Selecting curriculum for children’s ministry in the past used to straightforward. You would simply utilize whatever your denomination published. In today’s children’s ministry climate, there are a multitude of options to consider. It can seem like a daunting task to select the right curriculum for your ministry.
I am going to share how I selected the various products that I have used over the years. My intent is not to promote one product over the other. As I name products, they are simply the one’s that I selected and how I came to that conclusion. There are several quality products available for churches to use.
I like technology so I am going to opt to utilize a computer, ppt or other presentation software with a projector or a flat screen TV. I try to find video components or create graphics to compliment the lesson.
In a church plant, I began by utilizing various curriculum and had a hybrid of different products. I saw one product that I liked, but I struggled to justify the purchase because we would only use a portion of it. Yes, price is one of many factors that come into play, but it should not be the most important factor. Ultimately, I decided to use this curriculum. We were preparing to meet in a movie theater and I wanted to utilize the “big screen” if possible. Another key factor was that it had to be user friendly if I was not available. I sought a video component, but I did not want the children sitting there watching a video the entire time. They could do that at home. There needed to be personal interaction. The curriculum that I selected was Kidmo for the elementary aged children (still available, but no additional series are being produced). It was the type of lesson that I would develop if I had the time and the resources. I used their companion product Lil’ K for the preschool.
I would use other products during the summer or as I felt led throughout the year to break things up. To get out of the norm and shake things up.
I began to look for a change in curriculum. We held a family service once a month. The children were not engaged, parents dreaded the day, and since we had no Sunday school and on this day no children’s church; I felt like we were “throwing the day away”, not effectively reaching the children. I opted to switch the elementary aged program to Orange’s 252 Basics. They had many options to engage families and one component I really sought was the “FX” (family experience). I transformed the family service into a modified FX (after all this was our only Sunday service). That change had many benefits.
Through each selection of curriculum, I looked at several products, but the basics of selecting the proper product remained constant. Let me list the basic things to consider when selecting a product to use in your ministry.
- Price – While your church may not allow a generous budget for curriculum, free is not always the best option. Price does factor in to curriculum choices, but it should not be the first, or most important factor.
- Theology – Does the material line up with your church’s theology and belief statement? While most children’s ministry curriculum is generic, covering core beliefs, there are some that emphasize certain theological viewpoints that may not align with your church. It is critical that the curriculum you choose lines up with the church’s beliefs.
- Prep Time – If you woke up ill and were absent, could a volunteer take over at the last minute? How much time do you, and your volunteers, have to prepare for the lesson each week? I am not a fan of “no-prep” or low-prep curriculums, but if you only have a few leaders/teachers available, then how one person’s absence impacts the day needs to be considered.
- Multi-media – Does the material have any multimedia components? Do you want multimedia components? Do the media components meet your need?
- Flexibility – There is not any one curriculum that meets the need for everyone. Every curriculum that I have used, I have had to modify it some. Does the material allow for that flexibility? How much effort is involved in adapting it to your specific needs?
- Activities – Does it include crafts, games, class room notes, or other activity suggestions that you incorporate into your program, or would like to incorporate?
Choosing the right curriculum can be challenging. As with anything, go into the selection process with prayer. If you ask others what they use you will get a myriad of responses and how well the curriculum they use is having a great impact. It has an impact because most of the products available lead people to Jesus. It ultimately comes down to how it meshes with your church culture, how your leaders accept it and present it. There are some curriculum that do not mesh well with my teaching style, or philosophy. It does not make them bad, just not a good fit for me and how God would have me lead the ministry He has entrusted me. As you seek out curriculum, find the right fit for you and the ministry God has entrusted you.
