Connecting with Today’s Digital Kids!

It’s no secret we live in a digital age! Take home papers are no longer the most effective ways to reach kids between Sundays. So how DO you connect with today’s digital kids? Pastor Karl Bastian, founder of Kidology.org talks about his three favorite ways to connect with kids in today’s digital world. Paper take-home handouts are no longer the best tool. You’ll love these modern options! See complete show notes and iTunes link at: Kidology.org/kidmintalk155

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When Teaching a Large Age Range

I was reading a discussion over on the Kidology.org forums* about how to teach to a wide age range and there were some comments suggesting different age ranges to aim for. Some were suggesting “aiming for the middle” or “targeting the older kids” so as not to bore them, whereas others thought it better to teach to the younger ones so as not to lose them. I’d like to suggest a different approach after having taught over 1,000 children’s church services to first through sixth graders for over twenty-five years. It’s a rather simple suggestion: AIM FOR EVERYONE! The key in a large group with a large age range is to shift your focus constantly. The secret is to be highly visual and to be physically moving and animated to keep the younger ones tracking with you (don’t stand still and never sit, meaning you the teacher) and use humor constantly to keep a connection with your audience. Think about it: Senior pastors preach to a wide audience range of age and intelligence and education and world view and learning styles and they can do it! They don’t break their audience into groups! How do they do it? It isn’t…

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BREAK THE MOLD!

I often say there are Sundays that you just need to “break the mold,” and make the experience completely different for the kids. As soon as your lesson format is predictable, it is time to do something different! I often use 5th Sundays to do this, or when there is a holiday that doesn’t fit nicely with the curriculum schedule. This year is a perfect example! Easter is the 2nd Sunday of April, meaning that a 4 week Easter series needs to be started on the 2nd Sunday of March in order to end on the first week of April. This year, I’ve got two FUN “Mold Breaking” Sundays planned for the kids. For the first Sunday of January, before we kick off Secrets of the Ancient Scrolls, we are doing BIBLE-O-RAMA! Every year I tweak and improve them, and I love when users of it Bible Curriculum make their own additions! This year, Pastor Doug Olson added a really cool new feature designed to keep kids moving and encourage them to visit every station. It’s a Bible-O-Rama Passport! The kids get a sticker as they visit each station and a special prize if they complete each activity. If you…

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Hidden Messages

  I just created a FUN on screen word puzzle to get kids talking about biblical phrases. Put the phrases on screen and see if the kids can figure them out. You can download high resolution 16:9 images or a PDF version to print. An answer key is also provided. Here are a few SAMPLES: See them all and download at: Kidology.org/hiddenmessages

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WISE KIDS SEEK HIM Christmas Series!

THIS CHRISTMAS, HELP YOUR KIDS WISE UP AS THEY LEARN ABOUT THE WISEMEN IN THE CHRISTMAS STORY! Wise Kids Seek Him is a 4-WEEK SERIES FOR ELEMENTARY CHILDREN’S CHURCH from Pastor Karl Bastian, founder of Kidology.org. You are going to love it! Kids will learn that: Wise Kids Seek Truth Wise Kids Find Jesus Wise Kids Are Generous Wise Kids Worship Jesus WISE KIDS SEEK HIM INCLUDES: Easy Prep Lesson Teachers AND Kids will love! Theming ideas for the series Fun intro skit for puppet or leader A funny video intro (see sample below) Games that enhance the lesson! Creative Bible story teaching ideas Object lessons and activity options Kids need their Bible to look up verses Theme verse for the month Paper and/or digital take home tool Helpful presentation images Bonus files, downloads, and ideas Editable presentation graphics Featuring MOE CAMEL whose great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandpappy was along for the Wisemen’s epic journey! Sample Video from Lesson Two: Every unit from it Bible Curriculum includes a complete biblically solid, fun, creative lesson your kids will love! Launch it, Play it, Watch it, Tell it, Teach it, Show it, Find it, Hide it, Live it, and Take it. LEARN MORE AT Kidology.org/wisekids

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