There are two basic methods for teaching children:
1) children's church, and
2) small-group settings called learning centers.

Children's Church
A key concept in conducting a successful children's church is that a children's church is a church of children, not a church for children.

At what point do people become believers and thus enter into the blessings of the New Covenant? Is it when they reach a certain age? Or is it when they are baptized and join the local church? It is neither of these.

People enter into the blessings of the New Covenant when they are born again, no matter what age they are at the time.

There is not one New Testament for adults, another for teens, and yet another for children. No, the New Testament was written for all believers in every country, of every race, and of every age. Certainly, age has an effect on what a person can comprehend. Yet the rules, benefits, restrictions, blessings, and promises of God's Word are made for all believers of every age.

That is why you will not find a chapter in the New Testament written for children only. In God's eyes, a person is either a believer or he is not. Children who are believers are just that - believers. For this reason, a gathering of children who are believers is just as much a meeting of the Body of Christ as is the adult service in the main sanctuary.

The Same Holy Spirit
There is no such thing as a "miniature Jesus." The Jesus that lives in a six-year-old child is just as big as the Jesus that lives in the pastor. The Holy Spirit is no bigger in the adult service than he is in the children's service. If he is welcome in the adult service, He will manifest Himself. And if He is welcome in the children's service, He will manifest His Presence there as well.

If the goal of your children's church service is only to entertain the children, you may succeed at entertaining them and keeping then occupied, but you will not have had church.

However, if your goal is to provide the children with the opportunity to spend quality time with their Heavenly Father, this can happen.

A good children's church allows for fun times - the puppets, the drama, the action songs, and so forth. Yet the overriding purpose should always remain the same: to provide a time of fellowship between God and His people.

To accomplish this purpose, a children's minister must fulfill some of the same responsibilities to the children in the church that a pastor must fulfill to the entire congregation.

For instance, a good pastor is continually in touch with the spiritual temperament of his flock. He can sense what they are in need of just as a good mother can sense what her children need by observing and listening to them.

In the same way, a good children's minister needs to continually check the spiritual "pulse" of the children in the church in order to determine what areas he needs to focus on when he teaches them. Children need refining so they can grow spiritually just as adults do.

You Need A Solid Curriculum
Conducting children's church is not just a matter of "Let's tell some jokes, wave some puppets, play some games, and have a good time!" Nor should it be a rigidly regimented program where the leader declares, "This is week 34 of our curriculum, and we must teach about baby Moses in the river!"

The Body of Christ is made up of believers - young and old - who need refining as they grow toward spiritual maturity. One role of the Holy Spirit is to lead and guide the minister in charge of a service so he will know which truths will most benefits a particular group of believers at that particular time. This is true in the children's church as well as the adult service.

This knowledge isn't found in written curriculums or in "how-to" books. It is not found by going to seminars, listening to tapes, reading magazines, or by following last year's plan. It is only found when you seek the Lord for yourself.

It is important to recognize that Jesus is the Head of His Church, and that includes the children's church in your local body. Give Jesus first place, and He will direct His church.

One way to receive God's direction for a children's church service is by ministering to the Lord. We enter into His courts with praise, so set aside time with your children's workers to lead them in praise and worship unto the Lord. Often during these times of ministering to the Lord, you and your workers will receive the Holy Spirit's guidance regarding the direction He wants you to take in a service.

For example, the Holy Spirit may lead you to focus on a particular theme, such as salvation, tithing, correcting bad attitudes, forgiveness, or the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Move in the direction that seems right in your heart (and that is, of course, scriptural).

Once you have determined God's direction for a service, the next step is to study. Don't make the classic mistake of many children's ministers who say, "I know that story; I'll just tell it impromptu." This attitude will hinder the effectiveness of the service.

First, God has a difficult time blessing a lazy attitude. Second, you will dry up spiritually if you don't spend time reading God's anointed Word.

Third, when you study the word before teaching about a particular Bible story, you risk mixing up your facts and teaching something that is not true. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, when you neglect your study of the Word, you miss the opportunity for God to reveal fresh truth to you for your own personal spiritual growth.

Keep It Simple
After you have studied the topic, set a goal for what you want to impart to the children in that particular service. Limit your teaching to one simple truth. Keep in mind that you are not teaching a seminar to Bible school students, you're teaching a group of young children.

Your next step is to prepare a basic sketch of the intended service. As you plan the service, remember that there is most often a progression to teaching a theme, even when you have limited its focus.

To provide variety for the children, consider preparing a puppet skit to teach one aspect of the theme, a drama skit to teach another aspect, and your sermon to bring the teaching to a conclusion.

The service itself can be divided into various segments. The first segment could include an introductory song followed by a welcome to the children. Then you can announce current events, birthdays, and new visitors, remind the children of the rules, and take up the offering. Following this segment, you could have a fun puppet skit or perhaps a drama.

The next segment could begin with fast-paced, action praise songs. These songs are designed to get the kids out of their chairs and moving. Later the children can be seated during some slower worship songs. (You don't want to keep the children standing too long. It is possible to enter into quality worship with children when they are seated.)

During praise and worship, you should always seek to flow with the leading of the Holy Spirit. It is a matter of learning to yield to the Holy Spirit. Don't ever be concerned about whether or not the Holy Spirit will move. He is always ready to manifest His Presence.

It's All About Yielding
There are no service times in Heaven! Service is always in progress in Heaven. Therefore, it is not a question of whether or not the Holy Spirit is moving; it's a question of us learning to yield to the moving of God's Spirit.

As you lead this portion of children's church, resist the pressure to try to "perform." As the Holy Spirit leads, preach or teach a simple sermon, or perhaps sing another worship song and just enjoy God's Presence. You might let the children share a testimony, or sense that it is time to have an alter call. Just let the Holy Spirit run the service and flow with him.

Do whatever seems to be right, recognizing that the Holy Spirit is there and He is guiding the service. When the Presence of God is manifested, the children will flow with you. They enjoy being in God's Presence just like you do!

Source: The Pastoral Ministry Manual by  Kenneth Hagin Jr.
Excerpt permission granted by Faith Library Publication