Creating Relational Connection with Kids

By Kayla Fowler

The greatest impact of your ministry won’t come from your teaching—it will come from your relationships.
Kids may forget what you said, but they won’t forget how they felt when they were with you. When children experience trust, belonging, and genuine connection, they don’t just listen—they lean in.

When leaders prioritize relational connection with kids, three things begin to happen:

Relational trust grows.
Kids often enter ministry spaces feeling like outsiders, carrying social barriers or anxiety. Simple, intentional moments—like learning names or finding something in common—help break down those walls. Relational games create quick opportunities for kids to feel safe and known.

Engagement deepens.
When kids feel seen and valued, they are more likely to participate and learn. Shared activities with a common goal help kids feel included—and even needed. That sense of connection opens the door for deeper engagement with biblical truth.

Your reach widens.
Relational connection isn’t just a moment—it shapes your ministry culture. When you consistently create space for connection, kids begin to notice who is missing, reach out to others, and help build community themselves. Over time, they don’t just experience belonging—they help create it.

Kayla Fowler is the Team Lead for Hyfi digital curriculum at Lifeway Christian Resources. She is passionate about helping the next generation own their faith and understand their identity in Christ. Kayla is the author of God Knows Me Inside and Out and Hooray Day (B&H) and contributes to multiple NextGen resources. She enjoys exploring Tennessee trails with her husband and their adventurous pup, Baxter.