I volunteered for Sunday school ONE TIME because they were desperate and somehow I'm now the person who shows up every week to manage caffeinated seven-year-olds who think licking walls is a valid activity.

Last Sunday my "carefully planned" Daniel lesson lasted exactly four minutes before twenty kids just stared at me with twenty-five minutes left until pickup. That's when I discovered that panic-googling "emergency Sunday school games" is apparently my spiritual gift.

Today we're talking about survival tactics that actually work when you have no idea what you're doing - from the magic word "FREEZE" to Bible telephone gone wrong to why Go Fish counts as ministry. Plus the truth about what kids actually care about (spoiler: it's not your perfect lesson plan).

If you're trapped in Sunday school and wondering what you signed up for, this one's for you. Fair warning: you might realize the kids don't need you to be perfect.

For accidental Sunday school teachers, reluctant volunteers, and anyone who's discovered that seven-year-olds don't follow lesson plans.

Check out KidsMinistry.Blog for more ideas, tips, and resources to help your Children's Ministry thrive!

Last Christmas I hid in my pantry eating cookie dough at 6pm because my "simple" holiday party had become a complete disaster and my ham was still frozen solid.

THE HAM. Who forgets to defrost the main course? Apparently me when I'm trying to hand-fold napkins into swans like some kind of holiday perfectionist.

Today we're talking about how to throw Christmas parties that don't require therapy afterward - from the magic of slow cookers to why string lights fix everything to the life-saving power of having pizza delivery on speed dial. Plus the one rule that changed hosting forever.

If you're already feeling that familiar holiday panic and want to actually enjoy your own party, this one's for you. Fair warning: you might need to lower your Pinterest expectations.

For holiday hosts, party planners, and anyone who's realized that stress-sweating through your own celebration isn't actually festive.

Check out KidsMinistry.Blog for more ideas, tips, and resources to help your Children's Ministry thrive!

Sweet new volunteer walks in Sunday morning, eager to help with preschoolers. Five minutes later she's standing in craft chaos looking like she might cry because I never actually told her anything useful.

That's when I realized throwing desperate people into the deep end and hoping they figure it out isn't actually a training strategy. It's just cruel.

Today we're talking about how to actually prepare volunteers before they have their first meltdown in your classroom - from coffee shop basics to buddy systems to explaining why we hide the good scissors. Plus the magic phrase that saves new volunteers from parent conversations they're not ready for.

If you're tired of running damage control instead of ministry and ready to set people up for success, this one's for you. Fair warning: it requires planning ahead instead of panic-managing on Sunday morning.

For children's ministry leaders, volunteer coordinators, and anyone who's realized that "just jump in and help" isn't sustainable ministry development.

Check out KidsMinistry.Blog for more ideas, tips, and resources to help your Children's Ministry thrive!

Sunday morning, 7:47 AM, sitting in the church parking lot frantically googling "Jesus feeds 5000 craft ideas" while kids are already walking into the building.

This was my weekly routine for two years. Random internet lessons, mismatched coloring pages, prayers that YouTube videos still worked, and explaining why we somehow studied Moses three weeks in a row.

Today we're talking about five curriculums that actually work - from the one that saved my sanity to the deep theology option for Bible nerds to the emergency backup that lives in my disaster binder. Plus why I finally stopped reinventing Sunday school every single week.

If you're tired of parking lot panic-googling and ready for lessons that don't fall apart mid-teaching, this one's for you. Fair warning: you might actually enjoy Sunday mornings again.

For children's ministry leaders, Sunday school teachers, and anyone who's discovered that "winging it" isn't a sustainable ministry strategy.

Check out KidsMinistry.Blog for more ideas, tips, and resources to help your Children's Ministry thrive!

"Let's go around and share your name and favorite color!" I said to twenty third-graders who immediately went silent and started examining the carpet like it held the secrets of the universe.

That was my first Sunday teaching. I'd googled "icebreaker games" and printed the most generic list ever. Tyler literally crawled under a table. Madison pretended to be invisible. I learned what soul-crushing silence sounds like.

Today we're talking about fifteen games that actually get kids talking, laughing, and participating - from shoe pile races to human rock paper scissors to wrapping each other in toilet paper like tiny mummies. Plus the one truth about shy kids that changed everything.

If you're tired of awkward silence and ready to try games that work even with the kid hiding under the table, this one's for you. Fair warning: you'll need backup toilet paper. Lots of it.

For Sunday school teachers, small group leaders, and anyone who's discovered that "sharing circles" are basically torture for eight-year-olds.

Check out KidsMinistry.Blog for more ideas, tips, and resources to help your Children's Ministry thrive!

Ethan called me out in front of everyone. "Didn't we do pirates when I was little?" Yes, Ethan. We did pirates when you were in kindergarten. And first grade. And apparently now in fourth grade because I panic-ordered the same theme again.

Never ordering VBS curriculum in March again. Ever.

Today we're talking about five fresh VBS themes that won't make you want to fake sick during registration week - from medieval knights with real armor pieces to a completely free circus theme that actually doesn't suck. Plus the one that tackles those impossible questions kids ask during craft time.

If you're tired of recycling the same themes and ready to give your kids something they'll actually remember (for good reasons), this one's for you. Fair warning: there will still be glitter everywhere.

For VBS coordinators, children's ministry leaders, and anyone who's realized "because we have the decorations in storage" isn't a good enough reason to repeat a theme.

Check out KidsMinistry.Blog for more ideas, tips, and resources to help your Children's Ministry thrive!

I almost lost my best volunteer because I forgot to say thank you. She'd been showing up for three years straight, dealing with glue explosions and second-grade chaos, and I was too busy recruiting new people to notice she was burning out.

Turns out "World's Best Volunteer" mugs don't actually make people feel appreciated. Who knew?

Today we're talking about six ways to show volunteers you actually see them - from recording random thank-you videos in your car to throwing real parties (not meetings in disguise). Plus the one thing that made my almost-quitting volunteer stick around and eventually take over our whole preschool department.

If you've got amazing volunteers who deserve better than generic appreciation dinners, this one's for you. Fair warning: you might need to buy actual stamps.

For children's ministry leaders, volunteer coordinators, and anyone who's realized their volunteers are basically superheroes in disguise.

Check out KidsMinistry.Blog for more ideas, tips, and resources to help your Children's Ministry thrive!

I used to read Bible stories to kids who stared at me like I was reciting the phone book. Then I started getting weird with it. Bedsheets became roads. Legos became vineyards. My car keys became a lesson about the kingdom of God (don't ask).

Today we're talking about ten ways to teach Jesus's parables that actually work - the messy, chaotic, sometimes ridiculous stuff that gets kids remembering these stories weeks later. From mystery boxes to sock puppet theater to letting kids draw while you talk.

If you're tired of blank stares and ready to try something different in your classroom, this one's for you. Fair warning: you might need more paper towels.

For Sunday school teachers, children's ministry volunteers, and anyone who's ever wondered if they're completely making it up as they go.

Check out KidsMinistry.Blog for more ideas, tips, and resources to help your Children's Ministry thrive!