Connecting

Each week I get to be a part of something called a D meeting. This when all the division leaders of each age group get together to brainstorm ideas about the stuff that's good, but could be better. This week we were discussing ways to train small group leaders how to keep kids fully engaged until their parents come and how to transition from kid thinking to thinking more about connecting with the parents as they come in.

This was a great topic that really caught my interest. As a Sunday school teacher at my college church I've learned the hard way that it's not so easy to keep things going and keep the kids interested after the curriculum activities run out. I'm learning some creative ways to keep kids engaged, so that the room doesn't turn into a circus (you think I'm kidding. I'm not...I'm pretty sure it was a circus). Not only is this important for the kids, but it also frees me up to do something equally as important as connecting with the kids...connecting with their parents. Things get pretty hectic, but I value those moments when I can go up to a parent and say 'Hey, your son/daughter did awesome today! I can't wait to see him/her next week!'

I'm also learning some creative ways to get those kids who seem to have a harder time each week connecting. Constant discipline problems can be frustrating, but it's cool to be able to brainstorm with some of the leaders here to think of new ways to connect with those kids and get them fully engaged. My goal is to be able to say to their parents so and so did a great job today...instead of we gave him a time out for breaking the crayons again. I'd much rather give praise than a negative report.

It's cool learning from the leaders' experiences here...can't wait to see what I'll learn next!