Children Ministry: Resources and Curriculum
This week welcome Lauren Wasyluk as a guest writer to brings some insights and ideas surrounding the topic of Children’s Ministry. Lauren has 10 years of Children’s Ministry experience and in both reformed and evangelical settings. Most recently Lauren has joined the Ministry Forum team and works behind the scenes as the logistics and creative lead.
Finding the right curriculum or resource for your Children's Ministry can be overwhelming. Whether you're revitalizing an existing program or starting fresh, the right resources can make a significant difference in the effectiveness of your program. The right curriculum will align with your congregations mission and values, inspire and equipp your volunteers and engage the children or young people you seek to serve. This post explores curriculum options for many different contexts - we certainly can’t cover them all though. If you have a resource you think we should add - comment below. If you NEED a resource in this area of ministry send us an email - we’d love to do the research for you!
P.s. If your church is looking for ways to connect kids, teens and families outside of traditional Sunday morning programs - check out this post.
Understanding Your Curriculum Needs
Before diving into the different curriculum options, it's important to assess your church’s specific needs. Consider factors like the size of your group, the age range of the children, volunteer availability, and what themes or biblical teachings you want to emphasize. Tailoring the curriculum to fit these parameters will help maximize its impact.
Before you settle on a curriculum it's important to recognize that no single resource will perfectly meet all of your needs. Different curricula offer varied strengths—some may provide excellent visuals and activities, while others might align more closely with your theological perspectives or congregational values. As you assess your options, prioritize what matters most to your ministry. Remember, a curriculum should serve as a flexible template, not a rigid set of instructions. It's likely you'll need to supplement or adjust parts of the curriculum to better fit your church's context. Whether it's modifying activities to be more engaging or tweaking lesson plans to align with your doctrinal beliefs, anticipate making these changes to maximize the curriculum's effectiveness in your unique setting. This approach allows you to benefit from the strengths of a curriculum while adapting aspects that may not perfectly align with your needs.
Lectionary Based Curriculum
Sparkhouse - Whirl
Tailored specifically for mainline Protestant congregations, Sparkhouse provides a variety of lectionary-based resources that align with the liturgical calendar. Their curricula are designed to resonate with a wide range of mainline theological perspectives and include options for all age groups, making it a versatile choice for churches following the Revised Common Lectionary.
Living the Word: Teaching God’s Story
developed by Spirit & Truth Publishing, designed to align with the Narrative Lectionary used in worship. This comprehensive resource caters to all ages, ensuring that entire congregations can journey through the Bible together.
Come and Worship: Lectionary based Children’s Chapel
This Curriculum provides a creative children's liturgy for each of the three years (A, B, C using the RCL). It is an age appropriate worship option for younger children, especially in a congregation where Sunday School is at an hour separate from worship.
Feasting on the Word
This curriculum is lectionary based and allows everyone in your church, regardless of age, to study the same text each week. All the leader background information comes directly from the Feasting on the Word series, so you know that your leaders are getting the biblical background they need to feel confident leading the lesson with any age group.
Reformed Theology
Children & Worship
Children & Worship introduces young children to worship in an age-appropriate way, inspired by Maria Montessori. It uses storytelling, multi-sensory materials, and creative responses to help children learn about God. The program follows a four-part structure:
Gathering: Children are welcomed, sit in a circle, and prepare for the story.
Proclamation: Biblical stories are explored using materials like figurines and sand, followed by wondering about the story.
Response: Children respond through art, storytelling, dancing, and prayer.
Sending: The session ends with rituals and a blessing.
Primarily for children aged three to seven, it is also effective for adults with developmental disabilities and seniors with dementia. To start, purchase "Young Children and Worship" by Sonja Stewart and Jerome Berryman.
Godly Play
The result of a lifetime of research and practice by theologian, author and educator, Rev. Dr. Jerome Berryman, the Godly Play® method is a curriculum of spiritual practice exploring the mystery of God’s presence in our lives. The Godly Play curriculum engages what is most exciting about religious education: God inviting us into—and pursuing us in the midst of—Scripture and spiritual experience. Godly Play® practice teaches us to listen for God and to make authentic and creative responses to God’s call in our lives.
Godly Play is a creative, imaginative approach to Christian formation and spiritual guidance.
Godly Play has a Montessori foundation with 40+ years of research and practice.
Godly Play values process, openness, discovery, community and relationships.
Godly Play models the worship life, stories, symbols and rituals of Christian congregations.
Godly Play allows practitioners to make relevant and personal theological meaning.
Godly Play nurtures participants to larger dimensions of belief and faith through wondering and play.
Budget Friendly Curriculum
FaithWeaver NOW
This curriculum offers a cost-effective solution by providing materials that are both comprehensive and easy to use. FaithWeaver NOW uses a unique model that weaves together biblical lessons across all age groups, creating a unified learning experience that can be invaluable for churches with limited resources.
Deep Blue
From Cokesbury, Deep Blue includes age-appropriate materials for children from nursery through adolescence. Known for its affordability and comprehensive digital resources, this curriculum combines fun storytelling techniques with serious biblical lessons.
Ministry-To-Children
This free online resource offers a wealth of curriculum materials, including lesson plans, crafts, and activities. It's an excellent option for churches without the budget for commercial curriculum packages. The site is updated frequently with new content that can be easily adapted to any church setting.
Kid's Quest Catechism Club
Utilizing the First Catechism, which is an introduction to the Westminster Shorter Catechism, this curriculum is designed to teach foundational Reformed doctrines to children in a fun, engaging, and systematic way. It includes activities, memory work, and lessons that build a solid theological foundation.
Sermons4Kids
Provides free sermons, object lessons, colouring pages, and children's church curriculum. It’s particularly useful for small churches that might not have the funds for larger, more expansive curriculum plans but still wish to provide engaging content that aligns with weekly sermons.
Kids Sunday School Place
Offers affordable membership options that provide access to a range of lesson plans, activities, and teaching resources. It's designed to be flexible and easy to use, especially suitable for volunteers who may need straightforward, effective materials.
ResourceUMC
Provides free and low-cost resources tailored for United Methodist congregations but useful for any liturgical church. These materials include lesson plans, activities, and guidance on integrating lessons with the broader church calendar.
Justice Based Curriculum Options
Compassion Camp (Illustrated Ministry)
While not exclusively justice-focused, Compassion Camp teaches children about empathy and compassion through Bible stories and activities, laying a foundational understanding of social justice principles.
Love Mercy Do Justice Curriculum - Justice Journey for Kids
Justice Journey for Kids is a 24 session curriculum in English and Spanish created to help kids celebrate the diversity of God’s kingdom and make things right in our broken world.
Path to Peace
Shine’s new Path to Peace Curriculum allows teachers and children to follow the peace paths in The Peace Table: A Storybook Bible. The curriculum includes faith formation materials for PreK–Kindergarten and Elementary age levels for 15 sessions.
Prayer-Focused Curriculum
Prayer Bear Activity
Designed for younger children, this curriculum uses the character "Prayer Bear" to introduce and explore different types of prayersIt includes interactive activities and prayer practices that help children understand how and why we pray.
This is Our Prayer Summer Camp Curriculum
Each day campers will experience a different prayer practice — a new way of communicating with God — such as a labyrinth, guided meditation, art, and call and response.
MultiMedia Based Curriculum Options
Orange Curriculum
Known for its holistic approach, the Orange Curriculum combines child development and theology to create comprehensive lesson plans that engage children and support parents. Ideal for churches looking for a family-oriented approach that extends beyond Sunday mornings.
Gospel Project
This curriculum takes children on a chronological journey through the Bible, emphasizing how all scripture points to Jesus. It’s well-suited for churches that prefer a gospel-centered teaching model.
Grow Curriculum
Grow offers a flexible and customizable approach, with resources that cater to small and large churches alike. Its adaptability makes it a great choice for congregations that need a personalized curriculum.
Tru Fire
Emphasizing spiritual formation and discipleship, Tru Fire helps children understand their part in God’s story. This curriculum is particularly effective in churches that focus on deep spiritual growth from a young age.
Bible-in-Life
This curriculum offers a comprehensive, biblically based program that spans all age groups, from toddlers to adults. This curriculum provides a unified lesson theme that is adaptable to all ages, making it easier for families to discuss biblical teachings together. Their materials are known for being practical and applicable to everyday life.
2SLGBTQIA+ Affirming Curriculum Options
Queerfully and Wonderfully Made: A Guide for LGBTQ+ Christian Teens
While not a traditional curriculum, this guidebook can be used by educators to develop supportive lessons and discussions tailored toward LGBTQI+ youth. It provides insights and tools for understanding identity within a faith context.
Jesus Glue and Glitter
Resources that reflects the theologies of progressive and affirming churches. Jesus Glue and Glitter was created by two women working in UCCan faith communities who are committed to life-giving theologies of liberation and love. The team is committed to exploring scripture with an open mind and honour the many different ways humanity can experience God.
Catechism Curriculum Options
The New City Catechism
The New City Catechism is available in two print editions published by Crossway. The original book features short and long versions of all 52 questions and answers and is perfect for use in both the home and the church. The devotional edition pairs each question and answer with a Scripture reading, a short prayer, and a devotional commentary, making it ideal for personal reading and meditation.
Faith Alive Christian Resources
While not a catechism in the traditional sense, Faith Alive offers a range of teaching materials and curricula designed to align with Reformed theology, which is suitable for Presbyterian churches. Their materials often include discussion questions, activities, and lesson plans that help facilitate a comprehensive religious education program.
Colaborate: Presbyterian Confirmation
Help youth take an honest look at the holy mystery and the complexity of Scripture to move them onto a path of growth and discovery. Know your students will learn from a deep, thought-provoking curriculum created by Presbyterian theologians, practitioners, and artists who know the Bible.