Game On!
Games in your Kid’s Ministry program build relationships by creating interaction and breaking down barriers. A game can be a teaching tool when it ties in with your lesson. Games also allow children to use pent up energy and that helps with behaviour management. Here’s some tips that will make games a success.
Before you choose a game, think about the objective, the age of your kids, the amount of room you have and the equipment you’ll need. Be prepared! Don’t allow time for chaos. Have equipment ready, mark out areas, do a safety check, and know the game well. Use leaders to demonstrate the game while you introduce it. Be clear on what teams will win and be extravagant in awarding points.
Make games simple. Introduce the game as concisely and quickly as possible. If it takes too long to explain, forget it! Games that are short, easily understood and exciting are preferable to formally structured, highly skilled games.
Name the game. If your game doesn’t have a name, or sounds boring, make one up. It gets kid’s excited and they’ll ask for it if it becomes a favourite.
Lead clearly, strongly, loudly and enthusiastically. Your attitude and approach will largely determine whether a game will be a success or not. Encourage interaction: Are you ready? Are you ready? ARE YOU READY? Everyone in the group should be involved, actively or passively.
Make Stops and Starts clear and simple.
3, 2, 1 Start! 3, 2, 1, Stop! Use a whistle or air horn so you’re heard.
You must settle children down after games, so they’re ready for the next part of the morning, and you can do this by talking calmly and more quietly. ‘Blue team wins. Good game blue team. Yellow team, better luck next time. Thanks for playing’. A drink of water is a good idea, too.
Always have a spare game to fill in any extra time, or in case a game goes faster than anticipated, or just doesn’t work as well as you thought it would. Don’t persist in playing a game that is not working. Don’t play a game too long and let your program suffer from over saturation. Learn to discern the point when the children want just a little bit more of a game and end it. They’ll want to play it next time.