How to Host a Connected Family Event

A 2-hour interactive experience to help parents navigate technology while prioritizing real connection with their kids and with God

What happens during the event

Parents will

Watch 3 teaching videos
Reflect on personal tech habits
Discuss at tables with other parents
Draft a Family Technology Plan

Kids will

Enjoy age-appropriate programming
Play games and activities
Build connections with other kids
Have fun for 90 minutes

The win

Deeper family connection
Practical next steps
Community of support
Biblical grounding

Event preparation checklist

1. Invite families

Weekend announcements
Invite cards at pickup
Social media posts
Email campaigns
Sign-up form for questions

2. Set up your space

Round tables (6-8 seats each)
Projector and sound system
Parent Resource Bundles
Optional: Table signs by age
Optional: Meal or snacks

3. Recruit your team

Event facilitator(s)
Table leaders
Kids ministry volunteers
Host team for hospitality
Setup/teardown crew

4. Prepare kids programming

90-minute curriculum ready
Games and activities planned
Volunteers briefed
Timing aligned with parent event

Pro tip

If your event falls during dinner time, serve a meal. Parents are more likely to stay engaged when they’re not worried about feeding their kids afterward.

Event timeline (2 hours)

6:00-6:30pm

Walk-in, meal, and conversation

Parents arrive, grab food, and start talking. Create a welcoming, relaxed environment. Make sure parents feel welcomed and cared for from the moment they arrive.

6:20-6:25pm

Welcome from facilitator

Introduce yourself, share about your family, and set the tone. This is a safe space where nothing is too big, scary, or off-limits.

6:25-6:28pm

Play welcome video

Church leadership sets the stage and builds credibility for the teaching team.

6:28-6:30pm

Transition to Video 1

Share a key takeaway and remind parents: God chose you to parent your kids in this moment—He trusts you.

6:30-6:35pm

Video 1: Introduction to the problem

Teaching on personal technology habits and identifying family values.

6:35-6:40pm

Set up table reflection

Share your own family values as an example. Lead parents to reflect using their resource bundle.

6:40-6:50pm

Individual reflection and table discussion

Parents reflect personally, then share at their tables. Table leaders facilitate honest conversation.

6:50-6:53pm

Transition to Video 2

Bring attention back to the front and set up the theology of technology teaching.

6:53-7:10pm

Video 2: Theology of technology

Teaching on prioritizing connection in a digital world, grounded in Scripture.

7:10-7:12pm

Set up table reflection

Share examples from your own Family Technology Plan.

7:12-7:25pm

Draft Family Technology Plan

Parents create their plan and share with their table for feedback and encouragement.

7:25-7:27pm

Transition to Video 3

Address the need for practical tools and specific answers to parent questions.

7:27-7:39pm

Video 3: Parent Q&A

Teaching team answers submitted questions about explicit content, video games, phone age, and more.

7:39-7:50pm

Final table discussion

Parents share honestly about technology use at home and find support together.

7:50-8:05pm

Optional: Panel discussion

Hear from local parents, counselors, or experts on key questions.

8:05-8:10pm

Wrap-up

Send parents off with care, encouragement, and reminders about resources in their bundle.

Your team roles

Event facilitator

Welcome, guide, transitions

Table leaders

Safe conversations

Kids ministry

90-min programming

Host team

Setup, meals, hospitality

Panel discussion guide (optional)

How to gather questions

Include question field on sign-up form
Collect written questions during the event
Prepare 3-5 key questions in advance

Example panel questions

Introduce yourself and your season of parenting
How do you encourage healthy tech relationships with your kids?
What’s been your biggest challenge? How are you navigating it?
How do you leverage technology to grow family connection?

Panel best practices

Ensure diverse representation (toddlers to teens, blended families, various backgrounds). Panelists should be honest and vulnerable while providing hope. Disagreement is okay—highlight the value of different perspectives.

After the event

Encourage parents to join or start small groups
Follow up with families via email or call
Provide access to additional resources in the bundle
Create ongoing conversation spaces for parents
Celebrate stories of families implementing their plans

Connected Family: How to Use This Event at Your Church