“Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?” (Matthew 21:16)
What great news to know that God is “calling forth” praise from little ones! As children’s ministry leaders, it is our job to guide these precious hearts along to the One who calls them. That’s you and me! Start by inviting kids into a designated worship space. Sure, kids can worship anywhere but setting a conducive atmosphere can really help them. Here are some things to consider:
How are the acoustics? You don’t have to be a sound man to know that your space may not be the right space. Good sound can play a part in an enjoyable worship service. Does the music disappear or does it become distorted in the space? Will you be disturbing others if you turn up the music? If so, you may need to change where you worship.
Keep a microphone on hand for the worship leader. Personally, I love a cordless headset but even a handheld is good. With a mic, you can prompt kids to shout, whisper, sing or give them other prompts. A reliable microphone can save you some struggle during worship.
Engage kids with hand motions. A few hand motions can make all the difference in a worship service. Not only will it help kids to focus, hand motions make a lasting impression on children who will remember them long after the service is over. It’s a fun method for getting volunteers involved too.
Keep them all together. Got kids running around the room. That’s a problem during the worship portion of the service. You need to gather everyone in one place and if anyone has to leave, ask a volunteer to escort them in and out. For a space with chairs, make sure there is plenty of room between the rows.
What about the floor? If you plan to ask kids to kneel, it should be comfortable and clean, of course. Look for flooring that is kid-friendly, bright, colorful and comfortable.
You can do it!
For more ideas, read Monica’s post about helping kids learn to worship. We also have a full lesson plan for children about the heart that worships.
Is Your Worship Space Kid Friendly?
New Sunday School Curriculum: Our Bible lessons are designed to keep the kids’ attention and show how God's Word makes a difference. Every series is flexible enough for a wide-age group and affordable enough for small churches. Download a free Bible lesson in pdf or view our latest Sunday School curriculum for small churches.