It's that time again. Time to purchase children's church curriculum for next quarter. And for some really organized folks, you are purchasing for the entire next year. Selecting a children's church curriculum that is right for you is hard work. There are so many children's church curriculums to choose from and so many different styles. Where do you begin? Do you even need a children's church curriculum at all?

Those are important decisions for your children's church service as well. You can't teach the whole Bible. They can't digest the whole Bible at one time. You don't have time to teach the whole Bible, so what are you going to teach?

Where are your children spiritually? What characteristics are really important for them to develop? What are their needs? Where are they developmentally? The answer to these questions is crucial in the process of selecting your next children's church curriculum.

Teach One Theme
What do you want the children in your children's church to leave with today? Don't use a scatter gun, hoping to hit something. Place illustration after illustration on the bow of ministry, aim carefully each time at one specific goal. Don't teach on tithing and "jealousy" and "forgiveness" on the same day. Set your objective, such as today I will teach on "love." Each story, object lesson and puppet script should be on love.

Curriculums can be your best friend. A good children's church curriculum can:
* Help you stay focused
* Give you a specific goal to work toward
* Serve as a guide to get you where you are trying to go
* Serve as a springboard for individual creativity
* Bring unity of focus, giving a team different components to add to the service
* Save incredible blocks of time

Children's church curriculum is the road map to take you where you want to go. There isn't one curriculum for everybody. Don't follow fads and what is working at the church down the street. With so many choices, how do you know what is right for you and your students?

First, determine the purpose of your program. What do you want the curriculum to accomplish? I want my worship service to contain five main ingredients: Worship, Solid Bible Teaching, Prayer, Fellowship, and Fun.

12 Important Questions
1. Does the children's church curriculum you are looking at have the proper balance of the five fundamentals necessary in every service?

2. Is the children's church curriculum biblically sound?

3. Is the curriculum meaty?

4. Where are your children spiritually? (You must lead from where they are, not where you want them to be.)

5. What does God want you to teach in children's church? Is God dealing with you on a specific subject? Is it God's timing for this subject to be taught in children's church?

6. What is your teaching style? Are you looking for stories, puppet skits, object lessons? Do you want the curriculum to be teacher driven or activity driven? Does the children's church curriculum you are looking at fit your teaching style?

7. How much time do you have in your service?

8. How many workers will the program require? (When selecting helpers, don't overlook the children in your class. They can be involved in your program. If you want to disciple children, you need a curriculum that has something for them to do.)

9. Can the children's church curriculum be adapted to fit your needs?

10. Is the children's church curriculum age appropriate?

11. Does the children's church curriculum meet a need?

12. Is the children's church curriculum fun?

I see children's church leaders who give the kids what the teacher likes and needs. This method doesn't work nearly as effective as when you plan with the needs, interest and development of the children in mind. Children's church is church for children.

Patricia Holland is the founder and president of Let Us Teach Kids, www.letusteachkids.com