Imagine you’re back in fifth grade. You’re finally one of the “older” kids in elementary school. There are new expectations placed on you because of your new status. You feel more nervous around others, and you worry about new things. You’re navigating friendships, figuring out how you fit in since many new questions have been popping into your brain. Your questions are about your place in the world, how you can make a difference, and who you should follow.
Transport back to present day. You’re now serving in your children’s ministry, and you’re the small group leader for a 4th-6th grade group of kids. You keep imagining what it is like for them today and how you can be the best support. How can you best show up and be the leader they need? What are the tools do you need?
Supporting kids at this age in learning, growing, and loving Jesus in their faith journeys is important. That is why having tailored discussion, prayer time, and activities is not only helpful but also essential in building safety and trust with the preteens in your ministry. Wonder Ink has you covered with our new preteen activities and discussion questions in every lesson.
At this age, kids are asking: How does this relate to me or my life?
3 Ways to Support Preteens in Children’s Ministry
Tailored Discussion Questions and Prayer Time
I can still remember walking the hallways of school and constantly worrying about a myriad of things: friends, grades, homework, family, social situations, identity, and so on. I wish that I had someone at that time reminding me of God’s nearness and how He is always ready to listen. Encouraging preteens in the practice of prayer and response that’s related to what they are going through is a key way that we can support them in their faith. Through discussion questions that have been curated for them, our new preteen questions help get to the heart of what they are experiencing and then bringing that to God through prayer.
At this age, kids are asking: How does this relate to me or my life? They are experiencing many changes with friendships and relationships. Remind them of who Jesus is as their forever companion and trusted friend. Through your time of discussion based on the Bible passage of the lesson, you will help preteens connect who God is with who they are, and how that impacts their lives.
The Importance of God’s Word
As kids have been learning the Bible is God’s Word and involves real people and real events, they are now at an age where they need to be reminded of the importance of God’s Word in their lives. Reminding them that the Bible, alongside the Holy Spirit, is there to help us grow and know Jesus more fully. It is the guide to help them on their way of discovering more about who God is and how much He loves them. It also reveals the hard truth of consequences and the reality of how what we do and choose impacts the future.
Wonder Ink builds in time for asking wondering questions and to dig into what the Bible says about God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Kids are ready to be guided towards what is good and right. Choosing to follow Jesus is one of the most important decisions a person can make. Continually guiding kids to God’s Word that shows who Jesus is, what He did for us, and how He makes the way to be with God is what we get to do as leaders. Wonder Ink is the support to help you do that.
Specific Curiosity and Identity Activities
Preteens are moving into more abstract thinking. This means that our job for kids of this age is to connect what they know to abstract concepts. For example, if a kid knows that God is big and His love is unconditional, understanding that He can overcome any challenge and His love never changes is an abstract concept that they can better understand at their age.
One of the best ways to help preteens connect what they know to something abstract is to give space to respond and provide activities or experiences to help them engage. Wonder Ink now provides opening and closing activities, what we call our Curiosity and Identity activities, specifically written for engaging preteens.
From STEM experiments to object lessons to interactive games and activities, the variety of ways to get preteens interested and ready to dive into Scripture is how the Curiosity Activity works. Crafted to build a kid’s wonder and curiosity on what they will be learning, the preteen introductory activity supports their deepening of faith and emphasizes their interests.
Wonder Ink builds in space to respond to God and curates specific experiences to aid in kids’ response through the Identity Activity. This interactive worship response creates space for God to remind kids of who they are. Whether it is reflecting on a Scripture, writing or drawing a response to what God revealed to them in His Word, or having a time to praise and thank God, preteens are given the time to be with God.
There is no greater gift in our world than to be given space to just be.
Wonder Ink’s 3-year, 52-week children’s ministry curriculum offers kids space to fully find their place in God’s Big Story. Children discover they are Known by God, Loved by Jesus, and Led by the Holy Spirit.
