Children’s Church Ideas Using Multimedia

To keep kids interested in church, leaders have to make the Bible accessible; to do this requires innovative children’s church ideas. Leaders should do so by reaching kids how they are used to being addressed, through multiple media forms and through an invitation to participate.

Use Multimedia in Children's Church

Some of the best children’s church ideas are those that use new technologies. Today’s children are accustomed to receiving information electronically, through cell phones, and through the use of video, audio and text, often at the same time! Church leaders must understand that it is through the use of these technologies that they will best connect with children.

Church that speaks to children has to speak their language. If children are bombarded with different media in the other areas of their lives, it will be very difficult for them to sit still and listen to one speaker for any significant period of time. However, if that speaker combines speech with music or video or movement, etc, they will better maintain the interest of their audience.

Bring it to their Level

For children, church is sometimes an unknown and uncomfortable event. To make it fun and reachable for them, church leaders must involve children in their services. Most services include a lesson or speech given by the church leader; why not turn it into an interactive session instead of a lecture?

By bringing themselves to the level of children, and inviting their participation in the discussion, church leaders will better connect with children and encourage their voluntary participation. It is this voluntary participation that helps build a strong church community and makes church a safe place for children to learn, have fun, and grow.

Involve Kids in Rituals

All denominations of Christianity have certain rituals they follow. One idea is to include children in these rituals so that they understand and are more likely to follow and believe them. Today’s children are used to a wealth of information coming from different areas; they are therefore less likely to believe what someone says without helping to create the knowledge themselves.

Children can create the knowledge of the church rituals by first learning the practices and the reason behind them. Then, children can make the ritual their own by making it relevant for kids. For instance, if the ritual is to share a meal as a symbol of communing with Christ, children can plan a milk and cookies meal for other young churchgoers. The message still gets across, but in a kid-friendly way.

Make it Interactive

Children’s church sessions often differ from "traditional" services because they are more relaxed and usually, more fun! Church leaders can encourage participation and excitement by breaking down the barriers to the church service. Children should be encouraged to participate through song, performance, or assistance in the rituals.

For instance, each church session there could be a few minutes dedicated to showcasing the work of one child or group. This could be a performance of a Christian skit or a choreographed praise dance. It could be a music video recorded by the students singing to a Christian song, or a showcase of art with Christian themes.

Children’s church ideas, in order to be successful, have to involve kids the way they are accustomed to interacting. This means using multimedia, allowing them to participate in the creation and sharing of knowledge, and encouraging interactive church sessions. These ideas encourage children to get excited about church rather than see it as a boring event unrelated to their everyday lives.

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