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    I am happy to be able to offer you reviews on a variety of resources for elementary age children, preschool age children as well as resoures to help you direct and plan an effective ministry to the children in your church and community.

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What God Says About Me Author - Neil T. Anderson Publisher - Gospel Light Ages - 5th & 6th Grade

• Favorite Features:
• reproducible
• 13 complete lessons
• helpful information to customize lessons to fit your unique needs
• each lesson includes -
• life focus
• teacher devotional
• lesson aims
• Scripture, key verse
• activities and Bible study
• discussion questions to help kids focus
• teaching tips
• games, crafts and activities to help kids focus on the point and it's application
• includes the "who I am in Christ" list
• information on how to lead a child to Christ

    So many pre-teens struggle with who they are and how God sees them, this is a tremendous resource to help these kids get a proper, Biblical perspective on what God's opinion of them is and how much He truly values them.  Tremendously well done Neil and Gospel Light!

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Boredom-Busting Ideas to involve children in Adult Worship Authors - Barbara Younger & Lisa Flinn Publisher - Group Publishing

• Favorite Features:
• 95 ideas to help kids -
• explore the Bible
• learn about and experience prayer
• involve them in music/songs
• help them understand the sermon
• participate in the offering
• understand the parts of the service
• each idea includes -
• supply list
• preparation directions
• leader's tips
• reproducible resources
• active and interactive activities

    If you have children in your Adult Worship service, these ideas may be just the thing you are looking for to help your children truly benefit from being in the Adult service.  Very nicely done Barbara, Lisa and Group Publishing!

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The Encyclopedia of Bible Crafts for Children Publisher - Group Publishing

• Favorite Features:
• almost 200 craft ideas
• crafts are marked for appropriate age - Pre K and Kindergarten through 5th & 6th grades
• crafts for many Bible stories from every book of the Bible
• each craft includes -
• Scripture
• intended age
• complete directions
• supplies list
• Bible point
• "wows that work" - helpful tips
• "steps 4 kids" - reproducible directions
• "tying it together" to connect what they made with the Bible lesson - excellent!
• reproducible resources
• index to match with lessons from the FaithWeaver and Hands-on curriculum lines
• theme index

    This is an excellent resource for any children's ministry and will work with any curriculum you are using as the crafts tie in with specific Bible stories.  Extremely well done Group Publishing!

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Games for All Ages Publisher - Group Publishing

• Favorite Features:
• 100 games for all ages
• index by -
• high-action games
• low-action games
• get-to-know-you games
• games with a point
• each game includes:
• description of the game
• list of supplies needed for the game
• game leader tips

    Games provide an excellent opportunity for kids to connect and learn.  This book is filled with ideas for games with a point that are fun.  Extremely well done Group Publishing!

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Movie Clips for Kids Publisher - Group Publishing

• Favorite Features:
• 100 movie clips
• index for movies, topics, Scripture
• reproducible parent information sheets - excellent!
• each clip includes -
• Scripture connection
• movie title and rating
• start and end time
• review questions
• supply list
• preshow directions
• directions for conversation/questions
• "the critics say" helpful information and advice for where parents may object

    This is a truly unique resource for children's ministry - one that is sure to get kid's attention and add an unexpected element into the class time.  Tremendously well done Group Publishing!

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The humongous book of GAMES for children's ministry Publisher - Group Publishing

• Favorite Features:
• games for preschool, early elementary and upper elementary age kids
• 220 games in one book
• games arranged by topic and age
• each game includes -
• energy level - low, medium and high
• topic
• Scripture reference
• game overview
• supply list
• preparation directions
• questions to connect game to application
• directions for the game
• leader tips
• energy level index and Scripture index

    This book is a must have game resource you can use in nearly every area of your children's ministry.  I especially like the Scripture index so you are able to match the game with the Bible lesson you are teaching.  Tremendously well done Group Publishing!

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Wiggly, Giggly Bible Learning Centers for Preschoolers Publisher - Group Publishing

• Favorite Features:
• 25 learning centers for Old Testament Bible people
• expands lessons from Wiggly Giggly Bible Stories from the Old Testament
• excellent, helpful pointers for effective use of learning centers in the introduction
• each activity teaches about a Bible person and includes Scripture
• each activity includes -
• to do and to notice - brief stating of object
• excellent questions to make activities more than time fillers
• what, where and how - tell you what you need, what to do and helpful information
• reproducible resources
• 13 varieties of learning centers to choose from

    This resource is one able to stand on it's own or will also serve to strengthen other resources used with preschool age children to help them learn and live familiar Old Testament Bible Stories.  Extremely well done Group Publishing!

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the Big Book of Instant Activities Publisher - Gospel Light Ages - Preschool

• Favorite Features:
• more than 200 activities/ideas
• circle time activities
• clean up activities
• finger play activities
• get acquainted activities
• movement, music, quiet, transition and word activities
• includes age-level characteristics for 2's & 3's and 4's & 5's with teaching tips
• classroom discipline tips
• activities include list of any supplies needed, directions, ideas to vary, how to adapt for older children, illustrations for finger plays

    This is an excellent resource for any preschool ministry as it will provide you with an abundance of ideas for activity to use with your little ones!  Extremely well done Gospel Light!

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Teaching On Target Authors - Dr. Robert Choun & Jane Choun Publisher - Group Publishing

• Favorite Features:
• age level insights and helps to teach kids effectively at their level
• includes ideas for teaching about -
• the Bible
• God
• Jesus
• the Holy Spirit
• the Trinity
• the Devil
• Sin/Salvation
• death
• Heaven/Hell
• Angels
• Miracles
• Baptism
• the Lord's Supper
• Prayer
• the Church
• the last days
• information about each age level - 2's through 6th grade
• resource recommendations to further teach each age about each topic
• teaching aims for each topic and what learners should know before Jr. High

    This is a very informative and useful resource - very nicely done Robert, Jane and Group Publishing!

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Children's Ministry that Works! Publisher - Group Publishing

• Favorite Features:
• provides sound information on the basics of developing an effective children's ministry, covering -
• children's ministry foundations
• teaching techniques
• age-specific ministries
• children's ministry programs
• outlines the necessity of developing a vision
• excellent information on recruiting and keeping leaders
• covers safety and liability issues
• reproducible resources
• how to team up with parents
• how tot make changes in your children's ministry
• what Real learning "looks" like
• tips for the nursery - especially helpful information on when to refuse sick children - excellent!
• age-level insights
• curriculum evaluation checklist
• information on how to handle behavior challenges
• children in worship
• helpful information on Sunday School, Children's Church and Vacation Bible School
• information on ministry with special needs kids

    There are so many things we need to know to develop a truly effective ministry with children - this book provides many tools to help churches better understand what effective children's ministry looks like and how to get there!  Extremely well done Group Publishing!

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Leadership Essentials for Children's Ministry Author - Craig Jutila Publisher - Group Publishing

• Favorite Features:
• looks at the four keys to effective children's ministry
• passion
• attitude
• teamwork
• honor
• explains necessity of having a goal for ministry and tells how to develop a goal
• "practical pathways" throughout provide space to think through important questions for you and your ministry team
• reflection and discussion questions at the end of each chapter

    This book is essential for anyone directing a children's ministry and would make a great study for the team to understand and learn together!  If you can only get one children's ministry leadership book, this would be the one I would recommend.  Tremendously well done Craig and Group Publishing!

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Sunday School Attendance Boosters Publisher - Group Publishing

• Favorite Features:
• 165 ideas to generate enthusiasm and get and keep kids coming to Sunday School
• reproducible resources
• covers creating an environment that is welcoming, developing ongoing projects to capture kid's interest, involving the parents and encouraging conversation

    This book has a wealth of great ideas - you are sure to find several that will work in your church and community.  Very nicely done Group Publishing!

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Fun Ideas for the Family Friendly Church Publisher - Group Publishing

• Favorite Features:
• divided into four sections -
• Learning activities
• worship experiences
• service projects
• relationship builders
• helpful tips in the introduction
• 50 ideas to help strengthen families
• each activity includes information as to how long an activity will take, family focus and necessary supplies
• familiy-friendly advice in the margins - excellent, helpful information
• reproducible resources
• taking it home - excellent ideas for families to continue learning together at home during the week
• each lesson includes Scripture and questions to make you think, talk and live - excellent!

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Family Sunday School Fun General Editor - Tim Smith Publisher - Group Publishing

• Favorite Features:
• 13 complete Bible lessons for children and their parents
• excellent tips in the introduction
• each lesson includes -
• Scripture text
• lesson focus
• objectives
• list of needed supplies
• gathering activity provides a fun and interesting way for families to begin learning together
• Bible story time brings parents and children together to learn together - excellent!
• family learning activity - fun, interactive ideas to help families continue learning together
• covenant time - provides time for family members to talk together and commit to live what they learned
• reproducible resources
• field-test findings - excellent, helpful information
• helpful insights for younger and older kids for each lesson - excellent
• snack ideas!

    We need to commit to build and strengthen families in our church - both these excellent resources provide do-able, genuinely effective ways for churches to give the time and attention to families they need!  The activities and lessons in these books are designed for families with preschool and elementary age children, but even older kids would enjoy and learn from participating in these activities with their families.  These opportunities for families to learn together will provide encouragement for parents to continue learning at home on their own as they experience first-hand how to pass a legacy of faith to their children.  Extremely well done Tim and Group Publishing!

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Main Table of Contents

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