When a few kids hang back, avoid activities, or seem uninterested, it can feel discouraging and tempting to push harder for participation. In this episode of Kids Ministry Answers, Allegra Collins has a question about how to engage kids who don’t want to participate during small group or Bible teaching time. So we asked Christina Paiva to join Linda and Jason to share practical strategies for building trust, creating emotional safety, and gently inviting every child to engage at their own pace.

QUESTION:
“What are your tips on engaging kids who don’t want to participate or who struggle to engage during small group time and Bible teaching time?” — Allegra Collins

ANSWER:
In this episode, we’ll talk about how to:

• Recognize that engagement looks different for every child
• Focus on relationships first, knowing trust and safety often lead to natural engagement
• Welcome and invite kids with low-pressure options that meet them where they are
• Help kids find relationships with peers, leaders, and families to help connections grow over time

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