Ideas to use

Choice circus - a dramatic activity

A drama game useful for exploring the two sides of an argument or dilemma

Drama groups

The why and how to start of drama groups

Once a term fun clubs

You may not have the time or people to run a weekly club, but you still want to reach out to the children in your community. One idea is a once-a-term fun club, held perhaps on a weekday afternoon, after school for 2 hours. Manageable, staffable, exciting in its novelty - it could be great!

Puppets - easy human glove puppets

Simple instructions for how to make human glove puppets - all in less than an hour!

Puppets - mouth puppets

Simple instructions for how to make a Snape Puppet and Sock Puppet

Ribbons in church

Ribbons attached to a short handle can be used during worship. They can look very beautiful in movement. Read some simple instructions on how to make and advice on how to use.

Starting children's work

Many churches have very few or no children in their regular Sunday congregations. This does not however mean that there are not plenty of children out there somewhere! The children - all the children - in your parish or district should be in your prayers and on your hearts. So where do we start if you want to pass on the good news of Jesus to these children? Here are a few ideas.

Music basics

Music can quite literally 'play' such an important part, whenever we meet together with children. But where and how do we start, when perhaps none of us as leaders can play an instrument or feels confident enough to start everyone on the same note? Here are some useful tips.

Collective worship ideas

Collective worship in schools - 'Where do we start?' 'What shape should an assembly - as they are still commonly called - take?' Here are a few simple ideas as guidelines.

All-age talk - hints and guidelines

Here are some useful hints and guidelines for those who are asked to give a talk at an all-age service.

Improvised scenes - a dramatic activity

It's great fun to go into a group and have five minutes to prepare a short play springing from a theme or story. This idea provides guidelines to help to get a crisper, more watchable, less straggly result.

Living statues - a dramatic activity

A simple activity to explore feelings or actions. This activity is silent, does not require anyone to express themselves articulately unless they want to, and builds groups as people work closely together.

In and out - a dramatic activity

Here's a simple, multipurpose drama game to help introduce or explore your theme. It's all-inclusive, encourages the use of imagination and is fun.

Organising a children's event

So you're planning a special event for children or maybe a holiday club. Great! Here's a few things you ought to consider before you get going to help you work more safely and responsibly.

Reading the Bible in Church

Most congregations have at least one Sunday a month when all the church family - adults and children - worship together for the whole time. How can our worship be truly for all the ages there? The following are some ways of reading the scriptures as an all-age experience.

Setting the scene

Most congregations have at least one Sunday each month when all the church family - adults and children - worship together for the whole time. These services ought to be special and a real witness to the new togetherness Christians find in Jesus. The following idea is a way for setting the scene for such a service so that it begins on a truly inclusive note.

Children in Church

We've used this sketch to get people thinking about the idea of 'people looking at outward appearances and God looking at the heart.'

All-age planning

Here are some guidelines to think through when you are planning all-age worship. They are all about getting the balance right, recognizing that this sort of service is neither just for the children nor just for the adults. A box of percussion instruments at the front does not turn morning worship into an all-age service!

Ending Well

Endings are important. For all worship it is good that we end together, clearly and positively. This is the last thing we do and so how we do it influences what we take with us and remember. Why not make up a regular interactive ending a feature of your all-age worship?

A special event or holiday club for children

For most churches today the Sunday school or whatever your call your group is unlikely to be the place where you can share the Christian story with new children. To do that your church will need to create new opportunities to meet the majority of children who are out there in your community. So where do you start? What is involved? Who do you need to help you?

Bible Characters - points of view - a dramatic activity

Worship sculpture - a dramatic activity

Story Sculpture

Bringing a picture to life - a dramatic activity

Using drama to explore a biblical picture

Reading stories aloud

How to get the best from reading stories aloud

Art and Craft with young children

Crafts for the early years

Getting going with a children's area or a creche in your church

Getting going with pew bags, pew packs and liturgy boxes

Thinking about children

An idea to start leaders talking about attitudes to children

Breaking the Ice

First steps in forming links between Schools and Churches

Mission-Shaped Schools

Unlocking the door to new opportunities

Not just taking Assembly

The A-Z of opportunities for service and witness with schools