Connecting With Parents
Resource Wall
7 Ways to Partner with Parents
English
If you’re not partnering with parents, much of the time and effort you’re putting into leading kids and students is being wasted. This resource is for your small group leaders, and it details ways that they can start to partner with parents today!
21 Questions to Get to Know Your Kid or Teen
English, Español
Your child is constantly changing. Their favorite shows, activities, foods, sports, friends—it all changes. Even what they dream about, what they want to be, and how they see the world is changing. Get to know who they are now in the phase of life they are in now with these sets of 21 questions for four different age groups: preschool, elementary, middle school, and high school.
Cell Phone Agreement
English, Español
In this Cell Phone Agreement, we’ve put together some expectations for you and your kid to talk through—both for how/when they use their phone, and for how/when you use yours. And even if your kid has had a phone for a while, it’s never too late to talk about what a healthy relationship with their phone looks like.
Developing a Healthy Model for Special Needs Ministry
English
Which model is right for my special needs ministry? There are 3 healthy ways to include kids with special needs in your ministry. Learn more in this blog post!
Family Welcome Kit
English
As new families connect with your church, you want to make sure you are finding out the right information from them. We’ve compiled some of the forms and policies you may need to make sure you have the info you need to know, as well as help families understand a little more about your church.
Feelings Wheel
English, Español
Sometimes it’s hard to identify what you are feeling. Maybe you’re mad, but you’re also afraid. Maybe you’re happy, but feel a little guilty. The Feelings Wheel is a great resource to print out and stick on the fridge, and the next time your kid or teen needs a little help identifying what they feel, use it to help put words to the emotions.
Growth Mindset Chart
English, Español
People with a growth mindset believe intelligence can be developed—like a muscle. Children with a growth mindset can exercise these muscles and learn to reframe challenges as opportunities to grow. This chart can help them focus on turning negative self-talk to positive phrases throughout their day and encourages your child to focus on what God thinks of them. Print it out and put it on the fridge or any place you and your child will see it regularly.
How to Start a Special Needs Ministry at Your Church
English
If our mission statement is fully inclusive, why are we surprised when a family with a child with special needs walks into our church? They’re part of the mission and, now that we acknowledge that we’ve invited them, we need to be ready to serve.
NEXT Promotion Week Kit
English
Let parents and caregivers know you’re ready for their kid’s next—even if they’re not sure they are ready—with the NEXT Promotion Week Kit for parents.
This kit will help you brand your promotion week messaging, and equip you with resources and encouragement for families.
Parent Cue App Promo Kit
English, Español
There has never been a more important time to re-engage families where they are, in the everyday moments. And the Parent Cue App is a great tool to help families parent smarter, not harder. Use the Parent Cue App Promo Kit to promote the app to families on social media, on your website, through email, and on the screens in your building or online programming. There are two versions of the promo kit included with this download—one in English and one in Spanish.
(Note: The Parent Cue App is available in both English and Spanish—and can be adjusted in the language settings within the app or based on the user’s language setting on their phone.)
Parenting in a Tech World
English
The mission of the Parenting in a Tech World course is to educate, empower, and remind you that at the end of the day, we could all use a little grace when it comes to navigating technology with kids. This course gives parents and caregivers strategies and insights to parent confidently in a technology-dependent world.
Included with the purchase of the course:
- Course information divided into 15 video sections that are about 10 minutes long each
- A digital workbook that walks you step by step through the course
- Discussion questions for parents and kids
- Action items you can incorporate into your family’s rhythm
- A technology contract for you and your child to plan next steps for technology use
Parenting with Mental Health in Mind
English
The Parenting with Mental Health in Mind: A Parent’s Guide for Every Kid course will help you learn the psychology of what’s going on in your kid’s brain and science-based, practical tools to help your kid navigate a mental health challenge. Upon completion of the course, you’ll feel empowered and equipped to meet your kid’s mental health challenges head-on and support them in the way they need most.
Included with the purchase of the course:
- Course information divided into 12 video sections
- A digital workbook that recaps the videos and key takeaways
- Discussion questions to encourage reflection for parents and caring adults
- A bonus resource, the Feelings Wheel, to help put words to your kid’s emotions
Phase Life Maps
English, Español
Every phase is a timeframe in a kid’s life when you can leverage distinct opportunities to influence their future. During each phase, there are critical conversations each child needs to have: Technological Responsibility, Sexual Integrity, Faith, and Health.
These Life Maps are divided into sections by phase with specific strategies, questions, and words you can say to engage your kid in a meaningful, practical, age-appropriate way.
Phase Starter Kit
English
If you’re brand new to the Phase Project, this kit is for you! These resources will introduce your parents to distinctive opportunities they have to influence their child at every stage and how to make the most of them. We’ll also help you unpack how the Phase Project can change how your staff relates to each other, how you partner with parents, and how you influence the faith of the next generation.
Preparing for the Unexpected
English, Español
Parenting humans at any phase of life is filled with the unexpected. When kids are young, we can be surprised by a toddler who has learned to remove their own diaper… in public, or how artistically they can draw… on our kitchen walls. But as our kids get older, and the stakes get higher, sometimes the unexpected discoveries we make as parents may elicit fear, anger, or confusion as we try to guide our kid or teen toward a positive future.
This worksheet is intended to help you reflect and create a plan ahead of time for how you want to respond if you discover something you never expected.
Serving Ideas Through the Phases
English
When you give kids and students intentional opportunities to love people, to serve people, to spot needs and meet those needs, then you are putting feet to the faith. You are growing their view of God’s love. You are teaching them how to BE the Church instead of just attending church.
Work Kids Can Do + Chore Chart
English