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   Hiding Tennis BallsOne of my "Kidologist Secrets" of relating to kids is to have fun games or "inside jokes" with the kids who I love. It makes them feel special - and let's them know they are more than just another kid to me. They are unique. They are one of my favorites.
 I've always had a running joke that I was my Grammy's favorite of her nine grandchildren. Of course, I assumed every grandchild believed that! But it was a theory I loved to humorously defend. In fact, at my grammy's wake last week, when I discovered I was on first page of one of her photo albums, I proudly declared, "See!? I was her favorite!" and was greeted with groans and rolled eyes.
There was a reason I felt extra special. My Grammy and I played this game where we hid tennis balls that the other would find during visits. This all started at a young age from a situation I explain further on my blog.
This began an unspoken joke that lasted 30 years. Any time I came to visit, a tennis ball was hidden in her home. I once lived with her for a summer in college and the tennis ball war was resumed though we never spoke a word of it. When she came to visit me when I was a young married man, I would find a tennis ball somewhere in my house. Even as she lived in different states around the country, the tennis ball war continued, often with years between the secret placement. It was our way of saying, "I love you, you're special." It was Grammy's way of saying to me, "You're still that little playful boy to me, and you always will be."
I'll look at tennis balls now and cry sometimes, leaving people to think I'm nuts. A silly ball holds a lot of love for me. All because my Grammy decided to be playful with a child and then just decided never to stop. And people wonder why I thought I was her favorite. I'm O.K. with all her grandkids thinking they were her favorite. They all were, in different ways.
The same can be true in your kids ministry. You can have favorites. EVERY kid can be convinced that they are your favorite. And they can all be right!
People ask me all the time what's the secret to connecting with kids. Have you figured it out yet? YOU are the secret.
Because Jesus Loves Children,
Karl D. Bastian - a.k.a. "The Kidologist"
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Hark from the Herald: Christmas Play by Karl Bastian
|  Hark from the Herald is a Christmas play that can be performed with live actors or puppet performers. Written by Karl Bastian, this download includes all the elements needed to produce this play, including...
- Director & Actors Scripts
- Staging Notes
- Scene Overviews
- Music Recommendations
- Rehearsal Schedule
- Sample Graphics
- MP3 audio track for puppet performance
- Reference videos from previous productions
Hark is a reporter from the Herald and is assigned to do a story on the "true meaning of Christmas." Not knowing where to start, he goes to the house of Dr. Wipplestowski, a crazy inventor who sends him back in time to the first Christmas.
Available as immediate download!
» Order via the Kidology Store
» Discuss this Christmas play in the Kidology Forums
» Learn more about "Hark from the Herald"
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Are the Children in Your Ministry Worshippers?
|  "When we consider the importance of worship, we might imply that it is our task to teach the children in our care to worship, but it isn't," notes Toby Shockey in this FREE article.
"As much as we'd desire to teach young people to worship, we're too late - they are worshipers! There is no need to teach kids to worship because they already know how to worship."
"Don't believe it? Just invite Justin Bieber to come and sing at your church (Okay, but the kids like him!) and see how the kids respond. No one will need to tell them when to squeal and scream - they just will. Without any encouragement or instruction, the kids will respond wildly and joyfully. No one has to teach them that."
» Keep reading "Are the Children in Your Ministry Worshippers?"...
 Check out Toby's curriculum on worship, published by Mountain Time Ministry and available in the Kidology Store. "True Worship" curriculum will help you find ways to encourage and challenge your kids to worship God.
Kidology Newsletter subscribers can save $10 by using Coupon Code TRUWRSP (good through 9/29)» True Worship Curriculum for Preteens
» True Worship Curriculum for High School
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Join Karl at Oregon training event: September 25
|  If you are in the Portland area this weekend, drop by Lake Bible Church in Lake Oswego for their Super Saturday of children's ministry training taking place September 25.
Kidology's Karl Bastian will be providing the keynote entitled "YOU, The Missing Piece in a Child's Spiritual Journey," as well as various workshops with other presenters.
You can't beat the cost of $10 per individual or $50 per church. There's still time to register online to attend!
» Learn more in the Kidology Forums
» Register Online at "Super Saturday" website
» Facebook: "Super Saturday" event
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Boo! It's our Halloween Zone!
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Register for CPC, Win an iPad
|  Our friends at the Children's Pastors' Conference let us know that they are having an iPad giveaway. And we know that you want one, so here is the deal...
Register for CPC by October 15. You'll automatically be entered into a drawing to win 1 of 3 iPads.
The first drawing takes place September 24, followed by another on October 1, and finally on October 15. The sooner you register, the better your chances are to be included in multiple drawings!
If you don't win, you are automatically entered for the next drawing (and no, you can't win twice... try to share the love!) Also, if you've already registered for CPC, then you are entered in the contest as well. Good Luck!
» INCM.org: Register for CPC today!
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Shop the Kidology Garage Sale for deals on used items
|  Let your children's ministry dollars stretch farther by shopping for previously-owned resources from other Kidology members in the Kidology Garage Sale!Act fast or you'll miss out on...If you are a Kidology member, then you can use the Kidology Garage Sale to sell your used children's ministry stuff!» Shop the Kidology Garage Sale» Sell your used items today |
Book Review: Formational Children's Ministry
|  "Formational Children's Ministry by Dr. Ivy Beckwith is an eloquent, original, and important contribution to the emergent conversation," remarks Kidology CP Team member Glen Woods in his book review. "She suggests ways in which church leaders may guide their congregations and families into spiritually forming their children through story, ritual and relationship."
"There is much to like about Formational Children's Ministry, and there are some potent concerns, as well..."
» Keep Reading... "Review: Formational Children's Ministry"
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DiscipleTown #8 - How to Pray
|  How to Pray, Unit 8 in the DiscipleTown Kid's Church curriculum series from Karl Bastian and DiscipleLand, is now available!
Prayer is a familiar topic to children - but do we truly teach children
how to pray? For too many Christians (of any age), prayer is reserved
for times of trouble or cursory meal blessings, but prayer is so much
more.
In order to give children a simple mental framework, break down the many
aspects of prayer into four areas, each starting with a letter of the
word "PRAY" - Praising, Repenting, Asking, and Yielding. While there is
certainly more to prayer than can be captured in four simple words, each
lesson will expand on the broader aspects to show kids that they will
enjoy a lifetime exploring the power and the joy of connecting with God!
» Purchase "How to Pray" - Members save $10
» Recommended worship DVD: Modern Worship: Spring Edition
» Shop for other DiscipleTown units
» Learn more about DiscipleTown curriculum
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