Partnering with Parents in Kids Ministry

Parents are not just the people who drop kids off at the door. They are the ones shaping hearts at home, day after day. When kids ministry leaders and parents walk together, the impact runs so much deeper.

Think of it like a garden. At church, we plant seeds stories, Scriptures, songs, and small moments of encounter. But it’s often at home that the watering happens. The sunlight. The patient waiting.

We get to sow together with parents, trusting God to bring the growth.

We’re Not Replacing the Family

We have them for one hour a week. Parents have them for all the rest. The goal of kids ministry isn’t to be the main spiritual voice in a child’s life; it’s to support, equip, and encourage families to disciple their kids with confidence.

That begins with trust.

You need to recognize that what you are doing for an hour on a Sunday morning is important, but it's just a drop in the bucket. How would your perspective shift if you viewed the parents as the child's main disciplers and YOU partner with THEM? Maybe you'd ask them to weigh in on what would be a good choice for a curriculum? Maybe you'd focus on how you can assist their at-home discipleship job?

Build Connection and Communication

Keep parents in the loop with simple updates. What did their kids learn today? What Bible verse are you focusing on this month? Is there a worship song they can play at home?

You don’t have to overthink it. Even a quick conversation after class or a printed handout can mean a lot. When parents know what’s happening, they’re more likely to engage and partner with you. A helpful idea is to create a parents group where you post a message with a weekly update on what they'd learned AND how the parents can take it further.

Encourage, Don’t Overwhelm

Some parents are new to faith. Some are barely keeping it together. Offer grace. Share encouragement. Don’t assume they’ve got it all figured out.

Give them bite-sized ways to reinforce faith at home—questions to ask at dinner, a short prayer to say at bedtime, a verse to put on the fridge.

You’re not adding to their pressure. You’re coming alongside with love.

Be Available and Approachable

Sometimes the most powerful ministry happens in the hallway. A parent might ask for prayer. Or open up about something hard. Be present. Be open. You may be the first person they trust with their child’s story.

I know firsthand what it's like to lead a kids ministry and run around putting out fires, but as the leader of the ministry, you need to be present. Some things can be delegated. Building relationships with parents isn't one of them.

We Plant, They Water, God Grows

In 1 Corinthians 3:6, Paul says, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.” That’s our posture. We plant. We encourage the watering. We pray. And we trust the Lord to do the deep, hidden work in children’s hearts.

We don’t just minister to children. We minister with families.

And when we do it well, church becomes a place that feels like home—for everyone.