Orange ’11 Breakout: Storytelling for Children and Preschoolers

Jeffrey Reed started out in TV and Radio writing jingles.  He also taught preschoolers and elementary school children.  He is now the lead Pastor of a church in Texas (he has served as worship, children’s and youth ministries).

Notes also on JeffreyReed.org  (look under Children’s Ministry tab)

3 primary components of every message for children and preschoolers:

1. The Presenter
2. The Content
3. The Audience

The Presenter:

• 2 types of people (the ones that say “here I am” and then there are others who say “there you are!”).
• A good presenter is to make your audience to feel like “there you are” and excited to see them.
• Be energetic.  You can’t fake energy
• Be authentic.  Don’t fake who you are but you have to connect with the children.  Be you within this passage and story.  If you are a character or putting on a costume, that is different.  But if it is just you, be you and allow God to use you.
• Be clear. Speak clearly.
• The Question to ask: “Has my heart been available to God this week so that it can be used at this moment?”  Are you spending time with Christ throughout the week in preparation to the message

The Content:

• Are we there yet?  They are asking themselves where are you going with the story?
• Know where you are going.  You have to know where you are going.  What is the 1 thing you want them to walk away with today?
• Make the trip fun.  Not only will they know where you are going, let them have fun along the way.  That keeps their attention so they can hear the Truth.
• Tell them when you’ve arrived.  After you tell the story, let them see that the journey has brought them to this point and challenge them as Andy Stanley says, “wouldn’t it be great if everyone did that?”
• Don’t cloud up all the details
• The Question to ask: “Do I truly know what it is that God wants to say through this particular passage?”

The Audience:

• The only difference in teaching adults and children is the retention rate of audience.  KIDS retain so much more!!!
• Aim for the oldest demographic of the audience you are speaking to.
• The younger kids will follow the lead of the older kids.  If the older kids tune out, you’ve lost a chance and lost the crowd.
• “You did a great job!”  You need to be encouraging…”You did a great job listening today”
• Know the culture
• Consider the relevance.  Is what you are saying really relevant to where they are
• Assume the audience’s desire to hear you.
• Encourage the audience to take action
• The Question to ask: “Am I willing to consider that they are wanting to hear from God today?”  They want to hear from God or else they wouldn’t be there.

These are God-centered components.  God has to be the center of your life.  He has to be the center of your content.  He is who people want to hear from.

Troubleshooting (here are problems unique to teaching younger kids):

• Kids raising hands and wanting to talk to you.
• Fidgeting (start directing your attention to them to gain their attention.  Have adults planted throughout the audience to help you out with those who are fidgeting
• Talking (treat the same as fidgeting)
• Appropriate Language/Vocabulary (use words that they will understand.  They think in concrete terms).
• Reading Scripture (use the Bible and read the scripture, but then rephrase it in a way that they understand).
• Follow the script (keep to the framework of the curriculum while still being you and authentic).