Fun Fall KidMin Ideas (Cont.)
4. Park Art
Give children and families the chance to get creative without worrying about making a mess.
Get Ready
You’ll need:
- several 4×15-foot canvas drop cloths
- tape
- paint trays or tray liners
- assorted colors of paint (ask families for donations of old paint)
- a camera
No paintbrushes allowed!
Get Set
Hold this in a local park or even in your church parking lot. Section off the drop cloths with tape, and assign a section to each family. Instruct them to paint anything that depicts their family, but they can use only their hands, feet, or other body parts. After a set time limit, take a photo of each family with its canvas. Then display the dry artwork in your children’s area, along with enlargements of the photos you took.
Faith Talk
Read Psalm 19:1-4. Have families discuss:
- What does God’s creation say about him?
- What does your artwork say about your family?
Even Easier
Contain all the mess by having families create colorful chalk murals on park or church sidewalks.
5. Lend a Hand
Colder weather makes it increasingly difficult to shop for and load groceries. Your ministry can reach out to people who are struggling to simply get their food into their vehicles in parking lots.
Get Ready
You’ll need:
- inexpensive T-shirts with your church or ministry logo (you might have some already from a VBS or camp)
- umbrellas or other weather-appropriate gear
Ahead of time, contact a nearby grocery store for permission to assist shoppers, and let them know when you plan to be there.
Get Set
Have children and families stand near the store’s exits, ready to ask, “Need a hand?” Then they just cheerfully assist shoppers, using care in the parking lot. This is a simple but amazing way to show love and be a positive presence in your community.
Faith Talk
Read John 13:14-15. Ask:
- What was it like to help out people this way?
- What type of response did you expect—and receive—and how did that make you feel?
- In what other ways can we follow Jesus’ example by serving other people, including our families?
Even Easier
Have your children’s ministry provide this umbrella service on Sundays when it rains at your church.
6. Great Chili Cook-Off
When fall’s cooler air arrives, it’s time to turn up the heat. There’s no better way to do that—and to raise some funds for your ministry—than with a Chili Cook-Off. It’s one of those fall kidmin ideas that never gets old!
Get Ready
Schedule your cook-off for a Friday night or a Sunday after worship services. Publicize ahead of time so amateur chefs in your congregation can plan their recipes. Assign entrants each a number and ask them to color-code their recipes, from mild to insanely hot.
Also recruit volunteers to decorate the eating area ahead of time, possibly with a chili pepper theme. Invite entertainers (singers, face painters, and balloon artists) to participate.
You’ll need:
- tables and chairs for attendees
- serving tables for the pots of chili
- fixings (crackers, grated cheese, sour cream)
- corn bread (baked by volunteers)
- pitchers of water and lemonade
- bowls
- spoons
- napkins
- cups
- ballots
- pencils
- a ballot box
Get Set
Set a small entry fee of a few dollars. Sell tickets in advance, if necessary, to plan for the number of attendees. Also reserve some tickets for the door.
Give ballots to guests when they arrive, or place the ballots on tables. Have people vote for their favorite chili—or ask your church or ministry staff to be judges. Award a prize to the winner, such as an apron or a chef’s hat. Post photos of the cook-off and the winning chef on your church’s website and on a bulletin board. Move around and talk to people about your children’s ministry to see if they’re interested in joining your team.
