kids ministry
PREPARING
Whether you’re at a school
with students, a park with
neighborhood kids, or hosting
a Vacation Bible School at the
church, a basic schedule for
ministry time may look
like this:
INTRODUCTIONS
• Nametags on children
• Separate groups based
on age
OPENING 30 MINUTES
• Welcome
• Skit
• Daily Bible verse
• Dismiss to rotations
20-MINUTE ROTATIONS
• Music
• Games
• Crafts
• Snack
• Bible story
CLOSING 15 MINUTES
• Songs
• Daily Bible verse
• Prayer
HUDDLE UP
Each day, your team will have
the chance to huddle up and
discuss what worked well and
what may need to change
the following day. From a
meticulously planned VBS to
simply meeting children at the
park, kids will love the chance
to spend time with you.
GAME IDEAS
• Duck, Duck, Goose
• Freeze Tag
• Red Light/Green Light
• Field day activities (sack
race, three-legged race,
relays)
• Sports (soccer, frisbee,
jump rope)
CRAFT IDEAS
• Shaker (paper plate,
dry beans, staples,
decorations)
• Friendship bracelet
(embroidery thread)
• Puzzle (construction
paper, crayons, scissors,
sandwich bag)
• Beaded cross or fish (pipe
cleaners, plastic beads)
• Puppet (brown lunch
sack, markers, yarn,
construction paper, glue)
BE ENGAGING
PARENTS
Parents may be curious about
what their child is learning.
This becomes an excellent
opportunity to share the
love of Christ with them
as well.
OLDER TEENS
Teens as old as 16 or 17 may
join in on the fun. Please
welcome them with open
arms. In this way, they can
be invaluable when it comes
to helping organize and
direct younger children. They
get a chance to lead and
have responsibility, and the
younger kids have someone
to look up to within their own
community. It’s a win
for everyone!
VERY YOUNG CHILDREN
It’s not unusual for a baby
or toddler to tag along with
their older sibling to children’s
ministry. If this is the case,
consider having one of your
team members run a nursery
during the VBS time. If the
older sibling who brought
the child requests that the
younger sibling stay with
them throughout VBS,
that’s okay too. Prepare to
be flexible!
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