More Fun Fall KidMin Ideas
7. Pets on Parade
This hilarious gathering will have all the pet lovers in your congregation howling, purring, or making whatever noise turtles make.
Get Ready
You’ll need:
- small prizes to hand out, such as gift certificates to a pet-supply store
Get Set
Publicize this pet parade ahead of time, inviting pet owners to dress their animals in creative outfits. Challenge people to match their pets; think Bert and Ernie, Batman and Robin, and so on. Have owners and pets parade around together in an outdoor area or in a room with washable floors. After the parade, award gifts for various categories (best dressed, best owner-pet pair, most creative).
Even Easier
Instead of the actual parade, have everyone bring in photos of their pets to add to a “Pet Parade” bulletin board.
8. BFF (Best Friends Forever) Day
Calm children’s back-to-school jitters by letting them showcase their best friends. This special day is a great way to reassure children that friends come in all sizes, shapes, and appearances.
Get Ready
You’ll need:
- paper
- crayons
- markers
- bowls
- spoons
- ingredients to make banana splits
- a camera
Announce in advance about BFF (Best Friends Forever) Day. In the weeks leading up to it, have staff members and volunteers introduce their own BFFs, such as childhood teddy bears or blankets. Get children thinking about all the possible people or things they can bring. When planning for the special day, allow enough time so all children have an opportunity to introduce their BFFs.
Get Set
Ask children to bring one of their BFFs to church with them. The key is to be creative about what a friend is and who their friends are. For example, a grandparent, school friend, or neighborhood playmate could accompany them that day. Children can also bring a favorite book or toy.
Discuss what makes a good friend, using biblical examples such as Ruth and Naomi, David and Jonathan, or Jesus and his disciples. Encourage children to be good friends to one another, and teach them how to choose friends wisely.
Conclude by enjoying banana splits together. Invite any of the new BFF children to come back again. Take pictures of kids and their BFFs to post later.
Faith Talk
Read John 15:13-15. Ask:
- What makes your BFF so special to you?
- In what ways is Jesus your BFF?
- How can you let other people know that Jesus wants to be their BFF, too?
9. Monstro Bubble
Not all fall kidmin ideas are seasonal. Here’s a fun game you can use any time. Get ready to enclose kids in a human-size bubble!
Get Ready
You’ll need:
- a child-size wading pool
- a tarp
- a hula hoop
- a cinder block
- premade bubble solution consisting of 2 gallons distilled water, 6 cups Dawn dish soap, and 4 cups corn syrup
Place the tarp on the ground, and set the wading pool in the center of it. Pour the premade bubble solution into the pool. (It really is important to make the bubble solution the night before.) Set the cinder block in the center of the pool, and set the hula hoop in the pool.
Get Set
Check with parents to see if kids can keep their shoes on. (Shoes with non-slip soles can help kids stay steady if the cement block gets slippery). As a child stands on the cinder block, two people will lift the hula hoop up, forming a bubble around the child!
This article about fall kidmin ideas originally appeared here.
