Make VBS a Safe, Nurturing Experience for Every Child

Are you preparing for Vacation Bible School at your church this summer? Are your volunteer teachers and staff prepared to handle the multitude of behaviors that may come along with having a classroom full of children? Project 1.27 can provide Trauma-Informed Training for church ministry volunteers in preparation for VBS. Many kids come into children’s ministry with a trauma history, not just kids who’ve experienced foster care or adoption. Children may have experienced the trauma of divorce, grief and loss, domestic violence, bullying or because of developmental delays. We've found that Trauma-Informed Training is effective with all children, no matter their background.

Let’s unpack some myths about children’s behaviors and make VBS a safe, nurturing experience for every child.

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Myths vs. Truths

Myth #1: Children are resilient, and abuse has much longer lasting effects than neglect

Truth: Children do not just bounce back when placed in a safe place after experiencing abuse or neglect. In reality, these have lasting impact on the child’s life physically and emotionally. According to Dr. Bruce Perry, the thing that can have the most positive impact - healthy, safe adult relationships!

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Myth #2: Out of control kids are bad kids and a result of bad parenting

Truth: We now know there is a reason for every behavior, so what if we focused on understanding that reason instead of the behavior?  Could this give the child with out-of-control behaviors a “drink of water” exactly when needed so she can participate, finish well and feel more secure in children’s ministry?

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Myth #3: Telling a kid to change a behavior is enough

Truth: Kids in “fear mode” must feel safe in order to work on changing a behavior and a child with a legitimate condition may need accommodations to be successful.  Just telling a child to change or stop a behavior won’t work.

During  the 2 ½ hour Trauma-Informed Training, participants will:

• Learn about the impact of childhood trauma
• Begin to understand the differences when working with children from hard places
• Develop practical strategies to respond in healthy ways to all kids
• Receive a tool-kit of ideas that make a positive impact when dealing with specific behaviors
• Shape their approach in working with kids who have a hard story

Contact us for more information on Trauma-Informed Training for your ministry volunteers and staff.