Loving Kids Well

At churches all across the country, kids who have never been a part of a church community get a chance to experience the love of Jesus at VBS. They have teachers who genuinely care about them and are taught in a safe environment about Jesus and His sacrifice for their sins. At VBS and throughout the year in children’s ministry kids need to feel loved. In honor of Valentine’s Day, here’s a list of 10 ways to show your kids that you truly care about them!
1. Listen. Ask kids about the highlight and the low point of their week and really listen. Listen so well that you can reference it in conversation with that child later.
2. Remember. Don’t miss a child’s birthday or forget that they really love to use the green play dough. Small things remembered are amplified pictures of love.
3. Greet by name. Even now, as an adult, it means the world to meet when someone remembers my name the first time they meet me. Work hard to remember names!
4. Relate. Get to know each child’s family situation. Seek to understand how they feel about different situations and friendships. Relate to them on a child-friendly level.
5. Cater to interests. Get to know about the interests of each child. If you know a child in your class loves to draw, try to work in an activity during the week that will allow him to do so.
6. Speak lovingly. Tone of voice makes all the difference in conversations and correction. Exhibit a loving tone that exudes grace and trustworthiness.
7. Reward. When child does something great like helping another child complete a task, reward them. Rewards come in many forms and may be a verbal acknowledgement, a treat, or getting to be the line leader to the next rotation.
8. Teach. The message you are sharing is of utmost importance. Take the time to answer questions and really help children understand the truths about Jesus that you are teaching. Teaching about the best gift we have ever received is one of the greatest actions of love.
9. Listen for needs. Listen carefully as children interact with you and each other. Does a child have a Bible at home? Does the child who loves to draw have pencils and paper at home? Is there a need that you could meet in their life?
10. Encourage. Tell children that you care about them and believe in them.
 
Happy Valentine’s Day! Love on some kids this week at your church!
What are some ways that you show the love of Jesus to the kids at your church?