The following post was written by Dathan Hale, Content Editor for Kids Ministry.
I don’t have that; I don’t have the space for this; that will never work for my kids. If you find yourself saying one or more of these statements, you probably just looked at a list of activity suggestions for your next ministry assignment. Don’t sweat it! You can do that amazing activity! You just need to simplify. The following questions will help you.
Do I really need that?
You may not need all the supplies on that list. For instance, a paper plate lion face is a suggestion for “Daniel and the Lion’s Den.” Supplies include paper plates, googly eyes, foam shapes for the mouth and nose, and pieces of yarn for the mane. You don’t have googly eyes or foam shapes. No problem! Kids can draw them.
Can I substitute?
If you can’t drop a supply, maybe you can substitute it. You find a tossing game activity. It calls for three beanbags and three buckets. You don’t have either of those supplies. You can use paper wads for the beanbags. As for the buckets, any containers will work, even a taped square. With a little thought and creativity, you can substitute most items you don’t have.
Can I change it?
If you can’t eliminate or substitute, you may be able to alter an activity. If an activity requires running and you don’t have a lot of space, change it. Invite the kids to jump, crawl, or skip. It’s OK to change an activity to better fit your kids and environment.
If you like amazing activities that are already simplified, consider The Gospel Project for Kids. Every session includes at least two activity suggestions, often more, that use minimal supplies. See, you can keep it simple and still keep it amazing!
