KIDS7

One of the most exciting elements of children's church is the Review Game Time. I always have game time at the end of the program after the teaching time. The two teams in the competition are the Boys vs. Girls. This will give the most excitement. This is an exciting, screaming, jumping up and down time! I let the kids go at it, however, I am always in control. You can use just about any time of game, and I will include some here and will add some along the way that we have actually used or have come up with.

I always have the teams take turns answering questions. I ask the question, and then I give a signal (usually blow my "World Famous Black Whistle" or you can just say "GO". If a child knows the answer, they jump to their feet. I will call on the first one up (or try to, at least). If they answer the question correctly, then they get to play the game (throw the ball, take a piece off the game board, whatever). If the child answers incorrect, I give the opposing team a chance to answer THE SAME QUESTION, thus stealing it away. Then I go back to the other team next.

Some games I will give a time limit because the game does not have a natural ending. Most games will have it's own conclusion.

Most of the time I will use the same game 2 or 3 weeks in a row, then change to something new. I also rotate games from different media. In other words, I will have a giant board game, then a carnival game, then an overhead projector game. This keeps freshness to you game time.

Now, what does all of this accomplish, you may ask? There are several things that happen here:

1. I get to teach the lesson again! I just go back over it,

reinforcing the spiritual truths. Sometimes I will also take

questions from Sunday School lessons that the kids get in

their class just to add variety.

2. Game time creates excitement! It is a shame if kids have to go to church and they are bored. We should present our

church to kids as an exciting place to serve the Lord. Don't

misunderstand, we don't compromise our message for fun,

but I think we should make it so that kids love church, not

despise it.

3. The kids go home with a good "taste" in their mouth. We

are ending on a "high note". They look forward to next

week.

SOME GUIDELINES

From time to time I will have an adult stick their head in the door to see what is going on in there! They think that things are out of control, but this is not the case. The kids are only allowed to do their shouting and jumping up and down during game time. To get them to stop, I use the tried and true method of counting 1-2-3. When I get to 3, the kids have to stop, and if they do not stop, I take points of their score, or reverse something on the game against their team. They understand this, and it is not a problem. Also, we are still watching for our "pay attention prize winners" during game time. Although the winners are allowed to hoop and holler, it does not count against them if they stop at the count of 3.

Some children's church teachers will have someone other than themselves pick the person to answer the question. I never do that. I always pick the person. I have found that some helpers will pick kids that are their "favorites" or maybe kids that ride their bus only. I try to be impartial. I am able also to keep the "flow" of the game going because I pick the children. I pick them quickly, without hesitation.

The kids are not allowed to "boo" the other team or show bad sportsmanship. I take points off for teams making comments about the others.

Most games I will allow about 20 minutes at the end of the program. If things are going slow (or I preach long!) I can start the game and then finish it the next Sunday. This adds excitement sometimes for the kids and they will want to come back to see who will win.

When I visit the bus route, a good number of kids will ask what game we are playing. Sometimes I like their feedback, and will ask them what they want, and that will be the game for Sunday. Since I have lots of games ready to go, I can pull it out at the last minute to play without a problem.

NOW FOR SOME GAMES YOU CAN PLAY

TIC-TAC-TOE

This was the first game I ever played in children's church back in 1976 on a black-board. The good thing about it is that you don't need an special equipment or preparation. You can also make it on a giant flannel board with poster board pieces or flannel.

LIVE TIC-TAC-TOE

Place 9 chairs in the pattern of Tic-Tac-Toe. Place either numbers or a piece of different colored papers on each chair. As the child answers the question correctly, they come to a board (or chose out of a bag) the number or color they are to sit in. The team with the 3 kids in a row wins.

WHEEL OF WISDOM

I found a round table top one day a kept it around until I made a Wheel of Wisdom game out of it. I patterned it after Wheel of Fortune, but changed the name. If any man lacks wisdom, ask of God. When I child answers correctly, he comes up and spins the wheel. A girl and a boy keep score on a dry marker board. Team with the most points wins the game.

CONCENTRATION

This game is based on the old game Concentration. On an overhead sheet, draw blank squares, about 8 on three lines. Prepare cardboard squares that will fit in these blocks to cover them. In the squares with a Vis-a-Vis water pen, write a word or phrase from the lesson. Example: David killed Goliath, or Jesus was crucified, etc. As the kids answer the question, they get to pick a letter they think might be in the puzzle. Have someone write down on the dry maker board the letters each one guesses so there is no repetition. When a child can solve the puzzle, the team wins 1,000 points. Move on to another puzzle. This is played like Wheel of Fortune, and you can also include using the wheel if you have one.

SCOOBY DOO MATCH GAME

This is our kid's favorite right now. I made the game out of party plates I found for $1.00 a pack. They have Scooby Doo on them, and blank on the back. Attach a small piece of Vel Cro (the loop part) to the top of the back and front. Use on a flannel board. On the blank back, I glued coloring pictures of Scooby Doo characters (Shaggy, Velma, Scooby, Mystery Machine, etc). We have 16 plates, 2 of each character.

Here's how to play. The kids answer the questions a above. The kids comes to the board and picks one plate at a time. I turn it over. They pick another and I turn it over, attaching both to the board. If they match, the team wins a Scooby Snack. If it does not match, I turn them back over and go to the other team. Keep matching until game is over. It is possible to tie.

We keep score with Scooby Snacks. I bought a box of giant doggy biscuits at the Dollar Store and painted them bright yellow. I put large pins in the board on both sides, girls side and boys, so that if the team gets a match, we put a Scooby Snack on the board by resting it on two pins.

Behind two of the plates is a picture of a Scooby Snack. If a kids matches these two, they get a bone for the team, and also a real Scooby Snack (not a bone! but a piece of candy, usually a Blo Pop.).

You can make a match game with the party plates out of anything, Mickey Mouse plates, or anything the kids can relate to.

SHOOT THE HOOP

This is a basketball shooting game. I found a child sized pole and hoop on the side of the road, fixed it up and it is neat. It even has a noise maker built into the net, so when the ball goes through, a little box (that I attached to a microphone) makes a crowd yelling noise. Ask questions as described above.

Place the hoop on the platform with the giant game board turned up-ways as a backdrop. This keeps the ball from going too far. On top of the game board place four yellow card stock papers with boys and girls on 2, 1-4th quarter on 8 of them and a score total on the last two. This contests last 4 Sundays (quarters).

On the floor, place two strips of masking tape a few feet from the hoop. One of these is the 2 point line, the other, a few feet back is the 3 point line. On the dry marker board, divide it down the middle with 5 blocks on the left (red) for the girls and five (blue) on the right for the boys. Each team will answer 5 questions. Also on the board have an area next to each block marked "2s" and "3s". Have a score keeper for each team (they should be older, sharp kids).

The child that answers the question comes up to the line to shoot. Also you will pick two "rebounders". Their job is to get the ball back to the shooter as quickly as possible.

The child that shoots has 30 seconds to score as many points as possible. They can shoot "2s" or "3s" or any combination, but they are not allowed to leave one of these lines, the rebounders must get the ball back to the shooter. As they hit the points, the scorekeeper makes a mark by the 2 or 3 point area, which ever is appropriate. When the 30 seconds is up, blow the whistle and stop the shooting. Add up the score for that person. At the end of the day's shooting, add up the score and place it on the giant board for that quarter.

On the last Sunday of the game, play the game as normal, but then add this twist: every kid on each team gets to take one bonus shot. Encourage every kid to be there, as the more the team has in attendance, the more shots will be made for the team. The team with the most points wins a prize (candy bar, etc.) Have fun with this one, it is great!