Playtimes are an awesome tool for reaching out into your local community. Playtime ministry at a time when raising a young family can be daunting, overwhelming and exhausting.

Finding a nurturing community to help cope with these challenges is a God-send, literally. Playtimes can be just that. At a season when parents are looking for answers, the church can help them find The Answer: Jesus.

Bring your playtime/playgroup team along to be encouraged, equipped and trained at this conference.

For more info and to register, see the Christian Playtime website.

It is a shame that so many do not come to the conference, or if they come they do not bring their whole team! This is especially sad when I hear from so many in kids ministry just do not feel encouraged, or resourced.

Here are just a few of the top reasons for going to Kidsreach:

1. Networking opportunities – get to meet hundreds of others kids ministry workers.
2. Always lots of new, cool stuff to look at and examine in the resource centre.
3. Great speakers, presenters and workshop leaders. Have a look at the workshop subjects alone. There is something there for everyone.
4. It is only for one day – and such a good price.

Download the brochure

These were the sort of questions we wrestled with:

• As a dad, what would I learn about the reign of God from playgroup?
• Why do people come to Playgroup… and why do they come back?
• Where is God at Playgroup? How can you tell?

After a superb lunch (thanks to the amazing catering efforts of Yvette and her mum), people had the opportunity to choose two workshops, with titles like Music at Playgroup, Grant Writing and Fundraising, Managing Challenging Behaviours, Baby Playgroup, Craft at Playgroup and Evangelism Unpacked it was a hard choice.

Kathy Blazewicz had travelled from Adelaide to share her expertise in music playgroups and baby playgroups. Lots of playgroups had sent a couple of people and so could spread their options. The feedback from participants was encouraging – “Great”, “Wonderful”, “Brilliant”, “Inspirational”, “Practical”, “Thought-Provoking” – and another Playtime Conference is already being planned for 2012.

Download Workshop Notes

Grants and Fundraising – Judyth Roberts

Christian Crafts – Judyth Roberts

Baby Playgroups – Kathryn Blazewicz

Music and Preschoolers – Kathryn Blazewicz

“Christian Playtimes can be such a productive and innovative way to reach out to young families in your community.

This conference will give you effective strategies to help your existing Playtimes become mission focused and help connect you with other Playtime leaders.”

Download the Playtime Conference 2011 brochure