This year we launched a NEW strategy to connect with our parents.

We dabbled in the world of social media with our parents last year and this year we decided to jump in and give it our full attention.

We want to partner with our parents. We BELIEVE that they are the greatest influencers and leaders of their kids. It’s our goal to be their greatest fan and biggest supporter.

We want to make it easy for parents to talk to their kids about God’s Big Ideas all week long at home. So, we decided to make a concerted effort to place everything they need to know right in the palm of their hands. We also believe that most parents want to work  in simple connections to spiritual things at natural times of the day. They want it to be comfortable. And we believe those small connections multiplied day after day in a child’s life will add up to something big.

We currently have 5 campuses. It’s also our desire to make our relationship with families feel personalized to their campus. We want them to easily find events and information that they need as it relates to their campus and as it relates to what their child is learning.

Here’s what we did:

1. Created a twitter account for each campus.

We created: @gwinnettkids, @brownsbridgekid, @buckheadkids, @northpointkids, and @watermarkekids

Goal: To interact with parents and connect them to the information that they need. We also want to make it easy for us to solve problems or answer questions.

2. Created a facebook page for each campus.

We created: Gwinnett ParentStuf, Browns Bridge ParentStuf, Buckhead ParentStuf, North Point ParentStuf, and Watermarke ParentStuf

Goal: This is a landing page that will push parents to our enviornment specific pages - Waumba Land, UpStreet, KidStuf. This allows our campus pastors to personalize any announcements by directing parents to facebook.

3. Created landing pages for existing facebook pages. (Waumba Land, UpStreet, KidStuf)

Goal: To create a friendlier welcome and to give parents easy access to all 3 pages from one location.

4. Created ParentStuf Blog. (www.parentstuf.org)

Goal: To create a place to inspire and equip parents to talk to their kids (or play with their kids…or pray with their kids) about God’s Big Ideas.

5. Created ParentStuf App. (for iphone, ipad, droid)

Goal: To put simple ideas into the hands of parents and make it as user friendly as possible. We want to connect parents to this information in a simple, helpful format.

We are launching the ParentStuf App this Sunday and the blog has been live for several weeks. It’s too early for me to give you an idea of success, but I promise to follow up and let you know how it’s going.

This was a really big project that required the hard work of a team of creative geniuses. It was such a pleasure to work with Matt McKee and the entire R04R team. I can’t recommend them enough.

Here’s a little more information about R04R! Our mission is simple - to see as much faith based content on mobile platforms as possible. We currently develop iPhone, Android, Blackberry, and HTML5 apps for non-profits and those that serve non-profits. We also believe that mobile apps and social networking can’t be separated. We want to help support your cause by getting the message, vision, and mission onto the one device that people carry with them where ever they go, their phone.

Hundreds of kids and parents arrived at our campuses ready jump in. Some came for the first time.

Preparation for this day takes months. We really aren’t preparing for just one day. We’re preparing for the whole year.

Where does most of our preparation lie? Volunteers!

We find them, recruit them, meet with them, train them, screen them, apprentice them, and hopefully inspire them.

This year we started the year with a HUGE kick off event!

We planned fun, we asked our campus pastors to communicate, we inspired, we celebrated, and we informed.

Here’s what the program for the day looked like:

1. Opening Video and Live Band Combo.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Of this song:

Click here to view the embedded video.

We created the percussion track using the noises of items found in our children’s environments. The band came in live as the percussion built.

2. Kidmin Staff came out and welcomed everyone.

3. Then we showed this:

Click here to view the embedded video.

4. The Talk. It was given by each campus pastor.

The bottom line of the talk was to encourage our volunteers to be more than just skilled at their role. We wanted to challenge them to engage in the individual stories of the children and families that they would encounter in the coming year. We are not herding the masses, we are leading each individual child into a growing relationship with their Heavenly Father. We have an opportunity, this year, to be a part of each child’s story of faith.

5. The Closer. Live performance of Van Halen’s Right Now.

We created a video similar to this - but with our message.

Click here to view the embedded video.

6. Meet Your Team.

Everyone went to their classroom and met their team, got their t-shirt, and their small group roster.

It was a GREAT day that got us off to a great start for the year.

How did you prepare your volunteers for the upcoming year?

Our Groups Teams carry heavy responsibilities for volunteers. They are crucial to our success. They are responsible for the health of the groups that our children are in. Check out Part 1 for our Groups Director’s Job Description.

Our Production Teams focus on creating environments and communicating the message. They also lead large teams of volunteers. In addition, they manage the millions of details that go into creating a safe, clean, and engaging environment for our kids.

Sandi Glidewell (Waumba Land Director at Buckhead Church), Jessica, & Courtney

Here are the rest of our Waumba Land (Preschool) Job Descriptions:

Waumba Land Large Group Coordinator

Location: Campus Specific

Reports to:  Director of Waumba Land - campus specific

Hours:  15 per week

Days:  Tuesday and Thursday (9:00 - 1:30) Sunday (8:00 - 1:30)

Job Description:

1.    Connect, support, and inform producers through weekly contact and quarterly meetings.

2.    Manage 12 teams (3 per team) of worship leaders and storytellers who serve on Sundays.

3.    Recruit and train storytellers and worship leaders.

4.    Schedule weekly worship teams.

5.    Purchase all supplies/instruments needed for the large group worship segment.

6.    Evaluate each team on a consistent basis.

7.    Encourage and appreciate the teams throughout the year.

8.    Each Sunday - lead production meeting prior to service.

9.    Attend monthly large group curriculum meetings and contribute with song selections and creative ideas.

10.  Attend Waumba Land events (BabyD, Kick-Off, trainings, retreats, etc.).

11.  Upload all curriculum for all campuses.

12.  Create monthly CD’s for the classroom for all campuses.

13.  Enter and maintain all database information. (Arena)

Waumba Land Curriculum & Hall Coordinator

Location: Campus Specific

Reports to: Group’s Director - campus specific

Hours:  40 per week

Days:  Monday - Thursday (9 - 5) Sunday (8 - 12 noon) In addition - retreats

Job Description:

1.    Meets monthly with small group curriculum team.

2.    Purchase materials needed for curriculum and Sunday morning.

3.    Oversee team of weekly volunteers (4-6 depending on campus).

4.    Organize and distribute curriculum.

5.    Make copies and cut large quantities.

6.    Update snack schedule monthly.

7.    Collect unused curriculum/supplies and restock.

8.    Maintain supply closet (Sunday snacks for children, diapers, wipes, wax paper, trash bags, batteries, etc.).

9.    Maintain curriculum closet (items needed for Sunday morning activities, props, craft paper, etc.).

10.  Maintain supplies in the classrooms.

11.   Support weekday program during the week.

12.   Coordinate with facilities any needs on the hall.

13.   Schedule any maintenance needs.

14.   Recruit, train, and oversee weekday volunteers (6-8).

15.   Order and organize security tags weekly.

16.   Complete laundry throughout the week.

17.   Lead weekly volunteers in extra cleaning.

18.   Support Waumba Land staff with events.

What staff positions do you have in your preschool environment?

Jenn Thomas (North Point Waumba Land Director), Brea & Laura

Director of Waumba Land (Preschool)

Location: Campus Specific

Reports to:  Campus Pastor and Director of Children’s Ministry - NPMI

Hours:  40 per week

Days:  Sunday -Thursday.  In addition - all Waumba Land events and retreats

Job Description:

1.    Invest, evaluate, and lead Waumba Land team.

2.    Interview, hire, and train new staff members.

3.    Attend weekly meetings (led by the Director of Children’s Ministry) with other preschool directors.

4.    Oversee Weekday Director and program.

5.    Regularly evaluate procedures such as classes, events, look & feel, volunteers.

6.    Ensure Waumba Land halls are properly maintained.

7.    Project and maintain ministries budget.

8.    Manage and drive Promotion, Kickoff, Strategic Service, Baby Dedication, and all other Waumba special events.

9.    Oversee Waumba Land on Sunday.

10.  Prepare for weekly staff meeting.

11.  Complete PDP’s (reviews) with each staff member as required by NPMI.

12.  Attend and actively participate in curriculum meetings.

13.  Drive appreciation initiatives.

14.  Maintain web design and keep information current.

15.  Oversee BabyD process for parents and the event.

16.  Oversee and maintain current volunteer screening process and safety procedures.

Tracy Stonecheck (Brownsbridge Waumba Land Director) and Autumn Ward

Waumba Land Groups Director

Location: Campus Specific

Reports to: Director of Waumba Land - campus specific

Hours: 40 per week (full time).  Part time positions - determined by Director of Waumba Land

Days:  Sunday - Thursday. Part time days - determined by Director (but will include Sunday)  In addition - all Waumba Land events and retreats

Job Description:

1.    Connect, support, and inform 8 to 10 coaches through weekly contact and quarterly meetings.

2.    Implement and evaluate the effectiveness of the small group dynamic.

3.    Help determine when classes need additional staffing and when children are ready to be promoted to the next class.

4.    Interview, train, and place coaches, teachers, and small group leaders in the classrooms.

5.    Maintain files on all volunteers.

6.    Enter and maintain all database information. We use Arena.

7.    Process volunteer applications and background checks.

8.    Ensure classes are fully staffed for Sunday mornings.

9.    Work and own specific parts of Waumba Land special events.

10.  Communicate safety and evacuation plan to volunteers throughout the year.

Kim Cordrey (Watermarke Waumba Land Director) & Brittany

Waumba Land Host Team Director

Location: Campus Specific

Reports to:  Director of Waumba Land - campus specific

Hours and Days:  15 per week or TBD by Director of Waumba Land - attend retreats

Job Description:

1.    Connect, support, and inform 3 - 5 captains through weekly contact and quarterly meetings.

2.    Create and implement specialized training for host team volunteers.

3.    Secure the hall during the service hour.

4.    Implement first-time visitor process.

5.    Create and maintain a meeting room where information can be shared and distributed to volunteers.

6.    Recruit volunteers for all necessary host team positions.

7.    Recruit and lead team captains to be responsible for teams at each service hour.

8.    Maintain files on all volunteers.

9.    Enter and maintain all database information. (Arena)

10.  Process volunteer applications and background checks.

11.   Ensure each host team is fully staffed for Sunday mornings.

12.   Work and own specific parts of Waumba Land special events.

To see how all of these positions connect, you might want to check out our Organizational Chart. We will post Part 2 of Waumba Land Job Descriptions later this week.

Do you think job descriptions are important?

Click here to view the embedded video.

One of the greatest uses of our time is teaching our preschoolers God’s word - memorizing scripture…hiding it in their hearts. There are so many ways to do this effectively with little kids.

Here are a few ideas:

1. Put a verse to a song. Music is such a powerful and engaging way to learn. When my kids were little and learning their address I put it to a song. Ten years and two moves later, we ALL still remember that address and sing it whenever we say it.

2. Attach motions to the verse. When learning “Be strong and courageous” your kids should be flexing big muscles! When kids engage their bodies and put big movements to the words of a verse, it helps it to stick in their brain. And it makes it more fun! Preschool kids LOVE drama!

3. Play a game. Make repeating and memorizing fun. Pass a bean bag around a circle as you say every word. Let kids jump up on their word and then sit back down. Let them say it really fast…or really slow. Let them hop while they shout it.

4. Connect words to symbols. This can be tougher for some verses. If you are teaching them that God made the world and everything in it, maybe have a big arrow that you point up when you say “God” and a big world that you swoop slowly across the front of the stage as you draw out the “everything in it” part of the verse.

Most of the verses that I know today, I learned when I was a young child. They come back to me often. They have guided my life, comforted me, convicted me, and lead me. I am so grateful for my parents and the many volunteers who taught me God’s word!

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105

There are many ways to help preschoolers memorize God’s word.

What have you done that was successful and FUN?

This sounds like a lot of work, but trust me, they have fun too!

Saturday

• Check email Saturday night so there are no surprises.

Sunday

• Arrive early. Be overly prepared. Read through curriculum one last time and get excited about what the kids are learning.
• Check email for important last-minute volunteer messages.
• Personally check each room. Make sure coaches have everything needed in their room.
• If coaches and greeters have not arrived, place the greeter rosters on the podium tables so that as soon as a greeter or coach arrives, she is ready to accept children.
• Engage all volunteers in the rooms. Value them by giving them time.
• Carry a clipboard to record successful interactions of/with volunteers. Write notes and observations.
• Conduct a meeting with all the coaches and pray with them before the morning starts.
• Be intentional about connection time with specific leaders.
• Select a room and activity to watch each week.
• Watch large group worship and make notes about presentation and worship.
• Have a personal conversation with each coach - not just all “business.”
• Always respond relationally.

Monday

• Create a to-do list before looking at email.
• Gather coach clipboards. Reorganize clipboards. Follow-up on notes from coaches.
• Gather new enrollment forms, change request forms, and attendance rosters.
• Gather first-time visitor forms and forward to weekday volunteers to send cards.
• Enroll children in Arena. Send  ”Welcome to UpStreet” postcards and emails.
• Make change requests. Send “Your Change Has Been Processed” postcards and emails.
• Record weekly attendance in Arena.
• Follow-up on written tasks from Sunday.
• Read the weekly curriculum before the Groups Directors’ meeting.

Tuesday

• Attend weekly UpStreet staff meeting at 9:00am.
• Attend weekly Groups Directors’ meeting 10:30am.
• Record notes, calendar dates, curriculum information for the weekly coach email.
• Create and send weekly coach email including curriculum.

Thursday

• Print Sunday reports from Arena:

1. UpStreet Small Group Report
(a list of children names and contact info for each small group)

2. UpStreet Birthday Report

(a list of children with upcoming birthdays)

3. UpStreet Class at a Glance
(a list of small groups and totals/ratios of children that make up the group - this aids coaches in placing new        enrollees in groups)

4. UpStreet Volunteer Birthday Report

• Create the “Coach Clipboard Notes” each week that includes important information and dates.
• Add printed reports and coach clipboard notes to each coach’s clipboard and take them to the rooms to be ready for Sunday.
• Help with special curriculum supplies, setting-up supplies, and placing items in rooms as needed.
• Review Sunday on Thursday.

Weekly

• Write three or more thank you notes to volunteers.
• After a conversation with a volunteer, follow-up with an email or a card in the mail.
• Schedule time each week to pray for specific volunteers. Let them know.
• Keep inbox at no more than 5 outstanding messages.
• Use weekday volunteers to the fullest. It makes them feel needed and they become long-term.
• Text volunteers of personal events - surgeries, etc. This creates a connection.
• Keep all communication (emails) concise and to the point.
• Share consistent excitement and encouragement.
• Listen first.
• Follow volunteers on Facebook and Twitter. Get to know the leaders personally.
• Pass along good devotions, ideas, and share how they apply personally.
• Be intentional about how to contact volunteers (Ex. - students through Facebook, dads after 5pm, stay at home moms after nap-time)
• Keep a notebook for to-do lists and notes. Make a special section for new ideas and continuously write down good ideas as they come to you.

Monthly

• Celebrate volunteers’ birthdays.

Yearly

• Set goals.
• Pray for new volunteers - God’s very best!
• Think of ways to improve old processes. Write them down.
• Plan an outside get together with your volunteers (a park, sporting event, movie night,etc.).

On January 20^th from 1:00-4:00 a few of us will be getting together to talk all things Preschool.

YOU are invited!

This will be an informal discussion and tour. If it has to do with preschool ministry, then no question is off limits. This is also a great opportunity for you to get to know a few other preschool leaders in the area. Sharing ideas and learning together is the best way to grow as a leader.

Here are a few things we can talk about:

• Preschool facility design
• Preschool policies and procedures
• Preschool staff job descriptions
• Volunteer roles and responsibilities
• Recruiting and appreciating volunteers
• Sunday morning schedule
• Curriculum
• Large Group

I know this is short notice, and most appealing to those who live in driving distance.  If you’re interested, comment below and we’ll get back to you with more details.

BUT, if you really want to spend some time with our staff and learn more about what’s happening in our children’s ministry environments, then you need to come to the DRIVE Conference on March 28-30^th. At DRIVE 11 we will be talking about Waumba Land, UpStreet, and KidStuf. We’ll talk through volunteer strategies, small groups, production environments, and so much MORE!

Sign up HERE today!

From time to time I get the opportunity to tell the Bible Story to our kids in both Waumba Land and UpStreet. I love it!

As I hang out backstage with our different volunteers, I can see that everyone has a different way of preparing. Some methods work better than others and some people are more prepared than others.

I hate it when a communicator is not prepared. It always shows and is such a wasted opportunity. If you’re going to communicate to kids, give it your best!  Be prepared. The message is too important to just wing it!

Here’s how I prepare to communicate to kids:

• I receive the script early in the week and I read it through to get a good sense for what I will be doing and how difficult it will be to memorize or prepare. This lets me know how much preparation time I need to schedule into the week.

• Two or three days before Sunday, I read the script several times and work on the drama, the pacing, the use of props, and transitions. I practice how I want to deliver the script.

• On the day before, I start memorizing for real. I write the bottom line for the script at the top of a piece of paper and then I write simple statements that help me break the script into segments so that I teach to certain transitions. This is easier for me than memorizing the script as a whole.  Each point represents a paragraph or two of the script that I am memorizing. The statements are triggers for me and help me to map out where I’m going with the story and know the flow as I memorize.

Here’s an example of my notes from a few weeks ago:

BL: We should celebrate that Jesus is born!

1.     Transition from Never Ending Story opening video to God always had a plan.

2.     Shepherds were taking care of their sheep.

(video segment)

3.     Angels appeared & they were terrified.

4.     Angles told them where they would find Jesus, wrapped in a cloth & lying in a manger.

5.     Host of angels join - celebrating that Jesus is born.

(video segment)

6.     Shepherds go and find Jesus.

7.     Shepherds tell EVERYONE that Jesus is born.

(video segment)

8.     Shepherds celebrate.

9.     God kept his promise. He sent a Savior.

(celebrate video)

10. We should celebrate that Jesus is born - build to Celebrate Song

(worship team comes out)

• Arrive early and practice on the stage with the props. I’ve found several times that I misunderstood the prop or needed to work through where I would stand or where lighting cues would be. I practice several times without my script.

• I keep practicing until I go on. I’m not great at memorizing so I have to keep the script in my short term-memory until right before I go up!

There is nothing more frustrating than knowing that we’ve wasted an opportunity to communicate a clear and engaging message to our kids. Nobody does a perfect job, but preparation will carry you a long way towards creating an excellent experience.

How do you prepare to communicate to kids?

Honestly, I could never dream up half of the things that they do. And every time I go to a different campus, I am just AMAZED! Many times our staff could have easily gone half way. No one would criticize them. They are busy! It’s Christmas!

But they never do. When they decide to do something…they give it their ALL! I love that!

Several months ago we met and planned our Happy Birthday Jesus Party in Waumba Land. It was a pretty brief discussion. The end result? Wow!

You know what happens when you give it your all?

• Your volunteers are inspired to give above and beyond what you ask.
• Your communicators work harder to engage.
• Your kids say WOW!
• Your parents wouldn’t think of letting them miss it.
• Your staff feels pride in what they can accomplish together.
• Our Heavenly Father is represented with excellence.

Here’s what it looked like at our Browns Bridge Campus!

Cheerful decorations!

A little snow.

A few gifts.

It was a party up and down the hallway!

Even the giraffe got into it!

Our volunteers were ready for the birthday party.

Some even dressed up!

Not one space was neglected.

We sang and we celebrated!

We worshiped.

We welcomed the kids with Birthday Party hats!

And our kids loved it!

I pray they never forget - Jesus is born!

They danced and celebrated!

Oh Yeah!

There was confetti!

Lots and lots of confetti!

Our kids said WOW!

Jesus is born!

What a reason to celebrate!

As you can see from these pictures, there is nothing that was particularly expensive. But this environment was well thought through, well communicated to the volunteers, and executed with success. That’s why I love the team I work with. No one has tell them to give it their all…it comes naturally to them.

If you’re going to do something….Give it your ALL!

I know that you work with some pretty amazing teams as well. Share some of your best ideas!

What have you done that left your kids and families saying WOW?

A ton of work went it to making it an amazing celebration! I would love to tell you that we are such great planners and so very talented that things NEVER go wrong. But of course, I would be lying!

Here’s what happened! We ordered about 2000 cake mixes to give out to all of our Waumba Land kids and about 2000 gift boxes to pack them in. You can read a little more about the giveaway right here!

The week before we were supposed to have them, we found out that the company we ordered the gift boxes from completely dropped the ball. This meant that we had to wait to meet the FedEx truck late on Friday evening and one of our directors even had to drive 45 minutes away to pick them up.

Then the store we ordered the cakes from forgot to place our order! So our staff had to drive all over town to find 2ooo cake mixes, 2000 frosting’s, and 2000 sprinkles! Can you imagine? Crazy!

So on the day before Christmas Sunday, our teams were putting together 2000 boxes! It was crazy, busy and FUN! And SO worth it!

First we unpacked hundreds of cake mixes and gift boxes!

Then we started putting them together.

First we filled this room.

Then we filled this room!

Miles and miles and miles and miles of boxes!

2000 boxes put together with the help of some AMAZING volunteers!

A few of those volunteers were my own kids.

So I know for a fact they were AMAZING!

Sunday arrived!

About a million babies pulled into the parking lot on these fancy wheels.

They were excited for the party.

A birthday party!

Jesus’ Birthday Party!

And EVERY single one of those little darlings went home with party!

A party in a box!

They partied with us all morning.

We CELEBRATED that Jesus, our Savior, was born.

And then we sent the party home with them!

Imagine our kids and parents celebrating the birth of our Savior.

It was worth EVERY minute!

Did you have any Christmas “challenges”?