Summer Fun

Laura Winslow created this darling printable with tons of cute, fun summer ideas. What a great resource for Family Ministry!

Click on the picture to visit Laura's site and download the printable.

Link Roundup: 5/25/11

That was a bit of a hiatus! I'm back in full-blogging action now and ready to rock your world with a Link Roundup. Enjoy!

• Ministry to Children has some great ideas on engaing preschoolers in Sunday School.

• Relevant Children's Ministry gives guidance on talking with kids about natural disasters.

• CM Buzz has some insight on the ongoing KidMin vs. Youth Sports "battle."]

• Planning a staycation this summer? Visit Growing Kids Ministry before you begin your fun!

• Free is the best price - and that's what makes Guildcrafs Jungle Finger Puppets so great!

Music for Mondays: Today is the Day

This is a fun song that I introduced to my kindergarten through second graders yesterday. I love the energy in the song and the message of confidence it gives. Without further adieu, "Today is the Day" from Lincoln Brewster.




Here we go!
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
I'm casting my cares aside
I'm leaving my past behind
I'm setting my heart and mind on You
Jesus

I'm reaching my hand to Yours
Believing there's so much more
Knowing that all You have in store for me is good
Is good

Chorus:
Today is the day You have made
I will rejoice and be glad in it
Today is the day You have made
I will rejoice and be glad in it
And I won't worry about tomorrow
I'm trusting in what You say
Today is the day

Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Today is the day
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
I putting my fears aside
I'm leaving my doubts behind
I'm giving my hopes and dreams to You
Jesus

I'm reaching my hand to Yours
Believing there's so much more
Knowing that all You have in store for me is good
Is good

Chorus

(Guitar interlude)

(2x's)
I will stand upon Your truth.
(I will stand upon Your truth)
And all my days I'll live for You
(And all my days I'll live for You)

Chorus

Music for Mondays: Here I Am

When it comes to Music for Mondays here on I (Heart) Children's Ministries, there will be times where my song pick is kid-centric and times where it is a CCM tune. Today's song falls into the latter category.

As I was driving around town today, I heard this song on K-Love and immediately fell in love with it. I thought I'd share it here. It's by one of my favorite bands, Downhere, and it is called "Here I Am." Enjoy!

Sometimes Your calling, comes in dream
Sometimes in comes in the Spirit's breeze
You reach for the deepest hope in me
And call out for the things of eternity

But I'm a man, of dust and stains,
You move in me, so I can say

Chorus
Here I am, Lord send me
All of my life, I make an offering,
Here I am, Lord send me
Somehow my story is a part of Your plan,
Here I am

When setbacks and failures, and upset plans
Test my faith and leave me with empty hands  

Are You not the closest when it's hardest to stand
I know that You will finish what You began

And these broken parts You will redeem
Become the song that I can sing

Chorus

Overwhelmed by the thought of my weakness
And the fear that I'll fail You in the end
In this mess, I'm just one of the pieces,
I can't put this together but You can

Chorus

Here I Am, all my life an offering to You, to You
Somehow my story is a part of Your plan
Here I am

Furnishing Your Children's Wing Classrooms

About a month ago, I had a friend ask me for some tips on furnishing a playroom. I sent her a list of some tips I've learned from furnishing both children's wing classrooms and preschool classrooms and I thought I'd share them here. 


Top Tips for Furnishing Your Children's Wing Classrooms:

• Check places like Burlington Coat Factory, Ross, and TJ Maxx. These stores often have high quality educational toys at a fraction of the cost.
• Stick with hard plastic or wood toys. Cloth toys (i.e. stuffed animals) are more difficult to keep sanitary.
• Wall decals (available at Target, Walmart, etc.) are a quick, easy, colorful way to decorate a room. If you have a bigger budget to work with, Trading Phrases has amazing products.
• For actual furniture, check out Ikea. They offer really cute items at a good price. They also have some fun toys, but I'd look at the stores I mentioned earlier first.
• Melissa & Doug has some of the best toys around. Their toys are durable and high quality. You'll find these at the stores I mentioned earlier.
• Books are a great thing to have around. I have over 200 children's books and many of them were purchased at second hand stores. I'm amazed at how many of my preschoolers will sit down and "read" for an extended period of time.
• It is important to have some sort of creative space for kids. Simple solutions for this can be having an easel or covering a small table with butcher paper and providing crayons.
• Pick bold, bright colors to capture kids' attention.
• ClosetMaid has awesome storage shelves. You can find them at Target or Fred Meyer.

Hope these tips help! What are some of your strategies for decorating your KidMin classrooms?