13 Leadership Development articles all in one post! KEEP GROWING!

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Tuesday with Tiff: A Better Large Group Environment

Do you want to improve your large group communication skills with kids?  Here are six tips that will help you grab kids' attention and effectively share God's Word with them.

Use the volume of your voice.
Don't talk monotone.  Vary between loud...soft...medium...whispering...shouting.

Involve the kids.
Have them make sound effects...make a motion every time you say a certain word...repeat key phrases to their neighbor...act out the Bible story as you tell it.

Tell stories.
We are wired to love stories.  80% of the Bible is stories.  Jesus was the master storyteller.  Use stories...lots of them.  It's a guaranteed way to connect with kids.

Change the speed of your voice.  
Vary the speed.  Talk fast...slow...pause between words...use normal speed.  When you change your speed, it resets kids' attention spans.

Be animated.  
Don't just stand there.  Move.  Use your arms and hands to visually describe what you're talking about.  Get excited about what you're teaching and show it through your body language.

Target the oldest child in the room. 
Cool rolls downhill.  Aim your teaching level at the oldest child in the room.  An example.  If you're teaching 3-5th graders, let your target be the 5th grade boy.  If you connect with him, all of the kids will think it's cool and engage.

 

 

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Tuesday with Tiff: 5 Ways to Stay Motivated in Children's Ministry

Children's Ministry is a marathon...not a sprint.  In a marathon, it's pretty easy to be motivated for the first mile or so.  But with each passing mile, you have to be more intentional about staying motivated.  It's in mile 18...20...23...24...25...26  that you need the most motivation.

So how do you stay motivated in Children's Ministry for the long haul?  How do you keep your passion and dedication fresh and new?

Prayer.  Nothing will keep you motivated like spending time with Jesus.  When you feel your motivation waning, (which we all do at times) get alone with Jesus.  His presence will fill your motivation tank up.

Pause.  Many times our motivation wanes due to physical or mental tiredness.  Take time to pause and rest.  Pulling away for rest will renew your motivation.  You'll come back ready to conquer the world.

Praise.  When you get discouraged, you'll find your motivation dipping.  When that happens, start praising God for His blessings.  Think about all the good things He has given you.  Dwell on the victories.  I have a folder where I keep cards, notes, letters, and stories from people God has helped through my ministry.  When I get discouraged, I pull out that folder, start reading, and begin praising God.  It doesn't take long before my motivation returns. 

Positive people.  If you want to stay motivated, surround yourself with people who are motivated.  Negative people will slowly drain your motivation.  Be kind to them, but don't spend much time with them.  Your motivation level is directly tied to the motivation level of the people you spend the most time with.

Purpose.  Your ultimate motivation must come from the purpose God has for your life.  His calling on your life is what will keep you motivated through the ups and downs...the good times and the bad times...the happy times and the sad times.  Always remember why you are doing what you are doing.  It's the call God has placed on your life.

What are some other ways you stay motivated?

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Tuesday with Tiff: Asking the Right Questions

The art of a good discussion begins by asking effective questions. Most often, the best questions will not occur to you during a discussion but will result from good preparation. Take the time for thorough lesson preparation and for planning good questions. The best teachers continue to evaluate and refine their question-asking skills, even after years of service. Basic Preparation Master the material. The teacher needs to know more about the lesson than what the child is expected to learn. Although the youngest children will have simple lessons, some teachers may find that their own Bible knowledge is less than that of their older children!  If a concept presented in your lesson material is confusing or difficult to understand, ask your leader or the pastor for help. As you participate in adult Bible studies and personal Bible study, you will find that your knowledge and understanding will grow. In class, never be afraid to let a child know that you don’t know the answer to a question. After class, look for the answer and share it with the child and others in the next class meeting. Avoid yes and no questions. These kinds of questions provide little learning and little interest for the child and only reinforce what a child already knows. Yes and no questions do little to encourage discussion and, in fact, may inhibit discussion if children are worried about giving wrong answers. Start where the children are starting. Try to gauge where the children are in their knowledge. Many children in church today come from unchurched families and are unfamiliar with the Bible and church traditions. They may not know that the Bible is divided into the Old and New Testaments. In seeker classes, start with the basics and do not assume what the children know. Another challenge can be children with sporadic church attendance. They may be playing “continual catch-up” for the weeks missed. The challenge is to keep the interest of the more knowledgeable children while also meeting the needs of the beginners. Developing Questions Understanding the different types of questions can help a teacher ask the best questions for the lesson and the children. Knowledge questions. These are questions that recall information and recite facts: What are the names of the 12 disciples? In what city was Jesus born? What cities did Paul travel to? Children are familiar with this type of question from weekday school. These questions may test what the child knows, but they do not stimulate discussion. Comprehension questions. These questions help children interpret their knowledge. Such questions ask the child to describe, explain, retell or identify. Some examples: What else could the father have chosen to do when he saw his son coming down the road? Why do you think Noah obeyed God’s command to build an ark? These questions help the child move beyond just knowing the information to understanding it. Comprehension questions have no right or wrong answers, so a child can feel comfortable expressing his or her ideas. Application questions. Bible knowledge reaches a new level when the child can apply it to his or her own life. Application questions help the child to make the lesson personal and to use the information in a new setting. These questions ask the child to apply, experiment, show, solve and describe. Questions such as What are some ways God provides for you? How can you follow Paul’s example in telling others about Jesus? What are some ways we can be good stewards of the things we own? These questions move beyond “head knowledge” and into “heart knowledge.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday, November 19, 2012

Relationships: Building Trust in the classroom

 

 

Imparting information is only part of what the effective teacher accomplishes in Children’s Ministry. Establishing an atmosphere of trust and love that makes the child want to return is just as important. Why do children gather at church instead of learning about God from a book or a video? Because only in a communal setting can children and teachers build the Body of Christ and form friendships that last for years. Some adults who grew up in a church fondly remember the church teacher or camp counselor who made them feel valued.

 

Let’s take a look at the first kind of relationship that needs trust in order for any Children’s Ministry to thrive—Teacher-Child Relationships.

 

Trust. As the teacher, you have the opportunity to be someone whom children can count on to be present on more than an occasional basis. Children need to feel that they can talk to you in confidence and without ridicule or criticism. Children expect that what you present in class is accurate and useful.

 

Attitude. Children like teachers who are positive, upbeat, confident, cheerful, friendly and willing to help. Leave your personal problems at home and give children your undivided attention.

 

Fun. As responsibilities set in, adults tend to become serious and preoccupied. While the subject matter you present in class is serious in nature, the atmosphere of the class doesn’t have to be dreary! This doesn’t mean that you have to act silly or let chaos reign in the classroom. It means that you can enjoy games with your children, find joy in their discoveries and maintain a happy classroom environment.

 

Acceptance of feelings. Listen and empathize with the feelings of the children in your class. Children respond to situations with emotions rather than rational logic. Their reactions may seem childish because they have not learned how to control their feelings or how to think through situations. While you need not agree with everything a child says, you can be a sounding board and a sympathetic ear.

 

Acceptance of ideas. Adults are often self-critical and self-censoring. Children are freer to express wild and crazy ideas. Encourage children to think out loud and ask questions. Children are more involved in learning when they feel that their ideas are accepted. One way to encourage brainstorming is to ask open-ended questions about opinions instead of facts (“How did the lame man feel when he could walk again?” “How do you think David felt when he heard King Saul’s threat to hurt him?”). Questions with more than one right answer are less threatening to children because they don’t feel that they will make mistakes in their answers.

 

Enabling questions. Allow children to make choices instead of telling the child what to do. Instead of saying “Put the paint back in the cabinet,” ask, “Where do we put the paint?” Ask children what phrases or slogans best summarize the lesson’s Bible truth. Children like to feel they have an important role in the classroom.

 

Praise and affirmation. Every child wants to feel like the most special child in the world. Compliment and encourage children frequently, mentioning specific actions you have observed. The more children feel valued, the more they want to participate in learning and feel that God accepts them.

 

Nonverbal signs. Use body language to show acceptance. Sit at the children’s eye level and avoid hovering over them. Nod and lean forward when a child is speaking. Smile frequently!

Now we’ll look at another relationship that is just as important—Child-Child Relationships.

 

Trust and Security. In many churches, children don’t know each other. They go to different schools during the week and may live in distant parts of the city. The children won’t automatically get to know each other, much less develop relationships of trust. Start by having children learn their peers’ names (name games are fun) and something about each other (pets, hobbies, siblings, sports, favorite performers or TV shows). Maintain a safe place where children won’t be hurt and their belongings won’t be stolen.

 

Group Activities. A good way to develop friendships is through group work. Children bond when they have a common goal or problem to solve. Have children work in pairs, trios and small groups using worksheets, skits, music, games, research projects and cooperative art projects. Be sure each person in the group has a task and is not left out. One person from each group can share the group’s discovery or project with the rest of the class. Acknowledge the contributions of each child.

 

Sharing. Children learn about each other by sharing their heritage and interests. Invite children to demonstrate music, food or artwork from their home life. Children also enjoy bringing an item from home with spiritual importance in their family (heirloom Bible, gift cross, Scripture sampler, devotional book, etc.).

 

Prayer. During class prayer time, encourage children to pray for each other. This may be uncomfortable or threatening at first. Model sentence prayers for children to hear and imitate. As children feel comfortable in telling things for which they are thankful and/or their concerns, invite other children to pray for them. Children can say together, “Thank You, God,” when someone describes something for which he or she is thankful.

 

 

These are just a few of the ways to make sure that trust is established between the teachers and children in your Children’s Ministry. --from Children's Ministry Magazine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

20 Ways to Wake up the Kids in your Class



(Found this great article and wanted to share!)

Glassy-eyed, restless, squirming kids who'd really rather not listen to your pearls of wisdom can cause endless anxiety. How do you handle them? What can you do to rein in their interest? You could give up, get angry -- or get creative. Try one of these tactics to engage even your most challenging child.

1 Break in with a funny personal story. I have a trove of bizarre and revealing "My-brother-Daniel-and-I" stories that includes (but is not limited to) an attack by a skunk, sliding my 3-year-old sister down the stairs in a plastic tub, and chopping off a snake's head that we found on the floor of our room. I'm not making this up. Believe me, kids' attention becomes laser-beam sharp when they recognize you're about to spin a yarn.

2 Start whispering. Kids will think you're hiding something from them, and they'll strain to hear what you're saying.

3 Give candy randomly. Tossing out a few treats every now and then will keep kids alert and interested. (Don't use these as rewards for good behavior or correct answers; kids are not dogs, after all! Just occasionally surprise kids with a sweet treat.)

4 Fake a coughing, gagging fit. My mother did this when she was being mugged, and her assailant actually became so concerned that he tried to help her. True story!

5 Show the emergency room photo of your son's gaping leg wound. I did this last week in Lubbock, Texas, with a group of fifth-graders. Gross as it is, kids can't get enough of seeing my son's boating injury. Maybe you didn't remember to bring a camera to your last emergency room visit, but a photo of an odd-looking animal or other freak of nature will do the trick, too.

6 Say the magic words, "I have a movie clip." You'll see kids' eyes instantaneously light up at the change of pace.

7 Scream at the top of your lungs for no apparent reason. You'll definitely get kids' attention (just ignore the unintended consequence of other adults and security running into the room). Then return to your normal speaking tone. Kids may decide you're a bit unbalanced, but they'll be listening.

8 Pull out a crazy toy from your Mystery Box. This can't be any old toy or gimmick they've seen dozens of times before. It's got to be something that truly captivates.

9 Quickly leave the room for a potty break and return in a Bible-times costume. And stay in character the rest of the class.

10 Take out a digital camera and feign ignorance about how to work it. The kids will stumble over themselves to help you -- instant engagement. Once they've educated you, they'll be happy to dive back into the lesson.

11 Bring in a junior high schooler or high schooler to help with a game, music, or art project related to the lesson. Your kids adore older kids; it's the natural order. This brings together two things they love -- older kids and fun.

12 Take kids into a different room or outside for a change of scenery. I can't tell you how many teachers I know who love to transition with a location change. The walk alone works out boredom and wakes up kids, and the new surroundings offer a fresh start for your lesson.

13 Sob and dab your eyes with a hanky. A crying adult always made me freak out as a child -- and you'll be rewarded with kids' total attention (if not an Oscar).

14 Start a stampede. Say in an excited tone, "On the count of three, everybody run to the wall on your left...one, two, three!" Kids will drop everything and run without understanding why; this can be entertaining to watch as an adult. When everyone's at the wall, continue with your lesson or move on to something new.

15 Form groups. Change the pace by asking kids to get into groups for the next activity. This social change is a reliable way to get kids excited and checked back in.

16 Chase rabbits. Or let kids go off on tangents. Kids' topics of interest keep them engaged and interested in your lesson...and a creative teacher can find some strand of insight that relates to the lesson aim.

17 Fall prostrate on the floor and begin praying in Hebrew. No doubt about it, this is a showstopper.

18 Give a "For instance..." A "For instance" is something that relates to kids' real world. Ask them about specific things going on in their culture and how they'd apply the Bible Point to that situation, on the playground, or at home with siblings.

19 Turn the problem into the solution. If they'd rather be anywhere than in your classroom, take them where they are in their imagination. Pull out your Improv Supply Box, and let kids create scenes as the lesson takes on international, mysterious, or creative dimensions.

20 Ask the rowdies to do -- not help. Hand over one segment of the lesson, and then sit back and enjoy yourself as kids try their hand at teaching. (And don't forget to give yourself a small pat on the back as you realize that you truly are the key ingredient to kids learning about Jesus in your classroom.)

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

12 Killers of good leadership

I know numerous leaders with great potential…
They have all the appearance of being a good leader…
But they lack one thing…or two…
There are a few killers of good leadership…
Any one of these can squelch good leadership…
It’s like a wrecking ball of potential…
It’s not that they can’t lead, but to continue to grow as a leader…to be successful at a higher level or for the long-term…they must address these issues.

Here are 12 killers of good leadership:

Defensiveness – Good leaders don’t wear their feelings on their shoulders. They know other’s opinions matter and aren’t afraid to be challenged.
Jealousy – A good leader enjoys watching others on the team excel.
Revenge – The leader that succeeds for the long term must be forgiving and knows that “getting even” only comes back to harm them and the organization.
Fearfulness – The good leader remains committed when no one else is and must take risks no one else will. Others will follow. That’s what leaders do.
Favoritism - Good leaders don’t have favorites on the team. They reward for results not partiality.
Ungratefulness - Good leaders value people, knowing they cannot attain success without others.
Small-mindedness – Good leaders think bigger than today. They are dreamers and idea people.
Pridefulness - Pride comes before the fall. Good leaders remain humbled by the position of authority entrusted to them.
Rigidity - There are some things to be rigid about, such as values and vision, but for most issues, the leader must be open to change. Good leaders welcome new ideas, realizing that most everything can be improved.
Laziness – One can’t be a good leader and not be willing to work hard. In fact, the leader should be willing to be the hardest worker on the team.
Unresponsiveness – Good leaders don’t lead from behind closed doors. They are responsive to the needs and desires of those they attempt to lead. They respond to concerns and questions. They collaborate more than control. Leaders who close themselves off from those they lead will limit the places where others will follow.
Dishonesty – Since character counts highest, a good leader must be above reproach. When a leader fails, he or she must admit their mistake and work towards restoration.


A leader may struggle with one or more of these, but the goal should be to lead “killer-free.” Leader, be honest, which of these wrecking balls do you struggle with most?

 

 

 

 

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Learning Styles

God loves variety. Think of all the wonderful varieties of plants, animals, colors, and fish He created. Think about all the different types of people He created. It would be boring if we were all the same! He also created kids with a variety of learning styles.

The effective Children's Ministry recognizes this and seeks to engage all learning styles.

Linguistic Learners have sensitivity to the meaning and order of words. They use an expanded vocabulary. They respond to jokes, riddles, reading, writing, telling stories, and word games.

Logical-Mathematical Learners like reasoning, patterns, and order. They want to know how things work, ask lots of questions, and collect things. They respond to puzzles, blocks, and counting devices.

Bodily-Kinesthetic Learners enjoy sports and physical activity. They respond to body language, dance, acting, and active games.

Musical Learners are sensitive to pitch, melody, rhythm, and tone. They love to listen to and play music, sing, hum, move to rhythm, and create tunes.

Spatial Learners perceive the world accurately and recreate or transform aspects of that world. They like to doodle, paint, draw, build with blocks, puzzles, mazes, and taking things apart and putting them back together again.

Naturalist Learners recognize and classify the numerous species of an environment. They like to spend time outdoors observing plants, collecting rocks, and catching insects. They love nature.

Interpersonal Learners are all about people and relationships. They have many friends. They are good mediators and team players. They enjoy group games and discussions.

Intrapersonal Learners use their emotional life to understand themselves and others. They control their feeling and emotions. They do a lot of observing and listening. They do best when working alone. They enjoy cameras, drawing pads, journals and questions about their experiences and emotions.

How to use the learning styles...

Make a grid with the above learning styles. As you prepare your lesson, run it through the grid and incorporate as many learning styles as possible. Over the course of a few lessons, you should hit all the learning styles.

 

Here's an example. Let's take the story of Jonah and the Whale and run it through the grid.

Linguistic – Dramatically tell the story to them. Then have them re-tell it to someone else in the room.

Logical-Mathematical – Have them put together a puzzle of Jonah and the Whale.

Bodily-Kinesthetic - Have them act out the story.

Musical – Sing a song about the story.

Spatial – Have them draw a picture of the story.

 

Naturalist – Bring some seaweed for them to touch or a picture of a large fish for them to look at.

Interpersonal – Have them play a group game and discuss the story with friends.

Intrapersonal – Ask them questions and have them draw pictures about how they would have felt if they were Jonah.

Your teachers will have a tendency to teach out of their own learning style because it's their comfort zone. Challenge them to engage all learning styles. When that happens children will be excited about coming to church because they will be learning in style...their style, that is!

 

How do you incorporate learning styles into your lessons?

What are some creative things you have done with some of these learning styles?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Tuesday with Tiff: 5 Practical Tips to Keep the Attention of Kids

You are constantly fighting for the attention of the kids at church. We live in a world saturated with entertainment, where even on the short drive to church there is probably a video game in the hands of every kid under 13. So, how do you compete? 

Some choose to say they won’t compete and some throw every gaming system and slang acronym at kids, entertaining them, but missing out on solid teaching.

If you fall somewhere in the middle – wanting kids to be engaged and get quality Biblical content that supersedes just having fun and being entertained – you are not alone.

Here are some practical ways to keep the attention of kids at your church that we use:

1. Keep segments short. A kid’s attention span is normally about as long (in minutes) as their age.

2. Keep them moving. Don’t let them sit in the same chair the whole hour. Have them up and moving around the room. Take them on a journey if you are talking about Paul’s journeys or tape a whale on the floor for them to sit in if you are talking about Jonah.

3. Don’t waste game time. Games can be a great way to tie in spiritual content for kinesthetic learners. Connect games to stories principles that you are teaching.

4. Vary activities each week. Keep kids guessing about what is coming next. This takes planning and preparation, but has a huge pay-off.

5. Make it apparent that you care. Kids think video games are great, but kids will know when you genuinely care… and that makes all the difference.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can You Finish with Your Current Ministry Pace?

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith."  2 Timothy 4:7

What does your current ministry pace look like?  A constant sprint?  An all out run?  A steady jog?  A power walk?

Whatever the pace...make sure it's sustainable.  Make sure it will take you the distance.

You're are not called to run half your course...you're called to finish your course.

Over the years, I have seen many people start out in ministry at a pace that couldn't be maintained.  Their heart was in the right place and they were full of zeal.  But they didn't take the long look and pace themselves properly.  Eventually, they fell out of the race.

I have found that finishing the race is not based on speed...it's based on maintaining a steady, sustainable pace.
Can you finish your course at your current ministry pace?  If not...it's time to make some adjustments.

12 ways to get Kids to pay Attention

Ask them to repeat what you just said.

Show a short video.

Have them get up and move.

Have them make something related to the lesson.

Remove distractions.

Place kids in groups and let them talk about a question.

Let them make up the classroom rules.

Play a game.

Create an incentive or reward for listening.

Take them outside of the classroom to a different location for a change.

Let them help teach the lesson.

Have a motion or signal they repeat after you.

Usually if the kids are bored it's because the teacher is boring.  Engaged students pay attention.

 

 

Why You Need to Be an Inspiring Children's Ministry Leader: The 10 Key Steps

Have you ever been around an inspiring leader?  After talking with them or listening to them, you were ready to go conquer any mountain.

As a children's ministry leader, it's vital that you have the ability to inspire others.

When we talk about being "inspiring" you may be thinking it has to be someone who is extremely gifted, has a charismatic personality, is a people magnet or can give dynamic, soul-stirring speeches.

If that's not you, don't worry.  That's not what being inspiring is really all about anyways.  Anyone can be inspiring if they take the right steps and work at it.

Here's 10 key steps you can take to become an inspiring children's ministry leader.

Inspiring leaders collaborate.
Do you want to inspire people?  Then include them.  Inspiring leaders don't bark down orders.  They gather people and create something together.  When people have a part in creating something instead of just being handed something, they are inspired.

Inspiring leaders develop people.
When you are intentional about pouring into people...when people know you are committed to helping them become a better person and leader...when you call people up instead of calling them out...it inspires them.  They will be drawn to you. 

Inspiring leaders empower people and then get out of the way.
Inspiring leadership and micromanaging aren't compatible.  Inspiring leaders empower people and then give them room to lead, fail, and learn from their failures.

Inspiring leaders ask the right questions.
You don't always need to have the best answer.  Just learn to ask the right questions to draw out the best answer from the team.  Lead with questions just as much or more than you do with answers.

Inspiring leaders admit their mistakes.
Be quick to admit your mistakes.  Be the first one to apologize.  Humility and transparency inspires others.

Inspiring leaders lead by example.
Go the second mile and when you ask your team to go the second mile, go the third mile.  Inspiration is caught by example more than it is taught by words.

Inspiring leaders build relationships.
Inspiring leaders don't lead by title or position...they lead by relationships.  Love people for who they are instead of for what they can do.  When people know you really care about them, their hearts will be drawn to you.  Inspiration is created through relationship.

Inspiring leaders give away the credit for wins and take the blame for failures.
It inspires people when you put them in the spotlight instead of yourself.  It also inspires people when they know you've got their back and when something goes wrong, you take the ultimate responsibility. 

Inspiring leaders continually fill people's vision tank.
Constantly share the "why" of what your team does.  Realize that vision leaks, so keep the vision front and center.  And you don't have to be an "inspirational" speaker to do this.  This is done just as effectively in small gatherings or individually. 

Inspiring leaders are faithful.
There is something about long term faithfulness that inspires people.  You will find the longer you are in ministry, the more inspiration potential you will have.  Time and experience are two of your best inspiration allies.  Stay the course. 

What are some other traits of inspiring leaders?
What are some traits in leaders that have personally inspired you?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Best Ways to Let Kids Know They Matter

Look at them not past them.

Listen to them.

Know their name.

Ask them questions about their life.

 Just show up.

Brag on them.

 Remember their birthday.

Go to their sports game.

Write them a handwritten note and mail it to them.

Forgive them when they mess up.

Spend time with them.

Giggle with them.

Notice when they are absent.

 Laugh at their jokes.

Be excited when you see them.

Notice when they grow.

Love them...no matter what.

 

 

 

 

 

 

7 Bad Habits That Are Crushing Your Children’s Ministry

Bad Habit #1 -  Tolerating disunity.  Disunity will crush your children's ministry.  If you are allowing backbiting, gossip, hallway conversations, and personal agendas to propagate, then you are crushing your children's ministry.

Confront it.  Get everyone on the same page...everyone aligned to the same vision.  If this means asking some people to move out, then do it.  Unity doesn't happen naturally, you have to fight for it.

Bad Habit #2 - Not following ratios.  When parents look into a room that is out of proportion and out of control, they are hesitant to bring their child back.  It also leads to volunteer burn-out.

Follow ratios.  Do the work to enlist enough volunteers to make it happen. 

Bad Habit #3 - Not maximizing the first 8 minutes.  People decide if they are going to return to your church in the first 8 minutes.  If you are not being intentional about what they experience in those first 8 minutes, then you are diminishing your return rate.

Bad Habit #4 - Begging for volunteers.  When you beg for volunteers, you are devaluing your children's ministry.  Never appear desperate, even when you are.

Bad Habit #5 - Not keeping your facilities clean.  People are turned off by dirty rooms, clutter, dirty walls, stained carpets, and toys that are not sanitized. 

This has nothing to do with the size of your building or your budget.  Whatever God has provided you with...you can keep it clean.

Bad Habit #6 - Only being inwardly focused.  Children's ministries have a tendency over time to turn their focus inward.  They begin to only cater to the needs and whims of those already inside the walls of the church.

Yes, meet needs, but let the biggest need be your biggest focus.  The world around you that is in desperate need of a Savior.

Bad Habit #7 - Making kids feel like they are going back to school on the weekend.  Kids have been at school all week.  The last thing they want is another school experience on the weekend.

Use engaging, out of the box, dynamic lessons that will capture kids' attention and communicate God's Word in a relevant way.  Make it fun.  Let them laugh, play, and have a blast.