Should 6th Graders Be In Children's Ministry?

Should 6th graders be in children's ministry or youth ministry?

This is a big question and the answer varies from church to church.  Some churches keep 6th graders in children's ministry while others promote 6th graders into youth ministry.

Here are some factors you should consider when making this decision.

How are your local schools set up?  

This should be a big factor in your decision.  If 6th graders are part of middle school at school, it makes sense to follow suite at church. 

How are 6th graders responding to your ministry? 

If you are hearing them say children's ministry is "boring," then it's time to consider moving them up into youth ministry.  Especially if you have them paired with kids who are in younger grades.  A 6th grader is not going to be a fan of sitting with a 1st or 2nd grader.

Keep in mind that today's children are more advanced than children in the past.  

Childhood has changed. Many of today's kids have a steady, non-stop diet of information, entertainment, and technology. They are exposed to things that we never faced when we were children.  The world is just a click away. 

Many churches are building an intentional bridge from elementary ministry to youth ministry.  

They follow this flow. 

Elementary ministry consists of grades 1- 4.

Preteen ministry consists of grades 5 - 6. 

Youth ministry consists of grades 7-12.

At the church where I am currently the children's pastor, I am working toward the 5-6h grade model.  As I continue to build my volunteer team, I will eventually move into this age breakdown.  I believe it helps create a strong bridge between the two ministries. 

When making this decision, it is important to work closely with your youth ministry. 

Where 6th graders land should be a joint decision between your children's ministry and youth ministry.  This is not the time to fly solo.  Work together to decide what will work best for the church as a whole.

Another way to look at this question is the serving piece. 

6th graders are anxious to serve. When you allow them to serve in children's ministry, it can make a big impact in their life.  We know stats show that kids who serve and live out their faith are more likely to not walk away from the church. The serving factor is an important piece in this.

There are many ways they can serve.  Sound booth.  Greeters.  Classroom assistants.  Cleaning up.  Praise team. 

So what model do you follow?  Share your thoughts and insight in the comment section below?