PCC News

Many churches have guides for adults to use to learn the history of the church, but fewer have child-friendly versions to keep the younger visitors entertained whilst the adults look around or find the peace they seek. Why not think about pulling together some things to keep young visitors busy and introduce them to God’s house in ways relevant to their age?

It may take a few hours work to pull together the photographs and information needed to create a range of child-friendly resources, and it will certainly need a person with the computer skills to put everything together onto printable pages. Maybe a small focus group of people from the church or the wider community will be needed, but once the resources are created, only the ability to print them when required to re-stock the church is needed either by a professional printer (if sponsorship can be found) or via a good quality home printer.

Alternatively, to make resources re-useable, a laminated or hardbacked version can be provided.

Whilst reducing the need for printed copies this method does not allow the young person to take away their work to reflect upon when they leave and so limits the chance to take messages of the church home.

Your group will come up with a range of resources inspired by your own church features, but some ideas to use or adapt are:

• Church Treasures – picture trail
• A Question of Church – quiz sheet
• Stained Glass Window – colouring sheets (to complete in church if coloured pencils are provided)
• Nature Trail – A guide to exploring your outside spaces.

When creating a child trail or other resources, why not talk to the churches in your benefice or other local churches to make the process less of a trial by pooling ideas and skills and sharing the workload.

Also have a look on the parish funding pages of our website for some helpful resources to adapt for your church, including a photo trail template, an example quiz sheet and some colouring pages.