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Vanessa will be teaching a breakout at the Children's Pastors Conference 2026 in Orlando, Florida! For more information about CPC26, visit:

www.childrenspastorsconference.com

Christmas is over but learning about the birth of Jesus is a year-round adventure!

Now through January 9, 2026, take 70% off select Christmas activity bundles!

COMING SOON!

A brand NEW resource to help families disciple their kids while bonding over favorite games!

Stayed tuned for more information!

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As part of our commitment to put quality curriculum into the hands of every children’s leader regardless
of ability to pay, for every resource you purchase, one will be donated to a church or organization in need.

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VANESSA TAYLOR

KIDMIN ● SPEAKER ● CURRICULUM WRITER

Hi! I'm Vanessa, the creator of GoYeKids.com, and this is my wonderful husband Daniel.

Believe it or not, in the beginning I wanted NOTHING to do with children's ministry. But now? I fully embrace it as a fundamental part of God's mission and I love EVERY SINGLE SECOND of it!

Click the button below to learn more about my story and about WHY I'm so passionate about helping children's ministry leaders!

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It’s common for churches to encourage their congregants to fast at the beginning of each year, but that begs the question: should parents require their children to participate in these fasts?

In short, no.

Why? Because it’s only a fast if the person fasting is doing it unto the Lord.

A parent who requires their child to “fast” is really just withholding something from the child, whether that be food or something else.

👉 It is not a fast if the child does not want to do it.

What to do instead:

- Teach your child what the Bible says about fasting. Be sure to use scripture.

- Share with your child reasons you fast.

- Teach them about different types of fasts.

- Invite your child to fast with you, but do not make them feel pressure to do so or make them feel guilty if they choose not to.

- If your child expresses an interest in fasting, encourage them to fast some specific foods (like sweets) or an item or activity (like video games).

- Discuss with your child how fasting helps you remember to pray, and take time to pray with your child.

- If your child expresses an interest in solid fasting, get clearance from a doctor. Solid fasts can be harmful for some children, especially those with certain medical conditions.
~
How do you discuss fasting with your child? Share in the comments!

Who’s your favorite superhero? 🦹🏼‍♀️💥🦹🏽‍♂️

#avengersdoomsday #veggietales #bibleman

It’s always a great practice to evaluate your ministry and look for areas of success and improvement.

What went well?
What can we do differently/better?
When did we face a lot of stress, and how can we reduce that this year?
When did we experience joy and how can we replicate that?
What suggestions have others made that we can implement?

These questions help you focus on what to keep doing, what to change, and how to help others become leaders in the process. Answer these and use them as a launching point to help grow your ministry into the best it can be!

What is your Bible reading goal for 2026?
~
Many Christians start off the new year with a goal to read through the entire Bible, and while many accomplish this, others find themselves dropping off partway throughout the year.

Choosing a goal that is doable for your specific reading/learning/devotional style is one way to ensure success with your reading goals AND a way to make sure you're growing in your walk with Christ as you do so rather than simply checking off a reading list.

Here are some different goals to consider for your Bible reading this year. Which one, if any, are you going with this year?

It's okay to want beautiful Christmas events and services, but these things shouldn't come at the expense of wearing yourself and others out.

It's not worth putting Jesus, your family, and yourself on the back burner in the name of pursuing a "perfect" event/service.

In fact:

People will still hear the gospel message, regardless of what your church's decor looks like.

People will still love the kids choir even if the kids mess up. Actually, people EAT IT UP when kids mess up. It's cute.

People will still worship if someone on the praise team makes a mistake.

People will remember how you treated them--not what you wore.

People will be fed, even if the food isn't perfect.

People will still have a chance to know Jesus, even if the sermon isn't flashy and social-media-trend-worthy (although, what's more worthy to post about than the gospel?!)

If you simply love Jesus, and if you simply love people, you will have accomplished the greatest Christmas service you could provide.

But if you wear yourself and others out--if you push Jesus and your family aside--in pursuit of the "perfect" event, you might miss out on the blessings that come with the Christmas season.

So have the beautiful services. Have the beautiful things. But have them within yours and others' capacities to still be able to keep Jesus and their families at the center.

Tell us about some highlights of your 2025! What went well? What did you celebrate? What are you looking forward to?

What's your go-to strategy for recruiting volunteers to serve in children's ministry?

I am excited to be a Coach at CPC26!

If you are attending the Children's Pastors Conference this January, you have the opportunity to participate in a FREE Coaching appointment.

Registration is limited and spots are booking up fast. Look for the email "Coaching Appointments are Open" in your inbox for all the details and to register.

As you plan next year's events, here's something to keep in mind:

Some girls like tea parties. Some like fashion and fancy hairstyles. Some like learning etiquette.

There is NOTHING wrong with these activities and many girls enjoy them 🎀

But sometimes, girls also like sports. They like the outdoors. They like Lego and Nerf. And that's okay, too. ⛹️‍♀️🧱🌳

Having an interest in, or lack of interest in, any of these things has no bearing on spirituality.

So if your boys' events tend to be more active and adventurous while your girls' events tend to focus more on looks and being proper, you might want to do a check-in to see if some of the girls in your church are starting to feel left out or shorted.

Then, based on their feedback, consider planning some girls' events with some of the same activities you use at the boys' events, and/or with other activities the students said they are interested in.

[Repost from earlier this year]

Give yourself a point for each thing you have done - children’s ministry Christmas edition! 👼🏽🎄☃️

How many points do you have?

Happy Christmas Season from us to you!!

Here’s a #throwbackthursday pic from a few years ago🎄

Looking back over this past year, I’m thankful you’ve allowed us to be a part of your ministry in reaching kids with the Good News of Jesus!

Because of your support with likes, comments, follows, and purchases, we’ve been able to provide biblical resources to children’s ministry leaders in 49 states and 24 countries so far! That means not only are the kids in your community having fun while getting to know Jesus, but kids around the world are as well—and you’ve played a part in that ❤️

As this year comes to an end, we hope that you know you are loved, supported, and prayed for! We’re in this calling together and we know God has good things in store for 2026!

If you love the content and resources we provide on here and at GoYeKids.com, could you please do us a favor and share this page with your friends, and, if you’re planning out your curriculum for the rest of this year and 2026, consider adding some of our resources to your lineup!

We appreciate you and all you do—thank you for being a part of God’s mission and for allowing us to be a part of that too!

Merry Christmas and here’s to a happy 2026!

~ Vanessa

Up your game in 2026. Do these things and you’ll become unrecognizable 💪😂
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#kidminlife #kidmin #childrensministry #sundayschool #ministrylife

Kick off the Christmas season with a BOGO deal on these select activity bundles! 👏👏

Choose from:
The Birth of Jesus 👼🏽
Happy Birthday Jesus 🥳
Christmas ☃️
Sword Drills: Winter Edtion ❄️

Add two bundles to your cart to automatically get this deal (or add all four and get 2 free)!! No code needed.

Shop now at GoYeKids.com. Link in bio.

Valid through Monday, Dec. 1, 2025

Throwback to a wintery classroom we decorated several years ago ☃️❄️
***
Walls: decorative tablecloth rolls
Snowmen: cardboard cake boards & construction paper
Igloo: takeout boxes and cotton balls
Fire pit: rocks we found outside and orange Christmas lights

This meme is dedicated to all the kids who stay for multiple church services on Sundays 😂😂

What songs are you singing for Christmas this year? 🎶👼🏽🎄

Which statement has you giving the Sydney Stare?

Jesus called the church to feed the hungry, and even said that when we feed those in need, we are feeding Him (Matthew 25:34-40).

Some kids and families may be facing hunger, and we may not always know which kids and families those are.

By implementing small actions—offering a snack, sending a snack home, providing breakfast, or starting/funding a food pantry (even if it’s small), we can fulfill the call to serve others.

Which of these actions can you take? Or what other things is your church/ministry doing to help? Share in the comments so other churches can use your ideas!

Get your students thinking about thankfulness with these fun activity pages! 🦃🍁🙏

This bundle includes:
-Thankful Coordinates (Psalm 136:1)
-Thanksgiving Codebreaker (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
-Word Search (Psalm 100:4)
-Thanksgiving Hunt
-Thanksgiving Maze
-Psalm 136:1 Poster Template (8.5x11)
-Turkey coloring page (Psalm 147:7)
-Harvest Color-by-Number (Colossians 3:15)
-What's Inside the Box? (Things I Am Thankful For)
-Fun Instructions (Thanksgiving theme)

Instant download, $5. Get your copy now at GoYeKids.com! Link in bio.

If you're dressing up for an event this fall, what are you going as?

Some kids are hesitant to pray at church, and they often have valid reasons why.

Here are four common reasons kids hesitate. Could any of them be a hindrance for your child?

Consider having a casual conversation with your child this week about how they feel about praying at church. Be sure to listen intently to their thoughts, discuss what the Bible says, and be an encouraging voice.

Do your kids love watching shows about people in the Bible? If so, they'll love the printable activities featured in our bundles!

These bundles cover a wide variety of Bible people and stories and include fun, hands-on activities like:
Code Breakers
Cut and Paste Activities
Crossword Puzzles
Word Searches
Crafts
and more!

Browse resources now at GoYeKids.com. Link in bio.
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~
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We are not affiliated with any of the films mentioned. Copyrights belong to:
The Chosen: © Come and See Foundation
The Star: © Sony Pictures Entertainment
Young David: © Angel
The Prince of Egypt: © Universal Pictures
Friends and Heroes: © Friends & Heroes Productions Ltd
Superbook: © Christian Broadcasting Network

Here’s a simple way to get your students and families thinking about thankfulness!

Have you done this before? How did it turn out?

Whether you have the title or not, whether you’re full-time or part-time, whether you’re paid or volunteer, you are seen. You are loved. You are appreciated.

I'm excited to be going back to the Children's Pastors Conference in 2026!

This year I will be teaching a breakout on Bibles and Board Games, where we'll explore ways to turn your favorite games into powerful moments that teach the Word of God! 📖♟️🎲 🧩

CPC is PACKED with so many phenomenal experiences—worship, practical teaching, moments of fun with fellow children's ministry workers—it's an event you don't want to miss!! See you there!! 🎉🎉

@weareincm #cpc26

Maybe you do none of these things--and if not, that's great! But if you are doing any of them, here's what you should know:

- God likes excellence, but He doesn't expect perfection.

- Serving in ministry shouldn't burn you out, and if it does, it's a sign you may need a break and/or to set some boundaries.

- Ministry is serving people. All the other stuff comes secondary. People won't always remember how great the decor was or how fun that game was, but they'll remember how you treated them.

- Other ministries may look enticing. Maybe they have more volunteers or resources, a bigger building, or ideas you hadn't thought of. But that doesn't mean your ministry is any less. What you do leads people to Jesus just like what they do leads people to Jesus, and both are equally important.

- You. Are. Capable.

You may feel like you're not doing enough or being enough, but just by showing up you're being a blessing. You work hard, you sacrifice a lot, and God sees it all.

Thanks for all you do.

It's been said that the best leaders work themselves out of a job.

As children's ministry leaders, we are leading best when we are helping others grow in their skills and helping them become leaders themselves. The end goal should be that if you ever had to step away from your role, the members of your team could carry things on as usual.

Your team might not be at that point yet, but by giving them opportunities to lead, you can help facilitate the growth needed to get them there.

Here are three ways you can help volunteers grow in their leadership skills. What would you add to the list?

October can be a scary time for kids, but you can help change the narrative by teaching on stories and verses that tell of God's protection and power.

Here are some great resources to help you do that!

Download now at GoYeKids.com. Link in bio.

I’ll admit it: I used to be this way. I was so obsessed with everything turning out JUST RIGHT (which really meant just turning out exactly the way I had it in my mind).

But then I realized I wasn’t being a great leader—or a great Christian—and I was robbing others of the opportunity to be used. Plus, I was limiting our ministry to my skill level, when plenty of people had far more talent than I did.

Some nights I’d be at the church til midnight setting up. Sometimes til 3am. Once I stayed overnight, working til 6am, ran home to shower and change, then came right back for the church service. I burned out HARD.

This isn’t a healthy way to serve, and it’s not true leadership.

Ask yourself if there’s a task you’re trying to do yourself that you could invite others in to and make them a part of it. Let their skills shine. Let their ideas come to fruition. Watch them grow.

When you purchase a resource from our site, not only are you helping your students gain biblical literacy while having fun, but you’re also helping us put resources into the hands of people who otherwise couldn’t afford it.

And that’s pretty cool.

Tap the link in our bio to get resources for your next lesson!

It's not too early to think about attending a conference or two next year!

With 30 children's ministry conferences listed already (and growing as more info is released), there's sure to be one near you!

To browse the list, visit our homepage then tap on "Ideas". Link in bio.

If you're hosting some kind of outreach this fall that involves giving out treats, it's possible that you might have guests with food restrictions. Because of this, consider adding some treats to your event that take some of these limitations into consideration.

What would you add to this list? What are some treats you're planning to give out this year? 🍬🍫

Over the years, some churches have covered up child abuse, deciding to handle it “in-house” or refusing to report it lest the church “look bad”. Some churches have put child offenders in children’s ministry roles, believing it’s okay because they’ve repented. Others have sided with offenders over victims, or worse, twisted scripture to defend the abuser while silencing the victim. Some, believing they can simply trust their staff, shrugged off safety procedures.

These things have led to untold numbers of child abuse instances in churches, and it is not acceptable.

We cannot claim to love these children and say we want to lead them to Jesus then leave them vulnerable to abuse.

It is important to have clear guidelines in our churches and ministries, such as these ten, to prevent abuse and help any and all victims, whether they were abused by someone in the church or someone outside of it.

Does your church adhere to these rules? What other rules would you add?

FREE fall coloring pages! 🍂🌰🎃

Download now in our Free Resources section. Link in bio.

Help your students increase their faith, Bible skills, and Bible knowledge with this activity bundle on Jesus' miracles!

This set includes:
- Miracles Matching Activity
- Miraculous Catch of Fish Fill-in-the-Blank
- Ten Lepers Code Breaker
- Wedding at Cana Crossword
- Feeding of the 5,000 Drawing Activity
- Jesus & Peter Walk on Water Drawing Activity
- Jesus Raises Lazarus Grid Puzzle
- Jesus Calms the Storm Cut and Paste
- Tax Coin Fish Craft
- Withered Fig Tree Drawing Activity

For more information and to download, visit our Premium Resources section. Link in bio.

These team-building ideas are not only fun, they encourage kidmin team members to collaborate while learning skills they can use in Kids Ministry!

Which of these skills would you find the most fun to learn?

Learn about Hebrews 11 and the Heroes of Faith with these printable activities!

This mini-bundle includes the following:

-Heroes of the Faith Crossword Puzzle
-Heroes of Faith Matching Activity
-Heroes of Faith Code Breaker/Grid Puzzle
-By Faith Writing Activity
-My Hero of Faith Writing/Drawing Activity

Available now in the Premium Resources section of our site! Link in bio.

Your kid sees a decorative skeleton 💀 Do they:
A. Cover their eyes in fear, or
B. Remember Ezekiel and the Valley of Dry Bones?

Your kid sees a devil decoration 😈 Do they:
A. Cover their eyes in fear, or
B. Remember that their praise silences the devil?

The four weeks of lessons in FEAR NOT will help your kids see God's great power in the midst of things designed to cause fear.

For more information and to download, visit the Premium Resources section of our site. Link in bio.

Did you know that ~70% of churches in the U.S. have fewer than 100 weekly attendees?

For some who serve in these churches, it can feel frustrating to have only a few kids in attendance. Maybe there’s an activity you’d like to do but you don’t have enough kids. Or maybe it’s disheartening seeing what larger churches are doing in their children’s ministries and feeling like you can’t measure up.

If this describes you, take heart. What you can do in your local church may be different than what you see other churches doing, but your impact is just as important.

The kids you reach each week are just as valuable to Jesus as the kids in other churches, and the impact you have is just as eternal.

You matter, and your ministry matters, whether you’re serving one kid each week or 1,000 kids each week.

Bible practice without the pressure!

This free printable will help your students gain confidence in their Bible skills as they look up verses about joy (KJV) and fill in the missing words.

Available now in the Free Resources section of our site. Link in bio.

Part Five of our Church Hurt Series:

How can we help children and families who come to our churches after having experienced hurt church?

In this scenario:
- Be a friend to this parent. Some people go through things that cause great distrust in churches, and the fact that she (or he) continues to show up, especially for the kids, shows that she still has trust in God and believes there are good churches.
- Make it a priority to personally greet this person each service, and when possible, introduce her to other adults in the church as well. Healthy relationships play a huge role in building strong churches.
- Watch how the kids are doing. Some parents effectively shield their kids from church dysfunction, while other kids may have experienced things. You’ll want to ensure the kids are having healthy experiences in the church as well.
- Consider hosting family events. These types of events allow whole families to interact with one another and that can help build trust.
- Pray for these parents.
- Support the parents as they attend church and don’t attempt to pressure them into serving. They likely need to be in the adult service for some time so they can hear the preaching and see how the church functions in order to gain trust.

What would you add to any of the topics we’ve discussed this week?

Part Four of our Church Hurt Series:

How can we help children and families who come to our churches after having experienced church hurt?

In this scenario:
- Acknowledge that we don’t know everyone’s story when they join our churches. It may feel easy to judge someone who attends church but never seems to want to serve, but we should have patience, show grace, and trust that each individual is doing what they need to do in their walk with Christ.
- Invite these individuals to serve, but do not pressure them into saying yes. Letting them know the door is open will allow them to step through it when they feel ready.
- Provide low key ways people can serve without having to commit to a team or schedule. A person may be willing to serve, but be hesitant to commit long-term.
- Understand that some people may have valid reasons for not wanting to join a team. For example, if someone was required to sign an NDA at their former church and they were silenced in a culture of abuse, they may resist serving at your church if it also requires NDAs.
- Don’t push people to explain their reasons, but be open if they want to discuss them. One person may not want to share their past experience while another might find healing by doing so.
- Regularly evaluate your ministry and ask yourself if it is healthy. Are volunteers treated well? Do pastors show appreciation or do they make demands and treat people as if they are dispensable? Are people required to follow extrabiblical rules to serve? Are people allowed to say no and encouraged to put their families first? Asking these types of questions will help you see if your church is treating team members well.
- Pray for these individuals. Befriend them. Show them the love of Jesus. Over time, they may regain their trust in the church and find a love for serving again.

Part 3 of our Church Hurt series:

How can we help children and families who come to our churches after having experienced church hurt?

In this scenario:
- As a foundation, we should strive to build children’s and youth ministries that are welcoming to all kids. If we teach, and demonstrate, the love of Jesus to our students on a continual basis, we can help foster an atmosphere where kids feel included and bullying is decreased.
- Similar to yesterday’s response, we should be patient with kids who are hesitant to attend kids’ services and acknowledge that it is perfectly acceptable to stay with parents in the main service.
- We should aim to greet this child every time we see her and let her know we are glad she is there and we are happy to see her.
- If you have students in your ministry who are outgoing and enjoy making new friends, you could ask those students if they would like to get to know this child. If this child makes friends with other kids in the church before ever going to Sunday School, she may feel safer and more accepted. Be sure these kids actually want to do this rather than feel obligated.
- If the child is open to it, you might discuss her previous experiences with her. Being able to talk about what happened may help, and you might be able to help her find courage to participate again.
- If you see bullying happening in your ministry, it is important to address it immediately and shut it down.

What would you add to this list? Share your ideas in the comments so other kidmin leaders can learn from your ideas!

We’re talking about church hurt this week. How can we help those who have experienced hurt?

In this scenario:
- If a child doesn’t want to go to the kids’ service, that’s absolutely okay. There’s nothing wrong with them staying in the adult service.
- Show kindness to this child every time you see him. Greet him. Tell him you’re happy he’s there. If you can, try to build a relationship with this child even if he doesn’t want to go to Kids’ Church. Over time, you may earn his trust.
- If the child is open to it, you might discuss what happened at their previous church. If so, assure the child that he won’t be treated the same here—and mean it. Nobody in the church should berate a child.
- Consider providing the child with supplies from Sunday School. If your class is going through a workbook, or using worksheets or puzzles, or making a craft, etc., put the supplies in a bag and give it to the child so he can partake in the activities even if he doesn’t attend.
- Be patient. Even if he never chooses to attend the kids’ service, he’ll remember your kindness and that will go a long way.

What would you add to this list? Share your ideas in the comments so other kidmin leaders can learn from your ideas!

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ABOUT US

FREE RESOURCES

IDEAS

STORE

WHAT'S NEW

BUY ONE GIVE ONE

As part of our commitment to put quality curriculum into the hands of every children’s leader regardless of ability to pay, for every resource you purchase, one will be donated to a church or organization in need.

CONFERENCE-LEVEL CHILDREN'S MINISTRY WORKSHOPS FROM ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD

ASK ABOUT OUR VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS

(DON'T WORRY, THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO PRESSURE TO BOOK ONE)

​

Follow us on Instagram

As part of our commitment to put quality curriculum into the hands of every children’s leader regardless
of ability to pay, for every resource you purchase, one will be donated to a church or organization in need.

CONFERENCE-LEVEL
CHILDREN'S MINISTRY
WORKSHOPS
FROM ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD