By Alaina Butler
Creating a children’s space that is thoughtfully designed, emotionally safe, flexible, and joy-filled is a key way to make sure the next generation knows they are welcome in your church facility.
A well-designed kids’ ministry environment can help how children see church, understand God, form their earliest church community, and establish their foundations of personal faith.
Let’s explore how churches can make a lasting impact by reimagining kids’ space design.
WHY KIDS’ SPACE DESIGN MATTERS
Environments can preach — and preach loudly — about who you are prioritizing in your church. It’s no surprise to anyone when we talk about the next generation being the future of our church, but the future we want must be cultivated and built. How, then, can we be intentional about making space for that generation within our facility?
When we think about creating a new space in our children’s facility, we should start framing it by asking, Who are we serving? and following up that answer with, How can this space best serve them?
Creating a kids’ area should be approached through the trifold lens of being welcoming, being protected, and being the best fit for your church and your unique way of doing ministry.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS MATTER
Parents are going to have a completely different perspective of first impressions than their children will. I’ve seen kids run through halls just to get their favorite toy out of the nursery box before their friend could get there, while parents are making sure they are placing their child in a safe and trusted place.
Making our children a priority starts with making parents feel comfortable first; they must feel secure bringing their children and leaving them in our care.
Some of this is simple, like having clear direction for first-time guests. Making sure that your signage and wayfinding is up to date so that your children’s space is easy to find and navigate, will make guests feel more at ease bringing their children to the right classroom.
KEEPING OUR KIDS SAFE
Safety and security are paramount and should be considered an absolute need, not a want, when approaching redesigning your kids’ space. Single point of entry into the children’s area; an up-to-date check-in system; and a well-trained, thoroughly vetted volunteer staff — both at check-in and all through your kid’s area — should be top priorities. If any of these are new additions to your church experience, make sure that you communicate that clearly to the parents in your congregation. Doing so will minimize any frustrations that might occur with a new process, such as extra time needed for check-in and check-out or being asked to verify their child with a sticker verification or badge system.
Consider also designating “kids only” restrooms and communicating with adult volunteers about which separated restroom they should use as an alternative. This helps them go the extra mile to keep kids safe and helps parents feel more at ease.
EMOTIONAL SAFETY AND INCLUSIVITY CREATES OPENNESS
While we want every child to feel like they belong, inclusivity itself is no longer just a good gesture; it’s a requirement. Regulations and nationwide standards are becoming increasingly strict in making public spaces, including churches, accessible to all. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has very specific standards for compliance that should be thoroughly researched before attempting any kind of renovation.
Adding a few extra features — such as child-sized noise cancelling headphones, a designated calm-down corner, and using adjustable lighting so if a child is more sensitive it can be dimmed — are some minor changes that can help create a calm environment in your children’s space for all kids.
Taking extra steps to ensure your environment is safe is another way of making children feel welcome and parents feel confident that their children are in safe hands.
FLEXIBLE SPACE IS USABLE SPACE
This is true for your entire facility, and smart, flexible design is a key factor for success when working with either a limited budget, limited space, or both.
With the use of modular furniture that rolls, folds, or is lightweight enough to be easily moved into a corner or stored, a large, open room can be many things: a classroom, a playroom, and even a Bible theater. Maximize floor space by keeping clutter to a minimum with sufficient bins, wall organizers, or mobile carts.
If you don’t want to move things weekly, consider the classroom as a collection of zones and divide the room into areas such as a quiet reading corner, craft and coloring tables for a creative area, a teaching zone, and a play zone, making sure each area has the tools it needs to function well and stay tidy.
THE IMPACT OF JOY
In recent years, churches are opting to bring large-scale play spaces inside to keep areas secure from both passersby and inclement weather. One such church used its large storefront window at the front of its building to showcase its play area and draw the attention of children, with great success.
Using bright colors and visual storytelling engages children’s minds long before the lessons are taught and helps to keep them engaged in their environment. A joyful and happy space reflects God’s heart for children and helps connect their hearts to their church community.
LET THE CHILDREN COME
Our kids’ space isn’t just for childcare; it should be a space where all kids can encounter Jesus, feel a sense of belonging and community, and have spiritual and emotional needs met. With a little love and intentionality, we can create a space in your church for the next generation where they are welcomed and ministered to as they grow in their faith journey.
Churches by Daniels helps churches across the nation dream up big-impact solutions for their children’s space, as well as problem-solve common issues, such as limited space and resources. Wherever you are in your facility journey, we hope that this information has been helpful as you seek to make an impact with kids’ space design.
Alaina Butler, Director of Marketing and Public Relations at Churches by Daniels, uses her extensive background in photography, graphic design, and communication to further the educational mission of Churches by Daniels so that all pastors and churches have access to much-needed resources. In her free time, she loves being an aunt and reading and writing a lot of novels, preferably by a pool.
