Children’s Ministry Ideas for Engaging with Homebound Church Members
When bonds develop between children and senior adults, hearts are warmed and lives are changed. You can minister to your congregation’s kids and to homebound members by providing opportunities for intergenerational connections.
As the holiday season and winter months approach, we remember our homebound members. Some may feel lonely and isolated yet too embarrassed to ask for help or encouragement. Meanwhile, busy congregants may lack time to assist people who can’t attend due to poor health or lack of mobility or transportation.
The good news is that your children’s ministry can get involved! Options abound for connecting with homebound members through your church’s Sunday school, music, and outreach programs. Faith-based visits from children build bonds between the generations while boosting faith and brightening spirits.
Try these helpful suggestions to engage children and kidmin volunteers with your homebound ministry.
8 Children’s Ministry Ideas for Engaging With Homebound Church Members
Connect kids and seniors with these creative tips:
- Partner with a women’s ministry group to make social calls. Beforehand, women can help children make cookies or muffins to take along. Also bring cards, stationery, and stamps. While visiting, offer to help write cards for homebound people who have difficulty seeing or writing. Then offer to send the cards to family members, if needed.
- Become prayer partners. Children can ask homebound people they visit about any prayer needs. Then kidmin leaders can share requests with the pastor for inclusion in church prayer times.
- Work on Bible-based puzzles together. Kids can bring a Children’s Worship Bulletin and solve the puzzles with assistance from the person they’re visiting.
- Make cards. Children can partner with youth group members to make and deliver (or send) cards for homebound people. Kids can use these free printable encouragement cards and include personalized notes.
- Start a book club. Volunteers can accompany children to read favorite Bible stories to homebound people. Or maybe the elders can read to kids! As participants explore God’s Word together, spiritual growth will occur for both age groups.
- Boost morale with music. Children’s choirs or VBS students can prepare a short musical presentation for homebound people or care-home residents. In small groups, kids can sing a few worship songs and play instruments. During the holidays, a few singers from the church choir can join children to sing Christmas carols for homebound people.
- Learn life skills. Help homebound people feel useful by letting them teach skills to children. Some valuable abilities of older adults are becoming lost to the current generation. Suggestions include sewing on a button, mending or hemming a garment, making pastry or bread, arranging flowers, and repotting a root-bound plant.
- Notice care needs. While visiting homebound people, children’s ministry helpers can pay attention to any need for assistance. Inform church leaders so they can provide pastoral care, including communion, weekly newsletters, HomeTouch, or other services.
When your children’s ministry connects with homebound people, everyone benefits!
Author Bio:
Children's Bulletins Team
Over the years of publication Children’s Worship Bulletins has had many contributing authors and editors. This team has worked diligently to thoughtfully craft material to assist in creating meaningful children’s worship materials.