Creating Safe Spaces for Children at Church

This blog is part of a series on Fostering Healthy Minds in Children at Church that provides strategies children’s leaders can use to foster healthy minds in children to whom they minister. And, hey, you may even pick up a tip or two to help those in your personal circles! If you’re new to the series, we encourage you to check out the introduction here.

Children face many obstacles and situations in their lives that mold and shape their precious minds as they grow. Creating safe spaces for children at church allows children to feel safe and calm while they are there, while also leaving rules and boundaries that provide comfort for the child. Safe spaces for children at church allow children to play and be curious without fear of being judged or hurt physically or emotionally.

Why is providing a safe space for all children important? So they can hear and respond to the gospel.

To create a safe space for children in our missions discipleship groups, we need to know what makes a safe space for children: It is a space where a child feels that sense of home. A place where you are most known by those around you, have the freedom to rest or play, and have the comfort to freely express your thoughts and emotions with those who accept you.

This is much like the relationship God has with His believers. He is the peace for us.

Having a safe space for children at church teaches their minds who God is and what He does for them.

Building Trust

The most important step in creating a safe space for children in your group is to first build good relationships with them. Before a person can feel safe in a space, they must have trust that the people around them are good for them.

This looks like a leader knowing each child’s name and how to correctly pronounce it. Also, it looks like respecting each child and seeing them as they are: an image bearer of Christ.

Children should know they are valued and included in the group. It is helpful to give them visible and verbal affirmations and validations of what they are feeling and saying in the group.

Setting Boundaries

Children need to have direction and clear boundaries in a space to be able to learn.

When a child does not have clear boundaries, they may be confused about how to act in a situation or what is expected of them. They may seek attention by acting out if they are not clear on what the roles in the group look like for the teachers and children.

For some children, the structure of your time together can be confusing, especially for those who may not have grown up in church. While your missions discipleship group isn’t a school classroom, it also isn’t a free play period.

Clear communication about the schedule in your group and what is coming up next is helpful for children who need to know what they are doing and how much time is left in your meeting. Another great idea for a group is to collaborate and set rules for the meeting times. You can allow children to add some silly rules and boundaries while also keeping certain group rules that are helpful to the group teachers.

Processing through Play

A safe space promotes open discussion and acceptance of topics that might trigger an emotional response from a child. Children are like sponges who absorb everything they hear, and they need a safe space to process what they are learning. This processing can sometimes look like asking questions to understand a situation better. It is important to pay attention to what a child is repeating, because it could be something that they are having trouble understanding.

Another way children process what they learn and experience is through play. Leaders can include play activities in their groups to help teach children about the missionaries and what they do.

For instance, if the missionary’s work brings up a topic that might be emotionally triggering, such as grief and loss, it could be very helpful to give children the space to process what that emotion feels like through play. This can look like making a craft in memory of someone or an activity where they have to make something and then take it apart again.

All children are created in the image of Christ, and there is honor in teaching the next generations through mission discipleship groups. Work to be a consistent person who validates children’s emotions and gives them space to process the emotions they are facing when they come to your group.

Laura Glass is an Associate Licensed Counselor (ALC) practicing in Montgomery, AL. She works with adolescents, teens, and adults.

Disclaimer: The information shared on wmu.com is not meant to diagnose or treat a mental health condition. We encourage you to follow up with your health-care provider and seek a mental health professional for individual consultation and care.