I know what it’s like to attempt to teach a Kid’s Church lesson unprepared.  I wish I could say that it never happened but it did…twice.  And the lessons were so bad I’ve never forgotten them.  I had reasons and children are forgiving but learn from my mistakes and save yourself regret by using these ten tips to prepare a lesson for your Kid’s Ministry.      

Tip 1:  Allow yourself plenty of time.

Look ahead and read the lessons you’re due to teach over the coming weeks or months.  This will put them in the ‘background’ of your mind and then ideas to enhance your lessons have time to come to the foreground.  Object lessons, testimonies, skits and crafts.  The Holy Spirit is your helper and He will highlight things that will assist you in teaching the children.  Schedule a time when you’ll sit down and prepare your lesson.  Do not procrastinate!           

Tip 2:  Pray for yourself and the kids.

Add the names of the children you teach to your prayer journal, or write them on a piece of paper and put them in your Bible.  This will help you remember to pray for the children and it allows the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart about certain ones who may need intercessory prayer.  Whether you’re a new teacher or an old hand you still need to pray for yourself and that your lesson will go well so you’ll be effective in the lives of the children.     

Tip 3:  Read through the Bible lesson notes.

Published curriculum is written by experts and lessons come with helpful information about the background of the Bible story you’re sharing including historical and cultural information.  Don’t skip it. Take advantage of their expertise.  Otherwise, use your favourite commentary to check anything you’re unsure of. I use the internet to listen to the correct pronunciation of Hebrew words and names.

Tip 4:  Be clear about what the lesson aims to achieve.

You have to be clear in your mind about the aim of the lesson you’re teaching otherwise you’ll never get it across to the children.  And one aim is enough!  Don’t go off on tangents.  The aim of the lesson is what you keep reinforcing with the other activities like a worksheet, Memory Verse or craft.   A lesson aim gives you something to shoot for and a means to evaluate whether or not you hit your target. 

Tip 5:  What is the takeaway for the kids?

Who doesn’t love takeaway?  But seriously, a takeaway is a conclusion you want children to make based on the facts you have presented to them.  It’s something they will remember. This is why we like to hit our aim repeatedly through a lot of activities.  It’s the takeaway that will help the children live for Jesus. 

Tip 6:  Will your introduction grab kids’ attention?

What’s your hook?  At the opening of your lesson, what are you doing to grab the kid’s attention?  You can use a kinaesthetic hook with a physical challenge.  You can use a musical hook: a song with actions.  You can use a testimony (telling a story) or you can play a game or ask an intriguing question.  A hook will engage your kids because it will make them curious. 

Tip 7:  Is your lesson balanced?

Not only do you need a balance of God talk (the Bible) people talk (human experience) and me talk (personal stories and insights) but it’s a good idea to balance listening, speaking and small group time.  You may not get to everything you’ve prepared but it’s better to have too much and drop an activity than to be underprepared with too much time on your hands.

Tip 8:  Are your activities age-appropriate?

Make sure your preparation takes into account the age and learning styles of your kids.  It may mean offering a choice of colouring or puzzle sheets.  It might mean you need to prepare visual aids or collect props.  Complete the craft or puzzle sheets for yourself so you know how to help any children who may find them challenging.

Tip 9:  Ensure the conclusion draws together the aim of the lesson.

If you watch gymnasts on the balance beam you know the dismount is important!  The end or wrap-up of your lesson is something you must control, too.  You want your lesson to leave a lasting impression.  Prepare a review of the main points of your lesson and create questions to ask the children.  Don’t forget to include how the lesson applies to the children’s lives today.  That’s often called the life application but in my lessons, I like to use the phrase ‘ministry to the children’ because we are attending to a need in their lives in a practical way.      

Tip 10:  Evaluate your lesson. 

Here’s your chance for some reflective thinking!  What worked well?  What could be improved?  Was the aim of the lesson achieved?  I usually make notes to file with the lesson so if it should be taught again I can refer to them and know what worked and what didn’t and why. 

Ten tips to help you prepare may make it sound like you have to prepare for your preparation but they’re tips to help you in the very important and challenging work you are doing for the Kingdom of God.  Preparation is powerful!  The more experienced you become the more you will automatically follow these tips.  They’ll save you time and prevent you from being overwhelmed.  You won’t regret it.