Helpful Tips

This helpful chart outlines some general characteristics of development – faith, physical, brain, mental & intellectual and interpersonal/relational – in age groups from 0-3 to 85+.

A great way of affirming children is involving them appropriately in decisions that affect them.

This section of the Will You Make a Difference website provides links you to seven resources for training.

The Developmental Assets are 40 common sense, positive experiences and qualities that help influence choices young people make and help them become caring, responsible adults developed by the Searc

Believe it or not, consideration is already being given by the Training Partnership (comprising Access Ministries, OAC, SU and denominational representatives) of the Children’s Ministry Network to training dates and content for 2011. Please note the following dates for 2011…

Over the past decade the landscape of children and families ministry has changed a great deal in terms of the outward structures of best practice and duty of care. Quite rightly we are far more aware of the need for accountability in keeping children safe and the focus has been on physical safety. However, thereare still many important questions to ask regarding best practice around the emotional safety of children in our midst. Click here for a thought-provoking article.

A burgeoning area of exploration is that of sharing faith together with children with special needs. These two articles include a blog entry from a parent and some tips from an experienced ministry practitioner in this field.

This hand-out was used as the basis for a session in the “Join the Dots” program.

Ministry with Children & Families can be marked by loneliness and isolation. There is good community amongst children and their leaders, but a sense of disconnection from the reset of the congregation – the minister/pastor, the leadership and the congregation. This article from Beth Barnett explores these experiences