On Dec. 26, 1960, the Green Bay Packers lost the National Football League championship game to the Philadelphia Eagles in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter.

The next summer, Coach Vince Lombardi opened the Packers’ training camp with these immortal words: “Gentlemen, this is a football.”

Lombardi’s words reminded his players that a team wins based on its execution of fundamentals.

As a KidMin leader, have you ever played your heart out during weekend services but still felt you lost the game? You fumbled the lesson, your leadership team didn’t work well together, and the kids were bored.

When that happens — and it happens to everyone — it’s time to evaluate how you’re performing basic tasks.

So, ladies and gentlemen, “this is a football” — nine fundamentals for teaching kids effectively.

1. Say “hello.” Greeting each child as he or she enters the room makes a world of difference. When children feel welcomed and loved as part of a community, their ability to listen and trust increases.

Train your team to connect with every child before the service begins. This includes saying “hello” to them at the door but also interacting with them at their seats.

Many times, late arrivals slip in and look for a place to sit in an already crowded room, usually at the back. Even latecomers deserve a warm reception and a seat that offers the likelihood of interaction with other kids.

2. Keep it simple. The gospel is not complicated. Children’s limited knowledge and understanding, along with their concrete thinking processes, make it important we simplify our teaching.

“Simple” does not mean lacking spiritual depth, however. It means teaching kids at a level they can understand.

Children are concrete thinkers, so avoid abstract ideas when you teach. Always be on the lookout for concepts kids may not understand. Explain words or phrases that are new to them.

Even a simple and common phrase — “Ask Jesus into your heart,” for example — can confuse children if not properly explained. As concrete thinkers, kids may wonder how Jesus is going to fit inside their chest. The point is that we have a trusting relationship with Jesus, our Savior and Friend.

3. Make it fun. Children don’t usually attend KidMin services with serious issues in mind, though some do because of adverse childhood experiences. Even so, kids will return often if they have a fun, positive experience with your ministry.

Kids respond to creative teaching methods, so include elements that create a fun learning environment. Use puppets or characters in skits to act out the lessons. Include silly sight gags that make children smile and laugh.

Use humorous visuals to get your point across. Plays on words can also be great ways to bring out the giggles in your audience.

KidMin can’t be silly all the time, but the right amount of fun keeps kids engaged and focused, as well as making your messages memorable.

4. Get spiritual. Fun is important, but the most important thing that can happen in the lives of all children is for them to experience Jesus. Our ultimate goal is introducing kids each week to God’s person and presence.

Our mindset must remain focused on helping lay a spiritual foundation that is strong enough to last.

Everything we do in a kids’ service sets the stage for children to know God. It is important that we always keep the spiritual goal in focus when ministering to children.

We should work to ensure every child in our ministries develops a personal relationship with Jesus. To that end, teaching the Word of God is vital. Creating an atmosphere where kids worship in Spirit and in truth is critical. And providing adequate altar or response times is indispensable.

5. Keep it short. Experts say a child’s attention span is roughly five minutes. I doubt those numbers will continue to hold, however. From an early age, today’s kids are conditioned by video games and entertainment to expect quick, ever-changing stimulation.

Consequently, it’s a good idea to organize your lesson plan into several three- to five-minute segments, with a variety of leaders involved on stage. Every few minutes, either the topic or presenter changes. This helps kids refocus, enhancing their ability to retain what you’re teaching.

6. Make it serious. Kids deal with serious issues, serious temptations, and serious alternatives to a biblical worldview and lifestyle. KidMin should be fun, but it should also take into account those realities. Children need moments in every service that convey the truth of God’s Word in a serious manner.

After all, KidMin leaders are supposed to pastor kids, not entertain them. Our mindset must remain focused on helping lay a spiritual foundation that is strong enough to last.

Don’t be afraid to make age-appropriate, serious points during your lesson. And make room for kids to hear the Holy Spirit’s voice during altar and response times. God is always bigger than the serious problems kids face.

7. Surprise them! Kids have inquisitive minds, so plan activities that spark curiosity.

For example, hide an object in a gift bag or box and describe it before revealing what it is. Then use that object in your lesson.

Words can create surprises, too. A character in a lesson might have a “secret” he doesn’t reveal until later on. There might be a “mystery prize.” Or you could introduce a “special guest.”

Variety is important, so don’t overuse any of your ideas. Instead, continually think of different ways to add the element of surprise to services.

8. Make it “sticky.” You spend a considerable amount of time and effort putting together a service kids will enjoy and relate to. Yet the conclusion typically receives the least amount of planning and attention, even though it is the most important.

You want kids to understand, remember, and apply the lesson to their lives. You want the message to be “sticky,” in other words. To accomplish this, you need to plan how the lesson (and service) will end.

Some ways to do this include having kids write in a journal, take home a token that reminds them of the lesson, or form small groups and pray with one another. Find creative, fresh ways to do altar calls.

9. Pray for the supernatural. To this point, the KidMin fundamentals I’ve discussed are all about what you do. But in any ministry, there are supernatural variables leaders simply can’t plan.

So, paradoxically, while you should prepare for your KidMin services as if what happens is all up to you and your team, you should also pray as if it’s all up to God.

The Lord has called us to lay the groundwork for the Holy Spirit to convict, confirm, and comfort the kids we serve. What we can prepare on our best day will never have the lasting impact of one word spoken by the Father into the heart of a child.

So, pray for the Holy Spirit to make God’s Word real to the kids in your ministry. Personally experiencing His presence confirms to children that God is real. It also strengthens their resolve to live for Him the rest of their lives.

When that happens, everyone wins.

This article appears in the Summer 2024 issue of Influence magazine.