What to Do with Early Arrivers and When the Sermon Goes Long: Simple Ideas to Keep Teaching All Morning Long
Children’s ministry is full of unpredictable moments—early arrivers, late pick-ups, and yes, sermons that run just a bit longer than planned. But instead of scrambling for fillers, what if we saw these extra moments as opportunities for discipleship?
Our philosophy has always been this: Teaching starts the moment the first child walks through the door. It doesn’t need to be a formal lesson or a sit-down teaching time—but every minute matters. Even ten minutes of simple connection, conversation, and quiet activities can be meaningful in shaping a child’s understanding of God and His Word.
Here are some tried-and-true ideas for those “extra” minutes—whether at the beginning or end of class time.
Early Arrivers: Start Teaching Before Class Begins
Early arrivers can feel overlooked or uncertain of what to do. Let’s change that narrative and make those first few minutes purposeful and welcoming.
Ideas for Arrival Time: Set up quiet, intentional activities that help children transition into the learning environment and begin engaging with the theme of the day.
Table Activity Ideas:
- Coloring pages that match the day’s Bible story
- Playdough with story-themed prompts (e.g., make something God created, build the Ark, etc.)
- Simple puzzles or memory matching games
- Books about the Bible or God’s creation
- “Find the picture” or I-Spy Bible Story pages
- Tracing memory verses or alphabet letters
- Lacing cards with shapes or animals from the lesson
Interactive Connection Ideas:
- “Question of the Day” board (e.g., What’s your favorite thing God made? Who’s your favorite Bible character?)
- Quiet conversation starters (“Tell me something you’re thankful for today”)
- Pray-As-You-Arrive basket—kids pick a prayer card and draw or pray quietly
When the Sermon Goes Long: Keep Calm and Keep Teaching
You planned for 60 minutes…but it’s 75. Or 85. We’ve all been there. Instead of scrambling, it’s helpful to have a plan in your back pocket for those extra-long Sundays.
Large Group Game Ideas:
- Bible Book Bingo
- “Guess the Bible Character” Charades
- “Would You Rather” Bible Edition (Would you rather gather manna or build the ark?)
- Sword Drill—a fun way to practice finding Bible verses
- “Pass the Beanbag” Memory Verse Game
- Bible Trivia Hot Potato
Quiet Extension Options:
- Extra coloring or activity pages
- Story-based sensory bins
- Memory Verse review games
- Bible Story sequencing cards
Creative Stations to Rotate Through:
- Build the Story with Blocks (What happened in today’s story? Can you build it?)
- Draw the Lesson (Draw something you remember from today’s story)
- Prayer Station (Write or draw a prayer for someone in your family or church)
A Teaching Mindset for the In-Between Moments
Whether it’s 2 minutes or 20 minutes, these extra moments are not wasted time. They’re windows of opportunity to reinforce the truths you’re already teaching—through conversation, creativity, and connection.
And remember: children often learn most from how we engage with them. Greet them warmly. Sit at their level. Ask them questions. Call them by name. Show them, from the moment they walk through the door, that they belong—and that God’s Word is worth their time.
📝 Bonus: Free Download for Volunteer Training
Want to share these ideas with your team? Download our “Teaching in the Margins” Idea Sheet—a printable list of early arrival activities and sermon-stretch game ideas to keep in your classroom binder.