A few practical ways to help a hesitant kid feel welcome without putting them on the spot.
If you’ve spent much time teaching Sunday school, you’ve probably noticed that not every kid is eager to jump into an activity, and that’s okay. Maybe you’ve got a game ready, and while most of the class is excited to play, someone would rather watch for a while.
You want everyone to feel welcome and included, but that doesn’t mean everyone has to participate in the same way. Here are a few simple ways to make room for those differences while keeping the class moving.
1. Let Them Watch for a While
Think about walking into a room where you don’t know anyone and everybody’s already playing a game. You might want to see what’s going on before jumping in, too. So if someone would rather watch the first round, that’s fine. Let them see how the game works and what the other kids are doing.
You could simply say, “No problem. You can watch for now and jump in whenever you want.” Then go ahead with the game. You don’t need to keep asking them to join. They know they’re welcome, and they can come over when they’re ready.
2. Give Them Another Way to Join In
Maybe they don’t want to play the game, but that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t enjoy being involved in another way. If you’re playing a game with questions and points, they might be happy to help keep score. Or if you’re using cards or other supplies, you could ask them to help hand those out.
It doesn’t need to be a big deal. Just a quick, “Hey, want to help me keep score?” That gives them a way to be part of the game without having to play in front of everyone.
And if they’d rather keep watching, that’s fine too. You can leave the invitation open without turning it into another round of convincing them to participate.
3. Find a Moment to Check In
If the same kid keeps sitting out, find a quiet moment to check in. You could simply ask, “Hey, I’ve noticed you haven’t wanted to join our games.”
They might tell you what’s bothering them, or they might not know what to say. Either way, listen without making a big deal out of it. If it keeps happening, checking with a parent or your children’s ministry leader may help you figure out what would make Sunday school more comfortable.
Not Every Kid Joins In the Same Way
It’s easy to feel like a lesson is going well when everybody’s raising their hands, answering questions, and playing along. And of course, that’s fun to see. But the quiet kid listening to the Bible story might be following along just fine, even if they haven’t said a word.
The important thing is that they feel welcome. Maybe they’ll jump into the next game. Maybe they’ll offer to help you next week. And maybe they’ll need a little more time. You can keep inviting them in without making participation the measure of whether they’re having a good Sunday.