Children

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Childrens Sunday School Work
COMPILED BY JIM ELLIOTT
Altamaha / New Sunbury Baptist Association
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Understanding Children
Ages 6 and 7
are active learners are full of energy
have surface-level emotions (easy tears or
laughter) still like to be hugged (most of
them) are becoming more fascinated with
peers, but parents are still close resources
enjoy informal play without many rules are
susceptible to imaginary fears show their
feelings in behavior rather than words
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Understanding Children
Ages 6 and 7
are not fully developed in their fine motor
skills are concrete thinkers who do not
understand symbolic language readily accept
adult instruction enjoy Bible stories
have short attention spans have limited
reading skills are eager to learn and
need activities in which they can be successful.
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Understanding Children
Ages 8 and 9
enjoy games with exact rules are more
group-focused and loyal to the group have a
greater dislike for the opposite sex are
increasing in self-confidence due to growth in
mental and physical abilities are generally
cooperative and responsive to authority have
a stable activity level are active learners
who need involvement in the learning process
are achievement oriented still find symbolic
language a challenge
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Understanding Children
Ages 8 and 9
enjoy sports and competitive games maintain
focus on a learning activity more easily may
tease others readily accept Bible truths
enjoy choices in the learning environment
have more intense friendships like fair play
and demand adherence to the rules dont like
adult guidance when they can do it themselves
and are spiritually sensitive.
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Understanding Children
Ages 10 and 11
are more argumentative are less
cooperative reject things considered
childish experience that girls change faster
than boys experience physical changes related
to puberty that can cause anxiety are
willing to admit an interest in the opposite
sex are sensitive to criticism and may be
quick tempered are increasingly concerned
about appearance question adult teaching
ask probing questions
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Understanding Children
Ages 10 and 11
can think and reason on much deeper levels
memorize easily make the shift from concrete
to abstract thinking have a better
understanding of symbolic language desire to
be like their peers feel an intense need to
be accepted by their peers need acceptance
and encouragement by adults dislike outward
displays of affection and are usually ready
for spiritual decisions.
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Children's Sunday School Leadership Job
Descriptions
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Division Director

• (where there are two or more Children's
  departments)

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• Enlist all department directors.
• Provide training experiences for all workers.
• Participate in planning meetings. Organize and
  maintain a resource system.
• Attend Sunday School Council meetings.

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Department Director

• (where two or more teachers meet in one room
  with a group of children)

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• Lead teachers in all work of the department
  including planning and evaluating.
• Teach a small group of children during Bible
  Study time.
• Guide Bible Study and Worship in the large group.
  
• Secure literature and resources.
• Maintain department records.
• Determine training needs and in conjunction with
  the Sunday School Director provide appropriate
  training activities.

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Teacher

• (when there is only one teacher in one room with
  a group of children the teacher will assume the
  responsibilities of the Department Director)

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• Teach a small group of children during Bible
  Study time.
• Participate in Bible Study and Worship large
  group time.
• Care for and minister to children and their
  families.

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Enlisting andTraining Workers to Lead Children
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Act SMART

• Support childrens leaders with training,
  resources, space, and equipment.

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Act SMART

• Support childrens leaders with training,
  resources, space, and equipment.
• Measure and Motivate. Childrens leaders need
  feedback and evaluation.

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Act SMART

• Support childrens leaders with training,
  resources, space, and equipment.
• Measure and Motivate. Childrens leaders need
  feedback and evaluation.
• Affirm. Childrens leaders need to be affirmed
  to know that their effort is valuable and
  appreciated.

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Act SMART

• Support childrens leaders with training,
  resources, space, and equipment.
• Measure and Motivate. Childrens leaders need
  feedback and evaluation.
• Affirm. Childrens leaders need to be affirmed
  to know that their effort is valuable and
  appreciated.
• Reflect. Ask some questions and think carefully
  about your answers. Why are we doing what we are
  doing? Develop a vision for what God would have
  happen in the ministry of Childrens Sunday
  School. Out of that vision, set some goals. Then
  celebrate when God helps you reach them.

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Act SMART

• Support childrens leaders with training,
  resources, space, and equipment.
• Measure and Motivate. Childrens leaders need
  feedback and evaluation.
• Affirm. Childrens leaders need to be affirmed
  to know that their effort is valuable and
  appreciated.
• Reflect. Ask some questions and think carefully
  about your answers. Why are we doing what we are
  doing? Develop a vision for what God would have
  happen in the ministry of Childrens Sunday
  School. Out of that vision, set some goals. Then
  celebrate when God helps you reach them.
• Tenacious. You have to be tenacious when finding
  other leaders. Look for people who share that
  tenacity, but also people who are willing to work
  together and encourage and lift up one another.

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Know What You Are
Looking For

• Teacher
• Department Director
• Secretary
• Childrens Division Director
• Childrens Division Outreach-Evangelism Leader

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Know What You Are Looking
For

• Teacher
• Teaches a small group of children.
• Reaches out to find and enroll children.
• Contacts absentees weekly.
• Cares for and ministers to children and their
  families.
• Witnesses to children and their families.
• Fellowships with children and their families.
• Participates in regular planning.

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Know What You Are
Looking For

• Department Director
• Leads teachers in all work of the department.
• Guides the large-group activities.
• Enlists all department workers.
• Determines training needs.
• Secures literature and resources.
• Maintains department records.
• Represents department on Sunday School Leadership
  Team.

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Know What You Are
Looking For

• Secretary
• Maintains department attendance records.
• Maintains department reaching contact records.
• Orders literature and other resources.

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Know What You Are
Looking For

• Childrens Division Director
• Enlists department directors.
• Plans and provides training for leaders.
• Participates in regular and annual planning.
• Meets with leaders to encourage, evaluate,
  discover needs, and build relationships.
• Designs and is responsible for administering the
  division budget.
• Attends Sunday School Leadership Team meetings.

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Know What You
Are Looking For

• Childrens Division Outreach-Evangelism Leader
• Leads department workers in evangelistic
  visitation and prospect discovery.
• Cooperates with the Sunday School
  outreach-evangelism director.

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Know What You Are
Looking For

• Essentials for New Leaders
  Childrens Sunday School Leaders should
  be . . .
• . . . Christians,
• . . . Church members,
• . . . People who enjoy children,
• . . . Willing to be trained,
• . . . Committed to the objectives of Sunday
  School as strategy.

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Know What You Are Looking
For

• Essentials for Experienced Leaders
• An experienced leader should be . . .
• . . . Engaged in Personal Growth through Bible
  Study.
• . . . Familiar with Childrens Bible Stories
  and Memory Verses.
• . . . Training other leaders.
• . . . Involved in Ministry.

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How To Find What You Are Looking For

• In small groups . . .
• Brainstorm ways to find leaders for Childrens
  Sunday School.
• List the ways you have discussed and be prepared
  to share with the larger group.

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Guidelines for Maintaining Discipline
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Keep your voice calm.
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Harness childs behavior and redirect it.
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Make requests, not commands.
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Leave rules to the really important things.
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Dont shame or make an example of a child before
a group.
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Involve children in desirable activities. They
will be happy, and less trouble will arise, if
activities are fun and interesting.
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Keep explanations on the childs level and dont
argue.
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Be firm, but kind.
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Remember that there are reasons for disobedience
fatigue, sickness, insecurity, denial of
attention, need for recognition, etc.
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The goal of all discipline is self-discipline.
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Parents and teachers must set a good example of
self-discipline.
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Honor decisions after allowing choices.
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Let children share in making rules and plans.
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Give some chores to teach responsibility.
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A child needs consistency.
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A Child needs loving when he is least lovable.
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Divert trouble before it happens.
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Recognize that children are persons and that they
are going to have some negative feelings.
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Evangelism With Children In TheSunday School
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Help!

• Im a Childrens
• Sunday School Leader

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Talk About You.

• When you were a child
• What was your favorite age?
• Why?

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Talk About You.

• When you were a child -
• What was your favorite subject in school?
• Why?

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Talk About You.

• When you were a child -
• Did you enjoy sports and physical activity?
• Why? or Why not?

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Talk About You.

• When you were a child -
• Who was your favorite Bible character?
• Why?

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Talk About You.

• When you were a child -
• Who was your hero?
• Why?

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Talk About Children

• The previous questions . . .
• . . . What did you learn from yours and others
  answers?
• . . . Can you answer some or all of these
  questions for the children with whom you work?

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Your Learning Style

• Is it . . .
• 1. Auditory/Linguistic
• 2. Visual/Spatial
• 3. Kinesthetic/Bodily

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Every child needs to . . .

• . . . grow in Bible knowledge that enables the
  child to respond in faith to the leadership of
  Gods Holy Spirit and to accept and acknowledge
  Jesus as Savior and Lord when Gods Spirit leads
  him to do so.

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Every child needs to . . .

• . . . develop a Christian concept of personal
  worth - created in Gods image and one for whom
  Christ died.

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Every child needs to . . .

• . . . grow in understanding what the Bible
  teaches about peoples relationship to God,
  Jesus, the church, the family, others, the
  natural world, and the Bible.

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Every child needs to . . .

• . . . develop a conscience that is increasingly
  sensitive to Bible Teachings.

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Every child needs to . . .

• . . . learn, accept, and live by Christian values
  through the power of God at work in his or her
  life.

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Every child needs to . . .

• . . . grow in those Bible study skills that
  enable believers to properly interpret and apply
  the message of Gods Word.

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Objectives of Bible Study for Children

• Christian knowledge and understanding of the
  Bible and the Church.

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Objectives of Bible Study for Children

• Christian attitudes and convictions with regard
  to God, Jesus, self, others, family, the Bible,
  and the natural world.

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Objectives of Bible Study for Children

• Christian living

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Objectives of Bible Study for Children

• Christian Worship

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Objectives of Bible Study for Children

• Christian service - with emphasis on ministering
  and witnessing to others.

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Objectives of Bible Study for Children

• Christian Conversion

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Objectives of Bible Study for Children

• Church Membership

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How Children Grow According to Gods Plan

• And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and
  in favour with God and man. Luke 252

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How Children Grow According to Gods Plan

• 1. Children are learning physical skills
  necessary for games and work.

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How Children Grow According to Gods Plan

• 2. Children are developing attitudes toward
  themselves as growing persons.

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How Children Grow According to Gods Plan

• 3. Children are learning to get along with others.

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How Children Grow According to Gods Plan

• 4. Children are learning appropriate female and
  male roles.

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How Children Grow According to Gods Plan

• 5. Children are developing concepts necessary for
  everyday living.

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How Children Grow According to Gods Plan

• 6. Children are developing fundamental skills in
  reading, writing, and calculating.

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How Children Grow According to Gods Plan

• 7. Children are developing a conscience, morals,
  and values.

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How Children Grow According to Gods Plan

• 8. Children are beginning to achieve personal
  independence.

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How Children Grow According to Gods Plan

• 9. Children are developing attitudes toward
  social groups and institutions.

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Why do we teach children in Sunday School as we
do?
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When can a child believe?
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Controlling Factors

• Physical Development
• Mental Development
• Emotional Development
• Spiritual Development

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PHYSICAL GROWTH

• Physical Growth comes naturally
• Proper diets and etc result in solid growth for
  children

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Tell us about . . .

• Physical
• Development

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Controlling Factors

• Physical Development
• Mental Development
• Emotional Development
• Spiritual Development

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THEY NEED ASSISTANCE

• Mental Growth does not always come naturally for
  everyone

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Tell us about . . .

• Mental
• Development

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Controlling Factors

• Physical Development
• Mental Development
• Emotional Development
• Spiritual Development

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Children Need Support

• Emotional Stability is vital in their lives

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Tell us about . . .

• Emotional
• Development

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Controlling Factors

• Physical Development
• Mental Development
• Emotional Development
• Spiritual Development

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GREATEST NEED !!

• Bible Stories ! JESUS!

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Tell us about . . .

• Spiritual
• Development

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So . . .

• How can I know when a child is ready to become a
  Christian?

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Readiness To Accept Christ

• Watch for reactions to Spiritual stimuli.
• Be sensitive to any emotional or behavioral
  changes.
• Listen to the questions he asks.
• Pray for wisdom.

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• He who goes to and fro, weeping, carrying his bag
  of seed, shall indeed come again with a shout of
  joy bringing his sheaves with him.
• Psalm 1266 NASB

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ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE

• Associational Empowerment Team is available to
  assist in any way possible
• Training events through Association
• Training through the GBC
• CONTACT ASSOCIATION OFFICE FOR INFORMATION OR TO
  SCHEDULE A TRAINING EVENT