Have you noticed the amount of AI-generated artwork available on free photo downloading sites?  I see many of the illustrations used as YouTube thumbnails for audiobooks.  With the right program, we can now create art.  Setting aside the controversy of whether or not AI-generated art is real art, the handy thing for people like us serving in Kid’s Ministry is that we’ll be able to generate our visual aids for any Bible story we teach.  This is not something I ever envisaged as a teenager when I used to spend hours colouring in to make my own visuals!

But even with AI-generated artwork as a handy resource, I believe it’s important to read aloud to your kids even in a Kid’s Church setting.   

• Research is overwhelmingly supportive of children being read to as it helps their brains engage in deep and sustained attention
• It creates a connection between you and your kids
• It provides a break from digital distraction
• It’s a group activity that draws you together
• It stimulates their imagination  

You can read aloud to your Kid’s Church, and keep their attention, if you follow these steps…

Step 1: Create an Engaging Environment

I always have a storytelling chair.  It’s not any old chair.  It’s not a chair for just anyone to sit on.  It’s special.  Sometimes decorated in flowers (Easter) or tinsel (Christmas).  Sometimes it’s layered with throws and cushions or a beach towel, depending on the story and the season.  But when that chair appears, the children know it’s time for a special story.  I seat the children on rugs on the floor and bring them closer than normal, so I can see their reactions and watch their behaviour.  Your volunteers should sit amongst or at the outer edges of the group to deal with distractions, too.  Begin with a rhetorical question to pique the children’s interest:  ‘How would you feel if you were imprisoned for giving someone a Bible?’ 

Step 2: Know Your Story

You can’t memorize your story, but you do have to know it.  Fluency is important. This is the only time I mark a book!  I box the text I want to read and put a line through parts I don’t.  If there are a lot of characters, I highlight their dialogue using different colours, so I know at a glance what voice to use.  I annotate like a school student!  I note the definition of a word the children may not be familiar with, especially if it is a historical story, just in case someone asks.  I like to keep questions for afterwards, so the flow of the story is not broken, but sometimes children need something clarified so they understand. 

Step 3.  Be Amazing!

Use everything you’ve got to keep the children listening.  You want to invite them to become part of the story.  Facial expressions, gestures, sound effects, changes in voice and pitch are all vital to the success of your story reading.  Don’t read in a monotone unless a story character speaks that way.  Remember to look up from the page to make eye contact.    

Who knows what the future holds in terms of teaching with technology; however, you cannot be replaced.  And the connection you make with the kids in your care cannot be replicated!

This post was originally published on 20th January 2019 and updated on 27th March 2025