How to Involve Elementary Kids in Ministry
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In many church models, from birth to young adults, we ask kids to sit and consume. We mean well. We want them to learn about Jesus and follow Him. However, in practice, many times this means coming to a service, joining a small group, and watching what happens.
These are all good things, but they are also passive. In a service, we sit to be fed. In small group, we sit to be fed.
But this is not what Jesus modeled for us. He said he did not come to be served but to serve. (Matthew 20:28) He also said that we should care for the least of these. (Matthew 25:40)
With this in mind, we need to challenge our kids and students to go beyond sitting in a pew. Encourage them to serve in the gifts and talents God has given them. I already talked about how to have youth serve with you in kidmin here. In this post, I focus on our elementary kids serving.
Granted many kids are not old enough to serve yet. They can help an adult volunteer by getting supplies or cleaning up. But that’s about it.
However, some of them can serve in preschool, nursery, and outreach. In fact, I look for ways for them to serve. It’s part of my milestones for every kid. I want them to be saved, baptized in water, baptized in the Holy Spirit, and last but not least serving.
Kids Serving in Preschool
Sometimes kids as early as third or fourth grade want to serve in Nursery or Preschool areas. While they’re not that far removed, I do let them serve, but with a few conditions.
1. The kids must serve with their parents
I’m not going to send an elementary aged child to help in any area outside of their age group without their parents. While they may be willing, they need direct supervision. Many times the supervision comes best from their parents.
In my experience, most kids don’t even ask to serve in preschool unless their parent is serving there as well. The kid can’t be on the schedule unless their parent is too.
2. The kids can only serve once a month
As much as a teenager can hide in kidmin and never go to their own service, an elementary aged child can do the same in preschool. Even if the parent serves more than once a month, I don’t let the kid.
I want the kids to be in their service where they’re learning about Jesus on their level. They still have a lot to learn, and they won’t get all they need if they serve too often in a different age group.
3. The kids must be helpful
Sometimes the kids get into the area with their parents, and they cause more trouble than help. They play too much, disrupt the class, or get the younger kids riled up. If this is the case, then the kid can’t serve here.
Because they aren’t serving. If a young child wants to serve, then they need to serve. They can’t take the service time to play with toys that are too young for them.
Because I’ve spent most of my time with the elementary aged kids, I rely on my preschool/nursery leaders to give me feedback on how the kids are doing. If they aren’t helping, then I’m the one who has the awkward conversation with the parent. I am the one who let them back after all. I don’t want someone else to clean up my mess.
4. The kid doesn’t count as a volunteer
Many ministries have the Rule of Two. There must be at least two adults in every room. You should have this rule too. While I let teens 14 and up count as the other adult in this age group, any kid younger does not. A ten-year-old does not have the maturity needed to be counted on.
So, if a parent brings their child to help serve, another adult also needs to be in the room. It will help solve a world of problems and project safety when a parent drops off or picks up their baby.
Kids Serving in Outreach
One of the best ministries I started in kidmin was my kids lead team. A major component of the team was serving. Every week, I rotate kids serving in different parts of the elementary service including but not limited to greeters, game helpers, worship team, and tech. You can read about how I do the team here.
However, I also used the team to help in outreaches as well. During our egg hunts, my kids lead team will help distribute eggs, man inflatables and even perform on stage. Always supervised by an adult, they love the opportunity to help, even if it is in a small way.
Similarly at one church, we did a Thanksgiving food distribution every year. I encouraged whole families to serve. Parents and kids would work together stuffing bags, loading cars, and helping clean up. Even the smallest of kids could help with outreaches like these, and they loved it.
The key here is to find safe outreaches that families can do together. Many times, those are at the church, but they can also be at parks or festivals. They can hand out water or balloons. As long as it is easy and fun.
By allowing kids to serve, you’re showing them that following Jesus isn’t passive. We’re not meant to sit and consume. Rather, we are always looking for ways to serve, to give back, and to care. It’s one thing to tell them about serving. It’s whole other thing to allow them to do it. A kid may learn more about the love of Jesus by sharing a can of beans than they ever did picking up a piece of paper with a slappy hand.
Look for ways for your kids to serve and you’ll see them develop an authentic faith that lasts a lifetime.
