A few of us have been involved in the process of starting a ministry from scratch, but we work with an incredible team of strategic partners who are doing it! Right now. Everyday!
When you are starting from scratch there are a few things you really need to focus on. First of all, you’ve got to focus on finding the best leaders that you can find. You can read more about that in part 1.
The first impression you make on the new families you are trying to reach is important! When you’re starting from scratch, you’ve got to focus on the environment.
Here are a few things to consider when creating an environment from scratch:
The Look and Feel
• It has to be clean and safe. It is worth it to pay for a great piece of carpet to roll out on the floor in your preschool environment. Parents won’t put their child on a floor that they know was open to the public as a movie theater the night before.
• Appeal to the kids. Choose colors, signs, pillows, toys, posters, games, and furniture with the kids in mind.
• Draw them in. Pay special attention to the check-in area. The entrance is the first thing that the kids see. You want your kids to be tugging mom and dad down the hallway in order to get there faster!
Sound and Smell
• Music! No matter if you have a big hallway sound system or you have a boom box staged in the corner, music creates a vibe. Take some time and create a few playlists that will appeal to the kids.
• Air fresheners! A bad smell makes me think dirty. No smell at all makes me think…nothing! But a good smell? It appeals to me. It makes me think clean. It’s easy.
Function
• Chaos! When a space doesn’t function then it gives the impression of chaos. In some instances it can give the impression that it isn’t safe. Think about the ages of kids that you are putting together and how you can divide the space and use it to it’s maximum.
• Small groups and large groups. We have always had small groups that meet in a large group space. If we were starting from scratch we would definitely plan from the beginning to get the most from our space by using it for both large group and small group.
• Preschoolers need space. They need to run, play games, roll a ball, climb, crawl, swing, cook in their kitchens, have a snack, and get their diapers changed.
FUN!
• The Candy Man! It’s easy. Give a friendly guy a bucket of candy and ask him to pass it out to the kids. This is fun!
• Lights. There are so many strobe lights and other moving lights that can be plugged right into your outlet. You might even consider changing out your regular light bulbs for colored light bulbs. Patio string lights are cheap!
• Dance Music. You will be amazed at how kids will spontaneously bust a move when they hear music they know. And when all of the leaders break into the cha cha slide for no good reason? Now that’s fun!
Several years ago I visited one of our partners who was setting up their Sunday services in a temporary rented space. It was a local concert venue, complete with a bar. It was a Saturday night party spot in the middle of town. It was production ready, great location, and great modern décor.
But oh the transformation that would occur from close of business Saturday night to start of services Sunday morning. It was amazing to see!
They were able to transform a dirty, smelly party spot into a clean, inviting, functional and fun environment for kids. It was impressive to see.
Environment matters. In many ways it will matter the most because your new families are making a first-time judgment based on what they see and experience. It doesn’t have to be flashy. It doesn’t have to be expensive.
What ideas have you used when creating your environment from scratch?
July 26th, 2010 at 11:47 pm
HI
I am responsible for our early childhood ministry. I share a wonderful size space with the primary age children.
We are so bless to have roll out particians to divide the room. We share 1/3 of the space (with a low stage area) to have our Big Assembly together.
We then break to go into life groups. The older ones go upstairs and my babies have the section behind the screened area for our group lesson etc.
As you have mentioned little ones need space but alos need to be contained in order to protect them and keep them safe.
On the screens- which are covered in a hession type fabric,velcro friendly- I decorate the screens with what I call “COLOUR SPLOTS”, velcroed on. The colour splots are large plastic paint type splattters that were cut out from large plastic rectangles in red, yellow, blue, green and orange. The space is instantly transform with these into a kiddy space. I use little individual circle mats all around the floor and velcro great big pictures I make out of cardboard onto the screen. 6-8 seater tables from Bunning were cut down to the height of kiddy tables and added kindy chairs. The roon no longer looks like a big unfriendly function hall attatched to our church. Colour parachute hanging from the roof are also brilliant for instant colour and makes a great quiet space or tent for the kids.
love
Shirl