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| I have started working with our children for our Christmas program and I was wondering if anyone had some ideas on how to get children to sing out. Some children will really sing out, others just move their lips and some barely sing. During our VBS we had a lot more kids singing on stage and they sung with the vocals as well as the background music, but for Christmas their will be a small group of children and they will just be singing to the music. I was told that the lady that worked with the kids before me could get them to sing out. I wonder how she did that. I was thinking about discussing with the children why we sing and telling them how happy it makes Jesus. And maybe even sharing with them how to breathe by blowing up their bellies like balloons when they sing. I think some children just don't have much self-confidence. Any thoughts? THANKS! Shay www.ministeringtochildren.com
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| I teach the childrens choir in my church. Hand motions works great for getting them more involved in the music. Allot of the time I take some of the hand motions from them. We also talk about how We are showing others how to worship. So if we sing with a frown we aren't showing a worshipful heart. If we have a bad attitude it can cause us not to sing our best for the Lord . We say leave the attitute outside and bring a smile to the worship time. We talk about how we stand effects our singing too. We make a game out of it . standing up tall is the final part but you try standing in different ways that you know will cause the voice not to sound good. Then you do the correct way they eat that up. Be willing to be silly and do everything you are having them do. Have them watch you carefully. I tend to make a game and have them turn and do different things to learn to follow my directions. If you want email me I have all kinds of ideas .From many years working with a childrens choir . We are also the praise team for VBS each year. God bless Doreen
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| Yea! What Doreen said. All true, if we're willing to whole-heartedly praise God, then the kids will see it's cool to get into the music and worship. I think the biggest problem I've had with getting kids to enjoy singing is that we show them how to praise openly in VBS, but then we expect them to "perform" for an audience in children's choir. A good balance is hard to come by, but learning the disciplines of singing well has its perks too, like choir trips! Let us know how things go. We rely on each other for hearing what succeeds, AND what doesn't. Blessings! 
Shawn Parker
Eddy, Texas
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| My problem is this - In VBS, with a crowd of 80 kids and crew leaders, a sound system and the video on the big screen, we have great participation. In Sunday School, with at most about 25 kids, and the video on a TV, they all just stand there with smug looks on their faces and watch the two leaders sing and do the motions, as if it wasn't "cool." It can be the same video from VBS, or something else of equal style and appeal, it doesn't matter. What accounts for the difference?
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Sometimes I find that Sunday AM's it's hard to rock out in praise, period! Our Children's Church used to meet on the other side of a temporary wall, so every time they rocked out in praise, they got shushed by the adult class next door. Talk about a downer! Ended up moving Children's Church back on the Children's wing to more accommodating neighbors!
But I have experienced the reluctance to sing out you are describing in other settings.
Here's what I've discovered by trial and error.
The big screen makes lyrics and motions easy to see. The small screen of the TV can be more difficult to see in both areas and if kids are still learning the song, that's a negative.
Lots of people participating gives safety in numbers, so kids feel more comfortable singing out. Only 25 could be intimidating.
If some of the adults are simply watching instead of participating, I find that some of the older kids will opt out and give the attitude.
Having enthusiastic teens trained to lead singing helps with the cool factor as well.
I'm wondering if the volume on the TV might not be loud enough for the space you are using.
I've found that kids will match the volume of the recorded soundtrack... even in VBS. I had a sound tech who thought the recording should be softer "so the children could be heard" about ruined our opening song one night. Once I got him to crank it up, the kids began to sing out.
Lisa B from NC
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Lisab (12/30/2008)
Here's what I've discovered by trial and error.
The big screen makes lyrics and motions easy to see. The small screen of the TV can be more difficult to see in both areas and if kids are still learning the song, that's a negative.
Lots of people participating gives safety in numbers, so kids feel more comfortable singing out. Only 25 could be intimidating.
If some of the adults are simply watching instead of participating, I find that some of the older kids will opt out and give the attitude.
Having enthusiastic teens trained to lead singing helps with the cool factor as well.
I'm wondering if the volume on the TV might not be loud enough for the space you are using.
TV size is not it. The fairly large TV is sitting on top of an old upright piano, and the kids are standing about 3 feet in front of it. The small number - now that's part of it, I'm sure. Adults standing - part of it two -one or two do, while my daughter and I are doing the motions on either side of the TV. Teens? What teens? Hard enough to get adults to help. Volume, not an issue. We are in our own room and we do crank it up. So what I need is more kids and younger helpers. Sounds like VBS!
Until then, since we come out of the main service after the singing has just finished, we'll just skip the singing in our group and get on to games. That has "worked" the last few weeks. But I do miss doing the "kid" songs. Thanks for the diagnosis, though. Blessings!
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Of course, these are just suggestions of the things that have worked for my team. Only you know your situation and God will lead you to a worship solution..especially since you are obviously very passionate about worship yourself!!!!
Lisa B from NC
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I have to say the one thing that helped was having an older "cool" teen who was not afraid to sing out and do the motions...when I have that guy, it is all easy. The kids are so into wanting to be like him, that it is easy. If he is not there....back to singing like MICE and not moving. So, my suggestion is to find one older kid w/ a heart for Jesus and enlist their help. Not easy, but definitely proven to work for me! I know how you feel...so frustrating! Blessings! Kimberly
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