Playing games. Ask the children in your ministry what they love about your ministry and you're almost guaranteed to hear, "Playing games." Play is an integral part of childhood. And it's an integral part of ministry, too. As children play, they're having fun while they're learning. Games teach children about patience, respect, cooperation, and encouragement.
Games involve everyone, and they're a powerful tool for making a point. If you wanted to teach children about David and Goliath, you could sit them down in rows, tell them the story, and have them color in a picture of David. Or…you could have them play Human Slingshots (page 110), in which they link arms to make "slings" and launch paper "rocks" at a 9-foot-high target. Which do you think children will remember? Which will they enjoy?
The Humongous Book of Games for Children’s Ministry is a children's ministry resource that has hundreds of games that connect with many different topics and hundreds of different Scriptures. The book is divided into three main sections: "Preschool Games," "Lower Elementary Games," and "Upper Elementary Games." If you're teaching your preschoolers about a topic and you need an opening game, just look at the table of contents to find the game that fits the point you're making. If you want your fifth-graders to understand a certain Scripture passage, just turn to the "Scripture Index" in the back to find the game that brings the passage to life. If your second-graders need a change of pace, turn to the "Energy Level Index" to find a high-energy game to liven things up.
The Humongous Book of Games for Children’s Ministry probably has all the games you'll need. Have fun laughing, learning, and playing with these children's ministry ideas!