Fiona Malone is a children's and families pastor.  She's written on her blog about a story she told in Godly Play style, and one small child's reaction to it. Have a look at her blog for something to make you think.

Have a look at the All Play on Sunday website for Easter ideas and resources for under-6s in church

Mimi Bullock writes on the Ministry to Children website:

Unless your ministry is located under a rock, you’ve had firsthand experience with at risk children. Although I do not like labeling kids, we teachers need to know what challenges lay before us. Children who fall under the “at risk” category tend to act out, even dangerously, to gain attention while other children remain resolutely hidden in the background. At risk simply means the child has a likelihood to follow a negative life path, often because of a family history of abuse, addictions and the like.

In some situations, you may suspect a child is at risk by their behavior towards you or other children in your ministry. Aggression and chronic cursing are two big indicators, at least in my experience. Reaching at risk children is tough and requires a commitment from the teacher or pastor. However, we are bringers of the gospel–the good news is that Jesus saves and makes children whole!

So what are some good tips for reaching at risk children?

Read the full article here

Pete’s new book Living Your Confirmation has just been published. It’s a gift book for young people who have been confirmed, helping them put the promises they made at the service into action. It’s co written with Rt Revd Paul Butler, Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, formerly Bishop of Southampton.

It’s available to order from SPCK

Friends and Heroes have released an Easter song and video.

Worshipping with Children continues to provide lectionary based resources, with lots of ideas for Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter.

Going for Growth has links to a myriad of sites for Holy Week and Easter.
 

Godly Play UK is about to launch a newsletter to keep Godly Play practitioners and enthusiasts up to date with the latest developments. If you'd like to subscribe, just sign up here.

Margaret Pritchard Houston, families' pastor at St George's Campden Hill, offers creative ideas for Palm Sunday:

"In the church I grew up in, there was one coming of age ritual for girls that was more important than any other.  Confirmation?  Rite 13?  No ... it was the year you finally were deemed old enough to read the part of the Servant Girl At The Fire in the congregational reading of the Passion on Palm Sunday.  That's when you knew it was time to put away childish things.

The reading of the Passion on Palm Sunday is often an emotional experience - we go from proclaiming Christ as King to calling for his crucifixion in a head-spinning 20 minutes.  If your children have Sunday School on Palm Sunday, here's one way to create that experience for them in an interactive, memorable way."

You can read more on her blog here

Wonderful in an Easter kind of way
This phrase is from the Godly Play lesson about the Holy Family, written by Jerome W. Berryman. It says that the Christ Child grew up to be a man and died on the cross. That is very sad, but it is also wonderful, in an Easter kind of way. Now... he is everywhere, and in every time.

Have a look at this blogspot to follow the experiences of someone who's been using Godly Play for a while...

The Baker Ross catalogue has craft ideas for Easter and Holy week.  Take a look at their website page here.