You said yes. Maybe you were asked personally by the pastor. Maybe you felt guilty watching the same two people do everything. Maybe you genuinely love children and wanted to help. Whatever the reason, you are now responsible for teaching Sunday school to a group of children, and you have no idea what you are doing.

This article is for you.

You Do Not Need to Be an Expert

The most important thing a children’s ministry volunteer needs is not theological training or teaching experience. It is genuine care for the children in their class. Children can tell the difference between an adult who is going through the motions and one who actually wants to be there. Show up, be present, and care about the kids in front of you. That is the foundation everything else is built on.

Prepare More Than You Think You Need To

Even 20 minutes of preparation makes a significant difference in how a lesson lands. Read through the lesson before Sunday. Gather any supplies in advance. Identify the one main point you want the children to leave with. Think through the age group you are teaching.

Preparation is a form of respect. It tells the children that their time matters.

The Two Things That Matter Most

Know the children’s names. By the second week, you should know every child in your class by name. This single act communicates more care than any lesson plan. Children behave better for adults they feel known by. They engage more deeply. They come back.

Know the one main point. Every lesson has one clear takeaway. Before you teach anything, ask yourself: if this child remembers only one thing from today, what do I want it to be? Write it down. Everything else in your lesson should support that one point.

What to Do When Kids Act Out

Most classroom management problems are prevented, not solved in the moment. Consistent routines, clear expectations stated positively, and genuine relationship with the kids in your class will handle the majority of situations.

When a child does act out, move toward them rather than calling out across the room. A quiet word, a hand on the shoulder, or simply standing near them is often enough to redirect behavior without making it a bigger moment than it needs to be.

For a full guide to classroom management, see the Classroom Management Guide.

You Are Not Alone

MinistryPlace has free resources specifically for children’s ministry volunteers in small churches. The Volunteer Management Hub has training guides, recruitment resources, and practical tools. The Sunday School Curriculum library has ready-to-teach lessons for every age group.

You said yes. That matters. The children in your class are better off because you showed up.

Related Resources

• Volunteer Training Guide for Children’s Ministry
• Classroom Management Guide
• Teaching Bible Lessons Guide
• Sunday School Curriculum