Stewarding Grade-Level Transitions Well in Next Gen Ministry
When it comes to words we might use to describe children and youth today, we might say: cute, clever, resilient, adaptable, lost, or uninterested. In other words, our expectations of them and the lens we see them through determines how we might describe them. We expect our children and youth to process their worlds like adults do— displaying resilience, adapting to our adult situations—and hopefully making us look good in the process! We expect them to go quietly along peacefully compliant with all our adult transitions, having no say-so and voicing no complaints.
But, let’s be honest. We experienced some difficult transitions ourselves when we were children and youth—and didn’t always handle it so well. Whether it was getting siblings we didn't ask for, moving from homes we didn’t want to leave, or experiencing a change in economic status we didn’t see coming, childhood and teenage years are full of changes and transitions that, more often than not, happen to us, without preparation or plans. We couldn’t put the words around it at the time, but what we really needed, no one offered—having our emotions nurtured, having a guide coming alongside us, someone assuring us we weren’t alone.
In ministry, there are even more transitions to manage. And just like children and youth need our help transitioning in everyday life scenarios, they need our help transitioning within our respective ministries. Why? Because transitions equal change, and change for children and youth is challenging.
So, as ministry leaders, how do we set our kids and youth up well for transition? Below, we’ll talk through how we can do this well.
According to Oxford, a transition is a process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another. In ministry environments, children and youth go through various transitions as they move through different stages. Some standard transitions in ministry include:
Baby room to toddler room
Toddler room to kindergarten room
Kindergarten room to elementary room
Elementary to middle school
Middle school to high school
High school to young adult
Granted, most churches don’t have the resources or space to have unique environments for all of these transitions, but even just a few of these shifts, alongside normal life transitions happening at the same time, can be jarring! Imagine, as an adult having to bounce around like that. I don’t know about you, but I would feel disconnected and destabilized. So, checking in and supporting our children and youth to see if they feel disconnected or discombobulated when it comes to transitions to the next ministry stage is a good objective to have. And while we can’t eliminate all the stress transitions bring, we can help make it as smooth as possible.
What is at stake if we don’t manage our children and youth transitions right?
Academic Success.
A study conducted by the University of Sussex and Pennsylvania State found that students transitioning between elementary and secondary school have a higher risk of psychological disorders like anxiety during this period. They also noted that around two in five students fail to reach their expected progress following that same transition. We already know transitions are about more than just what we see externally. A transition done poorly can inhibit a child/teeanger’s academic performance but also inhibit their faith development. When a child struggles academically, it can also make them feel stunted in other areas, and less inclined to allow for change in other areas, including their faith. But handling a transition well can empower them academically, and better prepare them for the natural changes and development happening as they grow in their faith.
Emotional Well-being.
About four years ago, in the spring of 2020, kids had one of the biggest transitions of their young lives—no school, no outside activities, and no church! They had to adjust to being at home with their parents, not socializing and not being able to attend church. As a result, a lot of kids weren’t getting any spiritual guidance. This was a tough season for adults, I but I can’t imagine how difficult this was for kids. Four years later, we are starting to get an idea of just how hard those years were. In late 2021, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), and the Children’s Hospital Association (CHA) joined together to declare a National State of Emergency in Children’s Mental Health. While we may not have been able to do anything to change the reality kids were living in beginning in 2020, I wonder what we might have done to better support them in the transition, prioritizing being plugged into a church that was investing in them even when the world felt out of control.
Investment in Church Community.
When we don’t help nurture kids spiritually (including the transitions they go through in our ministries) allowing them to see how their faith matters and influences how they engage the world around them, we risk them deciding to bow out of church altogether—and the community and support the church offers. We risk them listening to voices and influences that diminish the church and developing a hard heart towards the things God cares about. Part of creating an opportunity for healthy transitions means increasing the odds for our kids to have a strong faith foundation that helps to shape a child's worldview, instill a moral compass, and reinforce a sense of purpose, all of which helps them aspire towards something greater than themselves.
So transitions clearly matter. Now, how can we help our kids transition in our ministry? What does this look like practically?
Coordinate with leaders of each stage - All leaders who have a hand in the spiritual growth of children, youth, and young adults should have regular strategy talks together. These meetings should involve talking about expectations and challenges each transition might have and then time spent brainstorming and working through solutions together. In addition, leaders should develop a nurturing plan that allows children and youth to develop their expanding independence while growing their relationship with God.
Involve children and youth in the transition plans - Adults can turn transitions into learning experiences that support children's growth and maturity. Let them be leaders in the ministry or VBS. Allow them to be involved with planning transition events. Invite them to meet with and ask questions of the leaders for the next grade level. Create intentional time and space for them to share, explore, and process any fears they may have.
Involve parents - Sometimes parents take upcoming transitions harder than the students themselves! In my experience, the move from elementary to middle school was particularly difficult for parents. They couldn’t imagine their child/ baby getting lumped in with these older students! To help put the children’s (and the parents’) minds at ease, create events to ease them into these new stages. Consider having an Open House Event so they can meet the next set of teachers and share their concerns. Additionally, transitions are a perfect time to reach parents as they are more receptive to the insights of ministry leaders.
Have a ceremony - Every stage of life deserves a celebration. So why not have a ceremony for each of them? It doesn’t have to be a big one. You can have a Lion King hand-baby hand-off for the baby room. You can have a fashion show walk-in for the transition to 2nd grade. You can have a “take flight” with captain wings ceremony for 5th graders moving to 6th grade. This is where creativity plays a big part. Just make it fun and make it memorable!
Have a nurturing plan - Take intentional actions before, after, and during a child’s transition to help students and parents feel more at ease. An Open House for parents before the transition is a part of the plan. Calling new parents the week before, and asking if they have any concerns or expectations is part of the plan. Learning the new kids' names as fast as you can, standing at the door during dismissal to chat with new parents addressing kids by name, and calling parents a couple of weeks after their child has transitioned to the next stage to share any concerns or thoughts, developing an email campaign to check in with families from time to time—all of these are a way to nurture families and the kids and teenagers. Whatever you decide should be in your nurturing plan, the goal is to make the student and parent safe, comfortable, and connected.
There are infinite possibilities, but intention, time, and care are needed no matter what you decide to do. We may not be able to eliminate all the tension and fear a transition can evoke in parents and in kids, but we can do what we are able to do to ease it as much as possible. For the love of these kids, we minister to, and for the love of the Church they will one day inherit, let’s commit to making these transitions as easy as possible. They deserve it.
