Have you ever walked into Disney, Universal, or Dollywood and felt like you entered a completely different world? The sights, the sounds, and even the smells are designed to draw us in. You never forget the experience, and for many of us, we become super fans who can’t wait to return.

Your KidMin space can have the same effect without the Disney budget. Kids will be talking about your church with Mom, Dad, and their friends! They can’t wait to come back next week!

Whether we realize it or not, the environment plays a big role in our overall church experience. We value the service adults attend by having cool lights, sound systems, stage décor, a full band, comfy seats or pews, big screens, digital content, and sometimes even fog. If your church has one or all of those items, it communicates that it values what adults see. It values what is experienced. Let’s start advocating the same for our kids’ ministry. We are worth it!

Whether you have a small or large space, little budget or big, we can get kids excited to return. If you’re worried because creativity is not one of your spiritual gifts, that’s okay! There are some great resources out there to make your space come alive. So where do we start?

1. Don’t reinvent the wheel—start with your curriculum! It is a great guide. Many already give exact descriptions on how to set up your “stage” or “area” for the month. Use this to your advantage! If your curriculum happens to not be thematic or provide stage ideas, then I suggest coming up with a theme. You can do this by evaluating your curriculum for an overall theme. Be purposeful and intentional—don’t be random. I’ve experienced both types of curriculum over the past five years, and let me tell you, when you see your kids walk in with mouths dropped open, it’s worth it!

2. Materials—cardboard is your best friend! My church knows me as the cardboard queen. These boxes turn into all of my main stage props. I’ve created birds, monkeys, palm trees, boats, spaceships, beakers, and so much more. I’ve also built relationships with a few local businesses and get paint, tires (yes, I said tires), carpet, packing paper, and other miscellaneous items inexpensively or even free! The bottom line is, you don’t have to buy everything from Amazon. If your budget allows you, AWESOME, but if you can’t, I want you to know there’s still another way.

3. Change it up—this is important. Kids need variety. Generation Alpha prefers learning visually. Many of the curriculums we use know this, and that’s why they provide top-notch digital media. We shouldn’t stop there. When we leave our environments the same year-round, they become background noise. I’m not saying go repaint your entire KidMin area, but just by changing your stage or main teaching area monthly or quarterly, kids notice, and it piques their interest.

4. Get a team—this is a game changer. We already have a lot on our plate, and as you’re reading this, you’re probably going, “Great, just added one more thing.” There are so many gifted people in your church body. Reach out and ask those talented folks for help. Asking for folks to build and paint stage props at home versus serving in a toddler classroom on a Sunday morning may get a totally different response.

If we want kids to HEAR about Jesus, we need to get them HERE to church. One way we can do this is by providing fun and welcoming environments our kids are going to remember.

Jodie Slongo is the Kids' Director at Stony Creek Church in Utica, Michigan, and has been involved in Kids Ministry since her teenage years. When she's not serving at church, she enjoys spending time with her family. One of their favorite activities is visiting the charming town of Frankenmuth, where they go about once a month. They especially love exploring Bronner's, the world's largest Christmas store, where Jodie is always on the lookout for unique or cool ornaments.