Christmas is an amazing opportunity to celebrate the birth of Jesus with your church family. Every part of the service is crucial because it could be the catalyst to someone giving their life to Jesus! And this includes the kids in your church.
How do you plan to create an unforgettable experience for the kids in your church? Here are some tips on getting started.
Ramp up Your New Guest Experience
Whenever you walk into a new place, what is the first thing you see? Typically, the first thing you see gives you the first impression of the place.
Ask yourself: what first impression do you want to give to guests this season?
During Christmas, there’s a lot of energy, and the last thing you want new people to feel is stressed out or uncomfortable. Ensure that you, your pastoral team, and your volunteers are ready to lead with unreasonable hospitality.
Lead your team to act as “hosts” for new families—show them where the important places are (auditorium, bathroom, kids area, etc.). Create a “first-time family” gift bag with a Christmas-themed toy, an invitation to return, and a coloring sheet to make new families feel welcome from the moment they enter your church.
Make sure your first impression leaves a lasting impression.
Make Your Experience Interactive
Think back to when you were a kid. What moments stuck with you most? It probably wasn’t just the message you heard, but the experiences you had.
Kids remember when they get to do something, not just watch something. By planning fun and interactive activities around Christmas, the story of Jesus can come alive in unforgettable ways.
Here are a few simple but powerful ideas you can use:
- Coloring Sheets: Engage your kids’ creativity by using coloring sheets! Here are some free Christmas coloring sheets you can use.
- Activity Sheet: Give kids a hands-on way to connect with the Christmas story. Here’s a free kids’ Christmas activity sheet.
- Create-Your-Own Ornaments: Provide supplies for kids to design an ornament they can hang on their tree at home—a reminder of the true reason we celebrate.
Another element that can bring excitement to kids is your lobby and how you decorate. What does your lobby look like this Christmas? Is it warm, inviting, and filled with opportunities for kids to experience joy? Consider creating photo op areas where families can take pictures together and cherish the memories that come from your Christmas service.
When kids have these moments, it sparks anticipation not just for presents under the tree, but for celebrating the greatest gift ever given, Jesus.
Have Fun and Meaningful Curriculum
As you plan your experiences, also plan the curriculum you will use. Here’s some powerful kids’ curriculum content you can use to engage the kids of your church:
- The First Christmas Gift: Celebrate Jesus: A preschool series that points kids to the true meaning of Christmas (Hint: it’s Jesus!)
- Christmas Party: A stand-alone Christmas series where kids participate in a mega-fun Christmas party while learning about the birth of Jesus.
No matter the curriculum you use, remember Christmas is an incredible opportunity to plant a seed that could lead a child to give their life to Jesus!
Create Memorable Worship Moments
Music is a powerful way to give God praise. Look to create a mix of worship and Christmas songs that are easy for kids to remember and sing along to!
Encourage your volunteers to lead by example by singing along with the kids and being an example of what it looks like to worship.
Check out the LifeKids Christmas Melody if you are looking for some songs to incorporate into your Christmas worship experience!
Have a Strong Volunteer Team
Volunteers are the thermostat of your ministry. When they are equipped to lead and love at a high level, it can set the spiritual temperature and leave a lasting impact on your attenders.
That is why having a strong kids volunteer team is essential to making the experience unforgettable. Volunteers who have the heart to share and celebrate the love of Jesus, as well as care for kids’ wellbeing, can make a significant impact. Even if a kid won’t remember what you do, they will remember how your volunteers made them feel.
Check out this Life.Church Open Network blog post, How to Build a Strong Volunteer Team for Your Church, for some tips on recruiting and developing the right people.
Looking for more Christmas resources to create the best Christmas experience for your church? Check out Christmas Made Simple. This guide has every Christmas resource you need in one place, such as sermons, worship sets, kids’ curriculum, creative assets, communication strategies, and excellence checklists.
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