We hear about it all of the time, we need to theme our children’s ministry space. It can be key in helping engage the children in your ministry, in helping them return week after week. It used to be, and still is in same cases, that children’s ministry only had a major theme (decor) for VBS. That simply is not true any more. Children’s ministries are now taking the enthusiasm from the VBS theme and bringing it to Sunday morning and even the entire children’s ministry area. So what is a small church to do when it comes to theming their area?
When I was in a portable setting, meeting in a movie theater, the theming was very basic, really non-existent. Little Tykes tables for the preschool and using the “big screen” for the elementary children.
When we moved into a permanent facility, I had the ability to create themed spaces for the children’s ministry. Most were used by the preschool. At the time we were using the Lil’ K curriculum. In that curriculum, the story in the video takes place in a blanket fort and so we had some ladies in the church turn a room into a blanket fort to match the curriculum. It was designed to be removed each week so if the room was used during the week the blankets would not be there to help keep it special for Sunday.
For another area I copied an idea from another children’s pastor making the area into a forest with a TV and DVD player “in a tree”! We named that are Discovery Woods because that is where they would discover Jesus and the things of God. There was a mural on the wall and donated, or “fake” Christmas trees bought on sale after the season help to make the area special.
These were designated areas for children’s ministry. There was one more area that would be used by several ministries and I wanted to be sure that if any ministry used it, that they would feel that it was their space and not that they were “invading” or using another ministry’s area.
I painted that area a neutral color and used the flat screen TV and banners that would hang along the walls from the grid tile ceiling to theme the area for whatever ministry was using the space at that time.
Theming your children’s ministry area does not need to be extravagant, it just needs to be something that will engage the children. If you are looking for ides to theme your area, whether permanently or for a specific lesson, I encourage you to visit https://www.kidmincorinne.com/set-designs/. While some of the ideas may be out of your budget, it will give you some tips and ideas that you may be able to use.
Do you theme your area? No matter how simple or extravagant, I’d love to see your area. You never know, it may encourage another.
