I was reading an article earlier today on 43 Folders about harnessing a child’s energy towards a specific topic and using it for good. 43 Folders isn’t a ministry blog, and I don’t endorse all of their content, but it does have some great info.
The author of the article was having some trouble with his kids driving him insane while he was cooking. So in place of just sending them away, he took their enthusiasm and used it as a learning opportunity. He let the kids learn by teaching them rather than making them figure it out on their own and getting hurt in the process.
Try this in your ministry. Let’s hypothesize that you have a kid that has some trouble with breaking the rules. (You don’t have any of those, right?) Maybe instead of saying “Stop it,” you should harness their energy and make them a rule enforcer. Have them tell an adult when they see something wrong being done.
Kids are immense little balls of energy. They desperately want to be “big kids” and help out. Convert the “distraction” of interruptions into interaction with you on the stage. Give kids opportunities to move around, help out, and do things. This certainly won’t eliminate discipline problems, but it’ll help you on your way.
Hi Evan,
Love the blog and read it religiously. And, I’ve incoorporated a few ideas into my own ministry. Keep up the good work!!
I agree that you should ‘use’ the ‘busy’ kids. In fact, we should ‘use’ most of our kids if our ministry can take it
But, I’m not sure about turning a kid into a ‘mole’. I like to use that extra energy in the ‘helps’ area. I’d rather see a child helping than tattling.
Just a little food for thought.
I love what you’re doing, Denise
Denise- Thanks for your comment. When you write blog posts after midnight, the brain can get a little funny with the way it expresses things.
I wasn’t so much trying to make them into a tattle (also an undesirable thing) or an enforcer, so much as having them watch for things being done wrong. When they begin to notice how distracting it really is, they may begin to realize how distracting they were to others. Don’t employ them as policemen.
Ah…gotcha! And believe me, being a late nighter…I know about that after midnight brain
Thanks for your ministry
I find that there are times when kids who are unruly at any given moment I’m not ready with a quick task. I try to keep a running list of little jobs but when that fails me, i tell them to “stop it”. Then i make sure i get them on the side later for a encouraging talk.