training Resources:
- Age Level Characteristics: Early Childhood Module Download
- Let the Little Children Come Teacher Training Workbook
- Play: It's How Kids Learn Worksheet
Grade School Ministry
Articles & More:
Books & Other Resources:
- Adventures in Odyssey
- Bibles For Ages 6 to 8 years - Grade School
- Bible Studies for Children
- Children's Ministry Smart Pages w/ CD-ROM
- Devotionals for Ages 6-8
- How to Do Bible Learning Activities: Grades 1-6 by Barbara J. Bolton
Training Resources:
Pre-Teen (Tweens) Ministry Ministry
Articles & More:
Books & Other Resources:
- Be Bold Preteen Curriculum by Group Publishing
- BeTween Everything: Teacher Helps for Transitioning Tweens by Barbara Bruce
- Bibles for Ages 9-12 - Tweens
- Bible Studies for Kids & Tweens
- Caught In Between: Engage Your Preteens Before They Check Out by Dan Scott
- Devotionals for Tweens
- Preteen Ministry Smart Pages by Gordon West
Issues
Discipline - Classroom Management
The Classroom Discipline Bundle includes the following Teacher Training Resources:
More on Classroom Discipline:
- Articles, Books, and Other Resources with General Help about Classroom Discipline
- Articles Helping with Specific Discipline Issues
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: General Info & Procedures
Articles:
- 3 Ways to Make Your Nursery Safe and Sound
- 6 Critical Security Steps for Your Children's Ministry
- 7 Safety Tips to Strengthen Your Children's Ministry
- A Starting Point in Church Safety
- 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
- Do an Annual Child Safety Survey with Parents & Children
- Incident Reporting - A Tool For Improving Child Safety
- Not at My Church!
- Planning for Child Safety & Security
- Safety First
- Screening Procedures for Childhood Ministry
- Securing Your Facility - Simple Changes That Make a Big Difference
- 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
- Safe Sanctuaries: Reducing the Risk of Abuse in the Church for Children and Youth by Joy Thornburg Melton
- The Missing Ministry: Safety, Risk Management, and Protecting Your Church - deals with total church safety issues including children
Resources:
Teacher Training Resources:
Specific Safety Issues
Allergies:
- Addressing Allergies for Children in Your Care
- Churches, Kids, and Food Allergies - The Danger We Often Forget
- Preventing Allergies from Overtaking Your Children's Ministry
Disasters:
Illness:
Medical Emergencies - Injuries:
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:
Bible Clubs
- Neighborhood Bible Clubs to Expand Outreach in Our Communities:
Articles:
Misc. Resources for Bible Clubs:
Organization:
- Awana Clubs to help "reach kids through fun, Scripture-rich experiences":
Articles:
Resources:
Children's Church
Articles:
Resources:
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:
- Mid-Week Children's Program Teachers Training
- What To Do About a Mid-Week Children's Program
- Mid-Week Curriculum
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
- 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
- Kidology's Ultimate Toolbox for Children's Ministry by Karl Bastian
- 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
- Sustainable Children's Ministry: From Last-Minute Scrambling to Long-Term Solutions by Mark DeVries, Annette Safstrom
- 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
- What About Kids Ministry? Practical Answers to Questions About Kids Ministry Ed. by Bill Emeott
Children's Teachers Training
Articles:
- Be-Attitudes for Teachers
- Should We Really Try to Teach Children Bible Truths?
- 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 relationship-building and your own life's example.
Other Resources You Might Want to Check Out: