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Ministry/Congregational

Children & Youth Ministry

Curriculum, volunteer training, Safe Sanctuaries, and programming resources for every age — from the nursery through high school graduation.

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Safe Sanctuaries — Required for All Children's Ministry

All United Methodist churches are required to adopt a Safe Sanctuaries policy covering background checks, two-adult rule, and abuse prevention training.

Get the Policy Guide

Browse by Age Group

Resources organized by the age and stage of the children and youth you serve.

Nursery & Preschool

Early Childhood (Ages 0–5)

Nursery policies, toddler faith formation activities, and parent engagement resources for the earliest years.
Elementary

Children (Ages 6–12)

Lectionary-aligned Sunday school curriculum, VBS planning, children's sermon starters, and mid-week programming guides.
Middle School

Youth (Grades 6–8)

Middle school discipleship programs, confirmation class curriculum, service project guides, and retreat planning.
High School

Senior High (Grades 9–12)

High school small groups, mission trip preparation, leadership development, and college transition resources.

Featured Resources

The most-used tools for children and youth ministry programs.

Revised Common Lectionary Curriculum

Curriculum

Age-graded lesson plans for children aligned with the weekly lectionary readings used in Sunday worship.

Vacation Bible School Planning Guide

Event Planning

Complete VBS planning checklist, volunteer job descriptions, registration templates, and promotion materials.

Confirmation Class Resources

Confirmation

Multi-week confirmation curriculum covering United Methodist history, beliefs, and membership commitments.

Volunteer Training Guide

Volunteer Training

Onboarding materials, background check guidance, classroom management tips, and ongoing development resources for children's ministry volunteers.

Need More Curriculum Options?

Discipleship Ministries offers the full Cokesbury curriculum catalog — graded series for every age, season, and teaching style.

Ministry Resources Newsletter

New children and youth ministry resources, seasonal curriculum, and training opportunities delivered monthly.