Do you want to know what is going on with the kids in your ministry? Here are 5 questions that will give you insight into what they are thinking and where they are spiritually.
1. What are they watching on YouTube?
YouTube is the first self-driven form of kid programming. They can watch whatever they want, whenever they want. It’s growing like crazy among younger kids. Also, remember that iPod Touches can access YouTube wherever WiFi is available…which is pretty much everywhere these days.
2. How do they act at school?
Communicating with a kid’s teachers goes a long way in truly understanding what is going on with that child. Teachers spend upwards of seven hours teaching and watching those kids interact with their friends.
3. What goes on at home with them?
Communicating with their parents is not only pivotal in knowing what is going on with the kids in your ministry, but will keep them coming. Parents are just as much a part of your children’s ministry as the children and must be ministered to in a way that keeps them coming back again and again. Let them know what you learn about their kids and encourage them to share with you about them as well.
4. What is the biggest source of arguments at home/What question come up most often?
Kids will defend and argue the things that they care about most. They also will ask questions about what they are thinking about. Knowing what subjects come up often at home will give you a glimpse of what is going on in their heads.
5. What do their friends think is cool?
When I was younger, I would always tell my friend’s mom more than my mom. You can get a good idea about what kids like by hearing what their friends talk about, even if they won’t tell you. This is particularly true with the 4th-7th grade range and older, as friendships become much more important to them.