Children’s Sunday School Work Altamaha / New Sunbury Baptist Association COMPILED BY: JIM ELLIOTT

Ages 6 and 7… Understanding Children are active learners; are full of energy; are full of energy; have surface-level emotions (easy tears or laughter); have surface-level emotions (easy tears or laughter); still like to be hugged (most of them); still like to be hugged (most of them); are becoming more fascinated with peers, but parents are still close resources; are becoming more fascinated with peers, but parents are still close resources; enjoy informal play without many rules; enjoy informal play without many rules; are susceptible to imaginary fears; are susceptible to imaginary fears; show their feelings in behavior rather than words; show their feelings in behavior rather than words;

Ages 6 and 7… Understanding Children are not fully developed in their fine motor skills; are not fully developed in their fine motor skills; are concrete thinkers who do not understand symbolic language; are concrete thinkers who do not understand symbolic language; readily accept adult instruction; readily accept adult instruction; enjoy Bible stories; enjoy Bible stories; have short attention spans; have short attention spans; have limited reading skills; have limited reading skills; are eager to learn; and are eager to learn; and need activities in which they can be successful. need activities in which they can be successful.

Understanding Children Ages 8 and 9… enjoy games with exact rules; enjoy games with exact rules; are more group-focused and loyal to the group; are more group-focused and loyal to the group; have a greater dislike for the opposite sex; have a greater dislike for the opposite sex; are increasing in self-confidence due to growth in mental and physical abilities; are increasing in self-confidence due to growth in mental and physical abilities; are generally cooperative and responsive to authority; are generally cooperative and responsive to authority; have a stable activity level; have a stable activity level; are active learners who need involvement in the learning process; are active learners who need involvement in the learning process; are achievement oriented; are achievement oriented; still find symbolic language a challenge; still find symbolic language a challenge;

Understanding Children Ages 8 and 9… enjoy sports and competitive games; enjoy sports and competitive games; maintain focus on a learning activity more easily; maintain focus on a learning activity more easily; may tease others; may tease others; readily accept Bible truths; readily accept Bible truths; enjoy choices in the learning environment; enjoy choices in the learning environment; have more intense friendships; have more intense friendships; like fair play and demand adherence to the rules; like fair play and demand adherence to the rules; don’t like adult guidance when they can do it themselves; and don’t like adult guidance when they can do it themselves; and are spiritually sensitive are spiritually sensitive.

Ages 10 and 11… Understanding Children are more argumentative; are more argumentative; are less cooperative; are less cooperative; reject things considered childish; reject things considered childish; experience that girls change faster than boys; experience that girls change faster than boys; experience physical changes related to puberty that experience physical changes related to puberty that can cause anxiety; can cause anxiety; are willing to admit an interest in the opposite sex; are willing to admit an interest in the opposite sex; are sensitive to criticism and may be quick tempered; are sensitive to criticism and may be quick tempered; are increasingly concerned about appearance; are increasingly concerned about appearance; question adult teaching; question adult teaching; ask probing questions; ask probing questions;

Ages 10 and 11… Understanding Children can think and reason on much deeper levels; can think and reason on much deeper levels; memorize easily; memorize easily; make the shift from concrete to abstract thinking; make the shift from concrete to abstract thinking; have a better understanding of symbolic language; have a better understanding of symbolic language; desire to be like their peers; desire to be like their peers; feel an intense need to be accepted by their peers; feel an intense need to be accepted by their peers; need acceptance and encouragement by adults; need acceptance and encouragement by adults; dislike outward displays of affection; and dislike outward displays of affection; and are usually ready for spiritual decisions. are usually ready for spiritual decisions.

Children's Sunday School Leadership Job Descriptions

Division Director (where there are two or more Children's departments):

 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.

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

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

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):

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

Enlisting and Training Workers to Lead Children

Act SMART S upport children’s leaders with training, resources, space, and equipment. S upport children’s leaders with training, resources, space, and equipment.

Act SMART S upport children’s leaders with training, resources, space, and equipment. M easure and Motivate. Children’s leaders need feedback and evaluation.

Act SMART S upport children’s leaders with training, resources, space, and equipment. M easure and M otivate. Children’s leaders need feedback and evaluation. A ffirm. Children’s leaders need to be affirmed – to know that their effort is valuable and appreciated.

Act SMART S upport children’s leaders with training, resources, space, and equipment. M easure and M otivate. Children’s leaders need feedback and evaluation. A ffirm. Children’s leaders need to be affirmed – to know that their effort is valuable and appreciated. R eflect. 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 Children’s Sunday School. Out of that vision, set some goals. Then celebrate when God helps you reach them.

Act SMART S upport children’s leaders with training, resources, space, and equipment. M easure and M otivate. Children’s leaders need feedback and evaluation. A ffirm. Children’s leaders need to be affirmed – to know that their effort is valuable and appreciated. R eflect. 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 Children’s Sunday School. Out of that vision, set some goals. Then celebrate when God helps you reach them. T enacious. 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.

Know What You Are Looking For Teacher Teacher Department Director Department Director Secretary Secretary Children’s Division Director Children’s Division Director Children’s Division Outreach- Evangelism Leader Children’s Division Outreach- Evangelism Leader

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

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

Know What You Are Looking For Secretary Maintains department attendance records. Maintains department attendance records. Maintains department reaching contact records. Maintains department reaching contact records. Orders literature and other resources. Orders literature and other resources.

Know What You Are Looking For Children’s Division Director Enlists department directors. Enlists department directors. Plans and provides training for leaders. Plans and provides training for leaders. Participates in regular and annual planning. Participates in regular and annual planning. Meets with leaders to encourage, evaluate, discover needs, and build relationships. Meets with leaders to encourage, evaluate, discover needs, and build relationships. Designs and is responsible for administering the division budget. Designs and is responsible for administering the division budget. Attends Sunday School Leadership Team meetings. Attends Sunday School Leadership Team meetings.

Know What You Are Looking For Children’s Division Outreach- Evangelism Leader Leads department workers in evangelistic visitation and prospect discovery. Leads department workers in evangelistic visitation and prospect discovery. Cooperates with the Sunday School outreach-evangelism director. Cooperates with the Sunday School outreach-evangelism director.

Know What You Are Looking For Essentials for New Leaders: Children’s 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.

Know What You Are Looking For Essentials for Experienced Leaders: An experienced leader should be Engaged in Personal Growth through Bible Study.... Familiar with Children’s Bible Stories and Memory Verses.... Training other leaders.... Involved in Ministry.

How To Find What You Are Looking For In small groups... Brainstorm ways to find leaders for Children’s Sunday School. List the ways you have discussed and be prepared to share with the larger group.

Guidelines for Maintaining Discipline

Keep your voice calm.

Harness child’s behavior and redirect it.

Make requests, not commands.

Leave rules to the really important things.

Don’t shame or make an example of a child before a group.

Involve children in desirable activities. They will be happy, and less trouble will arise, if activities are fun and interesting.

Keep explanations on the child’s level and don’t argue.

Be firm, but kind.

Remember that there are reasons for disobedience: fatigue, sickness, insecurity, denial of attention, need for recognition, etc.

The goal of all discipline is self- discipline.

Parents and teachers must set a good example of self- discipline.

Honor decisions after allowing choices.

Let children share in making rules and plans.

Give some chores to teach responsibility.

A child needs consistency.

A Child needs loving when he is least lovable.

Divert trouble before it happens.

Recognize that children are persons and that they are going to have some negative feelings.

Evangelism With Children In The Sunday School

Help! I’m a Children’s Sunday School Leader

Talk About You. When you were a child – When you were a child – What was your favorite age? What was your favorite age? Why? Why?

Talk About You. When you were a child - When you were a child - What was your favorite subject in school? What was your favorite subject in school? Why? Why?

Talk About You. When you were a child - When you were a child - Did you enjoy sports and physical activity? Did you enjoy sports and physical activity? Why? or Why not? Why? or Why not?

Talk About You. When you were a child - When you were a child - Who was your favorite Bible character? Who was your favorite Bible character? Why? Why?

Talk About You. When you were a child - Who was your hero? Who was your hero? Why? Why?

Talk About Children The previous questions... The previous questions What did you learn from yours and other’s answers?... Can you answer some or all of these questions for the children with whom you work?

Your Learning Style Is it Auditory/Linguistic 2. Visual/Spatial 3. Kinesthetic/Bodily

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

Every child needs to develop a Christian concept of personal worth - created in God’s image and one for whom Christ died.

Every child needs to grow in understanding what the Bible teaches about people’s relationship to God, Jesus, the church, the family, others, the natural world, and the Bible.

Every child needs to develop a conscience that is increasingly sensitive to Bible Teachings.

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

Every child needs to grow in those Bible study skills that enable believers to properly interpret and apply the message of God’s Word.

Objectives of Bible Study for Children… Christian knowledge and understanding of the Bible and the Church.

Objectives of Bible Study for Children… Christian attitudes and convictions with regard to God, Jesus, self, others, family, the Bible, and the natural world.

Objectives of Bible Study for Children… Christian living

Objectives of Bible Study for Children… Christian Worship

Objectives of Bible Study for Children… Christian service - with emphasis on ministering and witnessing to others.

Objectives of Bible Study for Children… Christian Conversion

Objectives of Bible Study for Children… Church Membership

How Children Grow According to God’s Plan “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. Luke 2:52

How Children Grow According to God’s Plan 1. Children are learning physical skills necessary for games and work.

How Children Grow According to God’s Plan 2. Children are developing attitudes toward themselves as growing persons.

How Children Grow According to God’s Plan 3. Children are learning to get along with others.

How Children Grow According to God’s Plan 4. Children are learning appropriate female and male roles.

How Children Grow According to God’s Plan 5. Children are developing concepts necessary for everyday living.

How Children Grow According to God’s Plan 6. Children are developing fundamental skills in reading, writing, and calculating.

How Children Grow According to God’s Plan 7. Children are developing a conscience, morals, and values.

8. Children are beginning to achieve personal independence.

How Children Grow According to God’s Plan 9. Children are developing attitudes toward social groups and institutions.

Why do we teach children in Sunday School as we do?

When can a child believe?

Controlling Factors Physical Development Physical Development Mental Development Mental Development Emotional Development Emotional Development Spiritual Development Spiritual Development

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

Tell us about... PhysicalDevelopment

Controlling Factors Physical Development Physical Development Mental Development Mental Development Emotional Development Emotional Development Spiritual Development Spiritual Development

THEY NEED ASSISTANCE Mental Growth does not always come naturally for everyone…… Mental Growth does not always come naturally for everyone……

Tell us about... MentalDevelopment

Controlling Factors Physical Development Physical Development Mental Development Mental Development Emotional Development Emotional Development Spiritual Development Spiritual Development

Children Need Support Emotional Stability is vital in their lives Emotional Stability is vital in their lives

Tell us about... EmotionalDevelopment

Controlling Factors Physical Development Physical Development Mental Development Mental Development Emotional Development Emotional Development Spiritual Development Spiritual Development

GREATEST NEED !! Bible Stories ! JESUS! Bible Stories ! JESUS!

Tell us about... SpiritualDevelopment

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

Watch for reactions to “Spiritual” stimuli. Watch for reactions to “Spiritual” stimuli. Be sensitive to any emotional or behavioral changes. Be sensitive to any emotional or behavioral changes. Listen to the questions he asks. Listen to the questions he asks. Pray for wisdom. Pray for wisdom. Readiness To Accept Christ

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 126:6 NASB

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