3 Ways to Keep Kids Engaged in Sunday School
Tired of competing with side chats about Minecraft and whatever’s going on outside in the window?
I hear ya. Kids can be really hard to win over. But don’t despair. I’m about to share 3 “hacks” that will get your kids leaning in instead of zoning out.
Hi! I'm Nathan, the founder of BetterBibleTeachers.
And yes, that's me in the video. 🙂
Asking kids to sit still for an HOUR is like asking popcorn not to pop
1. Let them MOVE
Asking elementary kids to sit still for an HOUR? Yeah…that’s about as realistic as asking popcorn not to pop. Instead of fighting their energy…use it!
Here are some practical ways to do that:
- Act out the story: Recently I was teaching about David celebrating the return of the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. So I let the kids...celebrate! Complete with music and dancing. Movement for the win!
- Turn review questions into a running game: Put the answers in different corners and have kids run to them.
- Use motions for each key word while reciting a memory verse.
- While you tell the Bible story, have kids stand up and do a funny action (like pretending to pick their noses) whenever you say a certain word.
When kids move, they’re not just burning off wiggles—they’re engaging more senses, which means better memory and deeper learning. And it’s not just me saying that…it’s actual science!
When kids move they are engaging more senses
2. Routine...with a Twist
Kids love routine because it helps them feel safe. But predictable can also be BORING. Solution? Keep the structure in your Sunday School class, but stir in something unexpected. Here’s how you’d do that:
- Try “Backwards Sunday School” (i.e. snack first, lesson, song time, prayer and roll call at the end!). Bonus points if everyone wears their clothes backwards.
- Make some silly rules for the day, like “Spin around twice before you answer a question.”
- Walk in wearing a funny costume (or something that has to do with the Bible person you’ll be teaching about).
Switching up your routine is like putting sprinkles on vanilla ice cream—same base, but way more exciting.
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3. Ask the Right Questions
Do you ever feel like kids are just answering “yes” or “no” to everything, and you can’t seem to get a meaningful discussion started in class? It’s probably due to the types of questions you’re asking.
Not all questions are created equal. “Did Jonah obey God?” gets you a yes or no. But “What would you do if you were stuck in a stinky whale stomach for three days?”—now that gets kids talking.
I suggest trying open-ended questions like these:
- “Imagine if you were…what would you do?”
- “How would you feel if…?”
- “Why do you think…?”
These are called “open-ended” questions. They invite kids to think, share, and feel heard—while also giving you a peek into how well they’re understanding the lesson. Their answers might surprise you… or make the whole class laugh! (And that’s not a bad thing!)
Open-ended questions allow you to see how your kids are understanding the lesson.
Change is Possible
Even if you have a class that’s as uninterested as a teenager at a family reunion, a 180 is possible. But it may not happen overnight. Try out one of these tips next Sunday and see how it goes! Then you can start implementing more changes little by little.
Interested in a curriculum that incorporates the engagement strategies above? Check out our crazy-fun classes here.
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