Comments on: No more kool-aid in kids church http://www.thewayweseeitblog.com/2007/08/07/no-more-kool-aid-in-kids-church/ Straight Talk for Serious Children's Ministers Wed, 07 Jan 2009 04:55:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: heather http://www.thewayweseeitblog.com/2007/08/07/no-more-kool-aid-in-kids-church/comment-page-1/#comment-435 heather Tue, 21 Aug 2007 06:03:09 +0000 http://www.thewayweseeitblog.com/2007/08/07/no-more-kool-aid-in-kids-church/#comment-435 Good old Adam's Ale is fine to drink! Awesome Idea! Good old Adam’s Ale is fine to drink! Awesome Idea!

]]> By: Laurie http://www.thewayweseeitblog.com/2007/08/07/no-more-kool-aid-in-kids-church/comment-page-1/#comment-369 Laurie Fri, 10 Aug 2007 22:53:54 +0000 http://www.thewayweseeitblog.com/2007/08/07/no-more-kool-aid-in-kids-church/#comment-369 We don't serve kool-aid. Water is just fine. But my problem is with adults and their coffee. Leaving half empty or half full cups of coffee under their seats in the classrooms that children will soon be occupying. Our adults eat more then the children. Donuts, grapes, bannanas. We don’t serve kool-aid. Water is just fine. But my problem is with adults and their coffee. Leaving half empty or half full cups of coffee under their seats in the classrooms that children will soon be occupying. Our adults eat more then the children. Donuts, grapes, bannanas.

]]> By: Todd McKeever http://www.thewayweseeitblog.com/2007/08/07/no-more-kool-aid-in-kids-church/comment-page-1/#comment-368 Todd McKeever Thu, 09 Aug 2007 21:13:45 +0000 http://www.thewayweseeitblog.com/2007/08/07/no-more-kool-aid-in-kids-church/#comment-368 For us we have an all water policy. We also don't allow anything for snacks other than gold fish and vanilla wafers. We put this in all of advertising so kids who have any allergies will know exactly what we are giving out. If any deviation from this it is only when the whole family is able to be there like at church picnics etc. Just what we do, so don't feel bad you are still a good children's pastor. For us we have an all water policy. We also don’t allow anything for snacks other than gold fish and vanilla wafers. We put this in all of advertising so kids who have any allergies will know exactly what we are giving out. If any deviation from this it is only when the whole family is able to be there like at church picnics etc.

Just what we do, so don’t feel bad you are still a good children’s pastor.

]]> By: Darlene http://www.thewayweseeitblog.com/2007/08/07/no-more-kool-aid-in-kids-church/comment-page-1/#comment-358 Darlene Wed, 08 Aug 2007 18:09:27 +0000 http://www.thewayweseeitblog.com/2007/08/07/no-more-kool-aid-in-kids-church/#comment-358 Ryan! Shame on you, are you sure God has called you to pastor children? What do you mean no more kool-aid?!? OK, I'M JUST KIDDING!! I was trying to give you a hard time, and I don't know you well enough to have done that to you - usually I only do it to friends who know my personality. Anyway, on a more serious note. I don't think the no more kool-aid thing is a problem at all, for several reasons: 1. Kool-aid is yummy, but not a necessity, and most kids can probably still get it at home, besides water is good for us. 2. Though you are doing it because of the building. It would also be very pastoral expression of caring not only for kids spiritual lives, but also for their physical bodies. 3. I also think it would be God honoring to do your best to care for what God has blessed you with and have long term benefits. Part of why my current church building is in the shape that it's in now is because people didn't care how we took care of it (and still don't do it very well. When I arrived I had to ask to have a broom, mop, etc purchased because.... Anyway, I'm not sure I would go the "water only" route, but ruling out stuff that stains I think is ok. Just like we don't allow teachers to put masking tape on carpet because of the stains it will leave in the long run, etc. So I don't see this as being any different than that. 4. You can also use it as an opportunity to teach kids respect for property and caring well for what God entrusts us with. That's my "ten" cents - most have "two" cents, but why not be different... Ryan! Shame on you, are you sure God has called you to pastor children? What do you mean no more kool-aid?!?

OK, I’M JUST KIDDING!! I was trying to give you a hard time, and I don’t know you well enough to have done that to you - usually I only do it to friends who know my personality.

Anyway, on a more serious note. I don’t think the no more kool-aid thing is a problem at all, for several reasons:

1. Kool-aid is yummy, but not a necessity, and most kids can probably still get it at home, besides water is good for us.

2. Though you are doing it because of the building. It would also be very pastoral expression of caring not only for kids spiritual lives, but also for their physical bodies.

3. I also think it would be God honoring to do your best to care for what God has blessed you with and have long term benefits. Part of why my current church building is in the shape that it’s in now is because people didn’t care how we took care of it (and still don’t do it very well. When I arrived I had to ask to have a broom, mop, etc purchased because….

Anyway, I’m not sure I would go the “water only” route, but ruling out stuff that stains I think is ok. Just like we don’t allow teachers to put masking tape on carpet because of the stains it will leave in the long run, etc. So I don’t see this as being any different than that.

4. You can also use it as an opportunity to teach kids respect for property and caring well for what God entrusts us with.

That’s my “ten” cents - most have “two” cents, but why not be different…

]]> By: Cindy http://www.thewayweseeitblog.com/2007/08/07/no-more-kool-aid-in-kids-church/comment-page-1/#comment-356 Cindy Wed, 08 Aug 2007 17:17:49 +0000 http://www.thewayweseeitblog.com/2007/08/07/no-more-kool-aid-in-kids-church/#comment-356 I haven't served kool-aid or juice in years. Water is just great for all the obvious reasons. Before I was a Children's Minister I worked at a very lovely independent Montessori school and we always served water, the drink du jour so to speak. Go for it. You'll be glad you did. I haven’t served kool-aid or juice in years. Water is just great for all the obvious reasons. Before I was a Children’s Minister I worked at a very lovely independent Montessori school and we always served water, the drink du jour so to speak. Go for it. You’ll be glad you did.

]]> By: Jill Nelson http://www.thewayweseeitblog.com/2007/08/07/no-more-kool-aid-in-kids-church/comment-page-1/#comment-354 Jill Nelson Wed, 08 Aug 2007 16:32:18 +0000 http://www.thewayweseeitblog.com/2007/08/07/no-more-kool-aid-in-kids-church/#comment-354 We only serve water to our kids, and their snacks consist of pretzels or animal crackers. Once in a while a teacher brings something special that goes along with the lesson. We've never heard a complaint! We also stopped giving snack to kindergarten and older two years ago. The first couple weeks, the new kindergarteners asked when snack was, and soon after, they stopped asking. Once again, no one complained. We do keep an eye out, though, for kids who might not have had breakfast so we don't leave kids hungry. But we're finding that what little time we have can be better spent with elementary kids without snack time. We only serve water to our kids, and their snacks consist of pretzels or animal crackers. Once in a while a teacher brings something special that goes along with the lesson. We’ve never heard a complaint! We also stopped giving snack to kindergarten and older two years ago. The first couple weeks, the new kindergarteners asked when snack was, and soon after, they stopped asking. Once again, no one complained. We do keep an eye out, though, for kids who might not have had breakfast so we don’t leave kids hungry. But we’re finding that what little time we have can be better spent with elementary kids without snack time.

]]> By: anashaw:) http://www.thewayweseeitblog.com/2007/08/07/no-more-kool-aid-in-kids-church/comment-page-1/#comment-351 anashaw:) Wed, 08 Aug 2007 14:43:04 +0000 http://www.thewayweseeitblog.com/2007/08/07/no-more-kool-aid-in-kids-church/#comment-351 from a workers perspective.... i say AMEN! water is so much easier to clean up when spilled! i don't think the kids will love you less because of the water only rule. as mentioned above, it's good stewardship. the only reservations i have is that chocolate cookies may be next to go... where do we draw the line man?! lol. from a workers perspective…. i say AMEN! water is so much easier to clean up when spilled! i don’t think the kids will love you less because of the water only rule. as mentioned above, it’s good stewardship. the only reservations i have is that chocolate cookies may be next to go… where do we draw the line man?! lol.

]]> By: Ryan Frank http://www.thewayweseeitblog.com/2007/08/07/no-more-kool-aid-in-kids-church/comment-page-1/#comment-350 Ryan Frank Wed, 08 Aug 2007 13:52:46 +0000 http://www.thewayweseeitblog.com/2007/08/07/no-more-kool-aid-in-kids-church/#comment-350 Carmen, Great reminder! We did this in our toddler classroom - the half carpet and half linoleum thing. We also put a sink in the room which will be nice for clean up. Tina Houser just wrote a book (published by Warner Press) called "More than Cookies and Punch". It's a great book. It's even got a big pitcher of green kool-aid on the front cover! Don't tell Tina what I am thinking about doing with the kool-aid ban. Click here to see Tina's book: http://warnerpress.com/content/products/productdetail.aspx?CatalogNumber=E1501 Carmen,

Great reminder! We did this in our toddler classroom - the half carpet and half linoleum thing. We also put a sink in the room which will be nice for clean up. Tina Houser just wrote a book (published by Warner Press) called “More than Cookies and Punch”. It’s a great book. It’s even got a big pitcher of green kool-aid on the front cover! Don’t tell Tina what I am thinking about doing with the kool-aid ban.

Click here to see Tina’s book:
http://warnerpress.com/content/products/productdetail.aspx?CatalogNumber=E1501

]]> By: Ryan Frank http://www.thewayweseeitblog.com/2007/08/07/no-more-kool-aid-in-kids-church/comment-page-1/#comment-349 Ryan Frank Wed, 08 Aug 2007 13:48:20 +0000 http://www.thewayweseeitblog.com/2007/08/07/no-more-kool-aid-in-kids-church/#comment-349 Jeff - good perspective! Ryan Jeff - good perspective!

Ryan

]]> By: Carmen http://www.thewayweseeitblog.com/2007/08/07/no-more-kool-aid-in-kids-church/comment-page-1/#comment-348 Carmen Wed, 08 Aug 2007 13:22:19 +0000 http://www.thewayweseeitblog.com/2007/08/07/no-more-kool-aid-in-kids-church/#comment-348 We only serve water with our snack, BUT... you have to remember that my snacks are VERY messy! Remember my workshop, Yummies in the Tummies and Lessons You Can Eat???? I think kids learn in a variety of ways and one includes getting messy at times. For those not familiar with my workshops, we create snacks to go along with the lesson (yes, I am a preschool director). The kids love creating their own, they practice the Bible lesson and they fill their tummies that often come to church on a Sunday pretty empty. We try to do as many healthy snacks as possible, but we do make a mess at times!! It's probably too late for you to incorporate, but I am helping design our new preschool wing and it will include a laminated area in each room for snack time and a carpeted area for lesson and activity time. We only serve water with our snack, BUT… you have to remember that my snacks are VERY messy! Remember my workshop, Yummies in the Tummies and Lessons You Can Eat???? I think kids learn in a variety of ways and one includes getting messy at times. For those not familiar with my workshops, we create snacks to go along with the lesson (yes, I am a preschool director). The kids love creating their own, they practice the Bible lesson and they fill their tummies that often come to church on a Sunday pretty empty. We try to do as many healthy snacks as possible, but we do make a mess at times!! It’s probably too late for you to incorporate, but I am helping design our new preschool wing and it will include a laminated area in each room for snack time and a carpeted area for lesson and activity time.

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