So Emma asks if we can act out David and Goliath instead of me just standing there talking again.

I'm like why haven't I been doing this already? Standing there for three years telling stories while kids sit there looking bored out of their minds.

Started letting kids actually be the characters instead of just hearing about them. Game changer. Noah's ark story suddenly kids are making animal noises and moving around instead of just sitting there glazed over.

David and Goliath one kid gets be tiny David another kid gets be giant Goliath. Rest of them are armies cheering from sides. Way more fun than me describing everything.

Brought actual walking stick for Moses story. Let them hold real stones when talking about David's five smooth rocks. Kids need to touch stuff not just imagine it.

Sound effects became group project. They make thunder noises for storms. Animal sounds. Marching feet for armies. Love being part of story instead of just audience.

Started stopping middle of stories asking what character should do next. Let them argue about options then tell them what actually happened. They get way more invested when they think they're helping decide.

Built movement into everything. March around room seven times for Jericho walls. Rock back and forth like on boat then freeze when Jesus calms storm.

Kid told his mom entire Daniel story week later cause he got to be one of lions. Actually remembered because he was involved not just listening to me talk.

Some stories work better than others for this stuff. Some kids love being main characters others prefer making sound effects. Have to read the room and adjust.

Takes way more planning than just reading story but kids actually pay attention now instead of counting ceiling tiles.
 *For anyone whose story time puts kids to sleep, teachers realizing one-way talking doesn't work with children, people discovering kids remember better when they participate instead of just listen. 
Check out KidsMinistry.Blog for more ideas, tips, and resources to help your Children's Ministry thrive!"