Dale Hudson
Did you know that if you did the following things this past weekend the kids have already forgotten 90 percent of what you taught?
1. You didn’t let them talk. Kids learn best not by being lectured to, but by talking, asking questions and interacting. If you did all the talking, they’ve forgotten most of what you said.
2. You didn’t use any pictures. Half of the brain is dedicated to visual function. Sixty-five percent of kids are visual learners. A picture truly is worth a thousand words.
3. You tried to teach too many things. You tried to cram too much information in their head. If you tried to teach them five truths instead of one key truth, they probably don’t remember any of them. Less is more.
4. You didn’t use repetition. If you only said it one time, they’ve forgotten it. If you repeated it 6 or more times, their retention rate went up to 90 percent. Repetition truly is the key to learning.
5. You didn’t hit all learning styles. You had kids with lots of different learning styles in the room. If you only tapped into one or two, you missed many of the kids.
6. You didn’t honor their attention span. If you talked over 5 minutes without switching to something else, they zoned out. Honor their attention span and you will keep it.
7. You didn’t use an object they will see this week. If you didn’t use something they will see this week as an example or object lesson, you missed a great opportunity to remind them of what you taught. The one-way street sign they will see many times this week could have been a reminder that Jesus is the one way to heaven.
8. You didn’t show them how to apply it to their life and challenge them to live it out. If you didn’t teach beyond the facts and show them how to apply it to their life this week, you shortchanged them. Information without application doesn’t lead to life change.
9. You didn’t engage all their senses. If you only engaged their ears and eyes, you missed other key senses that help move truth into long-term memory. Touch, smell and taste help kids remember.
10. You didn’t engage their emotions. Emotion is a glue of learning. If you didn’t create experiences that help them feel the tension of the truth, then you missed a golden opportunity.
So, what’s the answer? Simply incorporate the things you missed and watch kids remember what you teach them for a lifetime.
Dale Hudson has served in children’s and family ministry for over 24 years. He is director of children’s ministries at Christ Fellowship Church in Palm Beach, Florida. He was recently named one of the top 20 influencers in children’s ministry. He is the co-author of four ministry books, including Turbocharged: 100 Simple Secrets to Successful Children’s Ministry.
The above article, “10 Reasons Kids Can’t Remember the Lesson You Taught Last Week” is written by Dale Hudson. The article was excerpted from: www.relevantchildrensministry.com web site. November 2014.
The material is copyrighted and should not be reprinted under any other name or author. However, this material may be freely used for personal study or research purposes.
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