Some families show up early. Some families show up late.

What do you do to engage and welcome everybody?

What do you do…when a new family accidentally arrives 15-20 minutes before your activity is set to begin. Maybe you can visit with the parents as best you can, but the kids are already bored…

What do you do… when you have a strong start to your Sunday School Lesson (Here is the Bible Story! Here is the message! Here’s the main point of everything we are going to do together!) But then… a family rushes in 10 minutes late, and they missed the whole thing.

What do you do… when one family regularly shows up 15 minutes late, but another family regularly shows up 15 minutes early. Everyone else shows up somewhere in between. That’s a full 30 minutes you need to bridge intentionally, carefully, and lovingly.

In some churches and families, this is just the norm. Instead of being surprised by it, you can plan for it with intentional “As You Arrive” Activities.

These activities start as soon as the first person walks in. That is a gift to your early bird families who can jump right in, without awkwardly waiting for the rest of the group to arrive. You may still want to kick things off at your specific, advertised start time. Sometimes, that is the most loving, kind, and respectful thing to do. But even if you still start right on time, it is such good hospitality to have something people can start engaging with as soon as they walk in the door. Looking for ideas? Let’s start here:

Coloring / Activity Pages

Most Sunday School curriculum includes coloring pages and activity pages to go with each lesson. You are more than welcome to use those coloring pages as an “as you arrive” activity. Kids who arrive early get a “sneak peek” at the story to come. Or, seasonal coloring pages are another great option. Just a small thing like a coloring page, maze, or word search gives little hands something to do while they wait. Once you have a collection, you can display the same worksheets for several weeks.

Collaborative Signs or Posters

Another great idea is to decorate a big poster - together - as kids arrive. This can be professionally purchased or printed, or simply a big piece of butcher paper or poster board with a single word that summarizes your lesson for today. (Love – Creation - Gratitude) Bubble letters are fun to decorate, but kids should also draw creatively around the word. You can also hang these posters for the entire congregation to see. (Happy Advent! Happy Reformation! Our Lenten Journey…) Kids will love to see their creativity on display, and the congregation will love it too. You can use crayons, markers, colored pencils – whatever you have on hand. (I recommend paint sticks for big posters like this. They are bright, bold, and maybe a little different or exciting compared to what the kids are used to using.

Snacks

As you arrive… grab a donut! Or a cut of hot chocolate! Or a bag of chips! I’ve found this piece of hospitality is especially engaging for preteens and teenagers. (You know, the group of kids that typically walk in, sit down, and pull out their phones?) No one is grabbing their phones, looking for a distraction when there’s an elaborate Hot Chocolate or Hot Apple Cider bar laid out to enjoy. Make it your own with whipped cream, sprinkles, a little drizzle of chocolate or caramel. I’ve gotten in the habit of setting out the same Hot Chocolate supplies week after week. The students look forward to it, and it eases that “as you arrive” awkwardness that is so common for this age group.

Think it through: what do kids, youth, and families experience when they first arrive in your space? What activities could you set up to make it a little more welcoming? What small things could make a big difference, especially when families arrive a little early, to let everyone know they are welcome?