We are social beings. God created us to respond and relate to others. Even in the mothers womb one could argue that we are socially aware and needing interaction with the outside world. For this reason, I personally believe that it is imperative that every church has a small group opportunity for kids.
As a leader at one of the largest churches in Northeast Wisconsin I see more and more every day the importance behind our small group programming. Hundreds of kids attend our services each and every weekend and while our leaders do a great job at connecting with as many as possible, there is a greater need for a personal relationship. With this in mind our Wednesday evening programming is programmed for small groups from birth to sixth grade. We have also recently integrated small group times into our weekend programming as well which has proven to really help the kids develop relationships with their peers..
Leading a small group though can be a struggle. Especially if you have never lead one before. With this in mind I would like to share with you what I believe to be the 5 Core Tips For KidMin Small Group Leaders.
1. Round Them Up – I always recommend our small group leaders to gather the kids around in a circle. Nobody, including kids, enjoy looking around or over someone when they are trying to listen to a leader. A circle will provide the kids with a direct visual and allows them to feel like an important part of the group.
2. Everyone Participates – Sometimes sharing in a small group can be awkward but you can nip that in the butt right away by going around the group and getting everyone to answer one simple question. I always encourage the age old question “How was your week? Did you do anything super exciting this week?”. Kids always seem to open up with that question. Asking an open ended question will always get the kids involved and sharing. Even if they respond with “Nothing exciting happened this week” you have broke the ice for that child to speak openly to the group.
3. Be Prepared To Lead Not Read - There is nothing more boring that watching someone read something off a piece of paper. This can be applied to almost any ministry but I guarantee you this much, when you come prepared, your small group time will go well because you are able to flow with your thought processes. Kids will discuss more and be more open with you if you are actually having a discussion with them instead of a book or piece of paper.
4. Bring it – Bring something to your small group that you can pass around the circle. I tend to pass the prop around the circle. Having a prop related to your discussion earns you BIG POINTS! When the child has the prop in their hand they get the opportunity to share. This will add massive structure to your group and will keep kids listening and only speaking at the appropriate time. The prop can be anything from a stuffed animal, a Bible or even a small stone. As long as the kids can hold it in their hands … it’s a win.
5. Create Structure – I have heard many small group leaders over the years comment on how disobedient their group is and how hard it is to keep the kids on topic. I would say that 90% of the time this issue is resolved with solid structure. Design a set format for your small group that the kids will see every week. This will keep them on tract and will help you stay on track as well. We can’t ask the kids to be orderly if there is no order.
There are obviously many other tips out there that would help in the leading of a successful small group however I personally feel that these 5 tips should be at the core of every small group.
Do you lead a small group? Do you have any tips that you would like to share?