Common Sense Tips
Tip #18 - Most teens have a computer
connected to the internet or have access to some e-mail account. Find out
what their e-mail address and be sure to send them encouragements, information
about coming events, or just reminders that you are interested in their lives.
Tip #17 - If you have DIA groups, make
sure you pray for each of the teens personally. Pray for each one even if
he or she is not present.
Tip #16 - READ, READ, READ!!. No youth
pastor/worker will ever know it all. When you quit reading, you stop learning, when you
stop learning, your ministry stagnates. READ! Submitted by Robbie Hullette. (I agree 100% with this - for some
excellent reading, check out my Resource Books page. ;-) Curt M.)
Tip #15 - Do your best to talk and touch
(handshake) every student at your meeting. If possible make a reference to your last
conversation (i.e. "How did you do on that math test you were studying for last
week?"). Make ALL students feel appreciated. Submitted by Robbie Hullette.
Tip #14 - Create a set of business cards
with each card having information on a teen. We have "Shepherding Groups"
in our church where each leader is responsible for a particular group of teens. I
have used a desktop publisher to put each teen's name, address, phone number, birthdate,
and grade on an individual business card. These cards I keep with me and use them to
remind myself to pray for each teen. It also allows me not to forget anyone that I
should be regularly praying for.
Tip #13 - Let the teens know that you have
something to say. Tell yourself, if necessary, "Hey, this is my group. If I've
got something to say, I'd better say it." Remember, you have something very important
to say to them and it is the sharing of God's Word with them. (Contributed anonymously.)
Tip #12 - Get to know your teens. Talk
to them, maybe join them for lunch at school (this should be legal with permission), and
listen to them. Being a good listener is very critical in getting to know someone.
(Contributed anonymously.)
Tip #11 - Don't do everything yourself. Be
sure every leader has a job and shares in the skits, messages, games, crowd control,
leading in songs. This will allow the work load to be shared instead of all on one
person. (Contributed anonymously.)
Tip #10 - Send notes of encouragement to
your teens. This can be post cards, a note on plain paper, a card, or a note on some
"goofy" item like a napkin. If you are planning to send on a
"goofy" item, the stranger the item, the better it will be remembered. Remember,
everyone likes to get a note of encouragement now and then - doesn't it make you feel good
when you receive one?
Tip #9 - Pray for the teens on a regular
basis. Your prayer life is an important factor in how well you will succeed in the
work you are trying to accomplish.
Tip #8 - Be an example! Encourage your
teens to memorize verses and to do a daily quiet time while doing these things yourself.
If you "check" quiet times for being done each week, let the teens also
"check" yours. If the teens say memory verses to you, say your memory verses to
them also. Much can be accomplished by being an example and it will also help in your own
walk with Jesus Christ.
Tip #7 - Be prepared. Don't plan on studying
your lesson on the way to church! Study and pray through the week and know the
material. Teens have a way of knowing when you aren't prepared. Care enough to be
prepared.
Tip #6 - If your lesson begins after song
time, be sure to make the last song a slow one. When you end with a fast song, the teens
are bursting full of energy and it may be difficult to have them make this quick
transition to the lesson. A slow song tends to help change their mood to one ready for
worship and listening to God's Word.
Tip #5 - If your youth group has more
leaders than just yourself, when giving the lesson, have the other leaders sit among the
teens. This will help with "crowd control".
Tip #4 - Be interested in your teen's lives.
Attend sports activities that they are involved in, concerts, and other things within the
school. Know their hobbies and interests. You can't go to everything or know about
everyone, so if you have a large group, start with a small group to get to know and attend
activities that involve a larger group of the teens.
Tip #3 - Don't always make your lesson a
lecture! This can get boring to a teen. Involve other type of teaching methods, like panel
discussions, discussion groups, and activity sheets. A good source of material for this is
the Word of Life Dimensions in Leadership manual.
Tip #2 - Be sure to be there early, at least
1/2 hour before the meeting starts. This makes sure no teen shows up when nobody is there.
Tip #1 - Don't make every meeting "the
same old thing," rearrange the chairs or layout every couple of weeks. Modify the
order of events for the night too, but not too often, that might create confusion with
teens and leaders.
Do you have any "common sense tips" that you
think should be added to this list? If you do, let me know by e-mail. If
posted, I will give credit to the person and/or church that submitted the tip.
Junior High Activities
Video game night is a great activity. Get volunteers to bring in their game
machines and televisions. Have all games reviewed by a leader for type and content before
allowing them to be played. If you can't get enough volunteers to bring in game machines,
places like Blockbuster Video rent machines and games. At every activity, be sure to have
a devotional with a salvation message and invitation. Video game night usually has teens
inviting their friend so be prepared for a good turnout. This is a good junior high
activity, we have had few senior highers attend this type of activity.
Senior High Activities
This activity should be considered with caution! Our senior high had an awesome time
playing paint ball. Approx. 9-10 leaders played and the teens played against the leaders.
This activity I was told was one of the best they have done, but there was parent concern
due to the type of activity. One parent who served in Vietnam was very concerned that his
child was playing with a gun and shooting at others. This activity is one that a person
can get hurt if not done properly. I mention the activity because of the good time that
was had, but please consider all pros and cons when deciding to do.
Junior & Senior High Combined
Activities
We took our teens to a "Challenge Center" for an all nighter. The
center included things like laser tag, jousting, obstacle course, climbing cage, video
games, zip line, and competitive games using basketballs, frisbees, soccer balls, and etc.
We had pizza and pop in the middle of the night and then a devotion was given. This
activity was expensive ($20 per teen) but we had about 25 visitors. The teens had a great
time and were totally exhausted in the morning (as were the leaders).
Games Our Teens Enjoyed
The teens we work with in our youth group are very difficult to please when it
comes to game time. Listed here will be a description of games that they have enjoyed. As
a new one is found, we will add it to the list.
The 1001 Use for Duct Tape
I really don't have a name for this game, but I had the chance to play it
at a WOL Leaders Development Conference. There are many variations that can be done
on this idea. Equipment required is 2 or more roles of duct tape, a box of Q-tips,
and a box of straws. I was shown that a Q-tip can be shot from a straw very
accurately and over a pretty long distance. The idea of the game is to have two or
more teens (preferably male) wrapped in duct tape with the sticky side out by their team
(one role per team). Be sure to not cover their head or legs so they can move
around. After covering them with the tape, pass out one straw and some Q-tips to the
remaining teens. Here is where the variation can come in. When you shoot the
Q-tip using the straw, it will attach to the duct tape if it hits correctly. You can
decide if you want to have as winners the team that can stick the most Q-tips to the duct
taped teens or if you want the duct taped teens to move around and each team tries to
stick Q-tips to the other taped teens so that the winning team is the one with the least
Q-tips stuck to their taped team member. Try different variations and after time is
done, gather the taped teens together and "stick" them together. It will
take them quite an effort to unstick themselves. I can think of quite a number of
games that can be played using the Q-tips and the straw shooter. Have fun with this
one. By the way, be sure to gather the straws and Q-tips or during the lesson time,
the leader may be bombarded by Q-tips.
Scream-O
This game requires at least 8 people to play and can be played with large
groups that are a multiple of four. Equipment required is 1 pair of dice for each
group of four, tile or cards numbered 2 through 12 for each person, and a pencil and paper
for each person to keep their score. Have seating such that the four person groups
(2 teams) have team members sitting diagonal to each other such that when the dice are
passed clockwise it will alternate between teams. Number the groups 1 to the number
of groups you have. The idea is to be the first team to eliminate all their tiles
(or cards) by having rolled the dice and eliminating the numbered tile matching the dice
throw. To begin play, have one person from each team roll the dice and the high
number will start play. When start is sounded, the person who won the roll will
begin by rolling the dice. When a number is rolled, the partner will turn over or
remove his/her tile. If that tile is already turned over (or removed), then the
person rolling the die will turn over his own tile. If both are already turned over,
then the play is finished for that team and the dice will be passed clockwise to the next
person. When all tiles of both team members have been turned over then one of the
team should yell "Scream-O". This is the signal for all playing to stop.
Each team will then count the value of the tiles remaining and each team member
will record that value on their personal score sheet. The lowest scoring team from
each group will then move to the next higher group number and the highest group number
will move to group 1. The players in the new groups will rearrange themselves so
that they are no longer on the same team. Play now starts again by first determining
the team to start first in the new groups. Play as many of rounds as you have time
and the winner is the person who ends up with the lowest score.
Chair Basketball
This game is played by requiring the teens to remain seated and pass a ball to
other team mates to shoot a basket. The baskets used were plastic clothes baskets held by
a teen standing on a chair. (Clothes baskets can be replaced by a teen holding arms in a
circle.) Be sure to call "penalties" for teens out of their chairs or standing
up. Set up as follows (more or less chairs can be used depending on the size of your youth
group.)
... >
<> <> <> <
O > <> <> <> < O
... >
<> <> <> <
O is teen standing on a chair (basket).
> is a chair facing right.
< is a chair facing left.
Four "Men" on a Couch
This game requires 10 or more people to work. Set up requires that there be one more chair
than people and that the name of each person playing be written on a piece of paper. Place
the chairs in a circle and choose 4 chairs in a row to be termed the "couch".
Divide the group into 2 teams that can easily be identified like girls against guys, or
those wearing glasses against those not. Have everyone sit on the chairs making sure two
of each team is sitting on the "couch". Mix up and then pass out the papers with
the names giving one to each person. To win the game, a team must have 4 of their players
sitting on the "couch." This is accomplished by having the person on the right
of the empty chair call out a name. The person with that name on their piece of paper
moves to the empty chair and then exchanges the name papers with the person that called
him/her. The person to the right of the new empty chair is the next person to call a name
and exchange with the person who will move to the empty chair. The game gets confusing
trying to track who has what name and how to move the opposite team off of the
"couch" and to get your team mates there. This game has been enjoyed by everyone
in 6th grade and above.
Dragon Dodge Ball
This game was enjoyed by everyone who played it as well as being fun to watch.
The game requires a large group of teens, probably 15 or more. The only item
needed to play the game is a ball that is easily thrown, but made out of a soft material
similar to a nerf ball or other material that would not hurt a person who was hit by it.
Select teams made up of five or more and choose one team to be the dragon first.
The dragon is made by having the teens form a line by holding the waists or the shoulders
of the person in front of them. This will leave only the front person with his hands
free. The person in the front is the only person on the dragon who is able to block
the ball. All the other teens will form a circle around the dragon with room for the
dragon to move about. The idea is for the teens in the circle to try to hit the
person at the end of the dragon with the ball. Once hit, that person leaves the
dragon and sits out until either time is up or every one has been eliminated from the
dragon. Only the person at the end of the dragon can be eliminated when hit.
The idea for the dragon is to hide or protect the person on the end so they don't get hit
by moving around and having the lead person try to block throws.. Set a time limit and
count the number of teens left in the dragon. Let each team take a turn at being the
dragon and the winner is the team who had the most left in the dragon.
"Air" Hockey
Game for 2 people or teams made up of 2 to four people each. Items needed are
masking tape and a ping pong ball. Using the masking tape, layout a rectangle about
4' or 5' by 3'. (The length of the long sides of the rectangle depend on how many
teens are playing. You need enough room for them to lay side by side.) Have
each team lay on their stomachs facing each other but with their heads outside the tape
marking their boundary. The idea is for a team to blow the ping pong ball past the
boundary of the other team without it going out of bounds on the side or without someone
on the team moving their head past their own boundary. Start the game by dropping or
rolling the ping pong ball into the center of the rectangle. The winner is the team
to reach 3 points first. Do not allow time for a team to catch their breath if the
ball is blown out of bounds, but roll it or drop it in immediately. You might allow
1 time out per team. If a team member moves his head past the boundary, you should
stop play and start the ball from the center again. If a score was made by moving
past the boundary, the point does not count. Breath mints might be a good item to
have handy before playing. ; - )
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