{"id":2297,"date":"2022-12-20T09:04:00","date_gmt":"2022-12-20T16:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wonderink.org\/?p=2297"},"modified":"2023-10-16T14:05:05","modified_gmt":"2023-10-16T20:05:05","slug":"choosing-implementing-kids-curriculum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wonderink.org\/choosing-implementing-kids-curriculum\/","title":{"rendered":"Tackling the Task of Choosing and Implementing a New Kids’ Curriculum"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As a children\u2019s ministry leader, one of the most important parts of keeping ministry running smoothly every week is a solid and strong kids’ curriculum<\/a>. One that\u2019s easy to use, Bible focused, fun, engaging for kids, easy for volunteers to prep and teach, and age appropriate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I know how time-consuming it is to spend hours each week coming up with lessons and games, making prep and supply lists, writing small group questions, searching for videos and worship songs, choosing coloring pages, etc. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a children\u2019s ministry leader, I spent years doing this and running myself ragged every week when I realized, as soon as I finished one Sunday\u2019s lesson \u2026 the next Sunday would soon be here, and it was scramble time again!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kids’ Curriculum: The Value of Your Time<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After years of feeling worn down from coming up with my own lessons, I realized my time as a children\u2019s ministry leader is best spent doing something only I could do in my ministry: investing in people<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I discovered freedom and joy in purchasing an already-done curriculum that is customizable and includes way more than I could ever have created on my own. I started spending my time pouring into my leaders and building my teams and loving the kids and families in my ministry. And my children\u2019s ministry began to thrive<\/em>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even when you have the best kids’ curriculum in the entire world, if your teachers aren\u2019t prepared and trained to engage kids, it won\u2019t be as effective as you want it to be.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Once you have assessed, compared, and evaluated curriculum to choose the one that is the best fit<\/a> for your church, it\u2019s time to implement the curriculum. Keep in mind that there is no perfect curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every curriculum will need to be tweaked at least a little to fit your<\/em> kids and your context.<\/em> As you\u2019re tweaking and customizing, you\u2019ll need to ensure your team is prepared. Even when you have the best kids’ curriculum in the entire world, if your teachers aren\u2019t prepared and trained to engage kids, it won\u2019t be as effective as you want it to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6 Strategic Steps: Kids’ Curriculum<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

These are six key steps for implementing a new curriculum in your children\u2019s ministry:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Get Buy-in from Leaders and Volunteers<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Prepare Your Team<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Plan Your Year<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Involve Parents<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Cast Vision<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Get Feedback<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    An important part of the process is asking the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you throughout the process of choosing and implementing the new curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Asian
    Credit: Getty Images\/E+\/Kayoko Hayashi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    1. Get Buy-In from Leaders and Volunteers for Your Kids’ Curriculum<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Talk with your leaders and supervisors as well as your volunteers and children\u2019s ministry team leaders about the new curriculum. Show them samples and the scope and sequence. Ask for feedback and invite their questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    YOUR NEEDS<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    What are the kids in your ministry lacking? What can this curriculum help address and add to the children\u2019s ministry? Does it include age-appropriate materials for the ages your ministry serves?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    YOUR CHURCH<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    What is your demographic and your target? Do you have mostly unchurched kids in your ministry? Are the kids biblically literate? Are your teachers consistent or rotating? Do you have a Sunday school model or classroom model, rotating model, large group model, or all the ages together in one room?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    YOUR BUDGET<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    What does the curriculum cost? In addition to weekly lessons, are there extra costs for parent resources, worship resources, weekly supplies, printing, website licenses, extra materials, or extra age group subscription costs?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    THEOLOGICAL GUIDEPOSTS<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    How does this curriculum align with your church\u2019s theology and spiritual teaching values?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    SCOPE AND SEQUENCE<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    The scope and sequence is the plan\u2014typically a multi-year plan\u2014that lays the point of each lesson and when it is taught. Ask for the full scope and sequence from the curriculum and evaluate it for your needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n