Konnect is church for kids in the 1st-3rd grade. It’s a “lead small” experience where kids connect with each other, connect with leaders, and connect with God. Find out how you can lead small in Konnect!

Watch This:
Watch this video to see some of the benefits of leading small in Konnect:

Check Out These Tips:
What Does It Mean to “Lead Small”?
Leading small takes a big group and breaks it up to make it small. The same few kids sit with the same small group leader every week to build relationships. The basic philosophy is that kids who are known and loved by God’s people can learn they are known and loved by God.

How Leading Small Helps Kids

• It’s personal. It creates a safe place for kids to feel accepted, comfortable, known, and inspired to take their faith to the next level.
• It’s safe. It takes a large group environment and breaks it down to be more personal and less intimidating.
• It’s positive. Kids connect with leaders on a positive note, first. Later, if they need redirection, they feel less threatened or embarrassed.
• It helps kids “fit in.” Kids know someone knows their name, someone is on their side, and who they can go to for help.
• It helps kids make friends. Kids make friends with other kids who can support them, pursue Jesus alongside them, and help them know they aren’t alone.
• It makes kids want to come back. Kids look forward to seeing the people they’ve connected with each week!

How Leading Small Helps Leaders

• It’s less overwhelming. It’s overwhelming to police a herd of 50 kids, but meeting the needs of 5-10 kids is totally doable.
• It prevents distractions. When you only have a few kids to know and lead, it’s easier to meet their needs quickly before they escalate to something that distracts the other kids.
• It makes behavior easier to manage. When a kid you have a relationship with needs help to make better choices, you know them, what makes them tick, and you can redirect them in a way that is personal and effective.
• It’s rewarding. You get to see the baby steps of kids growing in their faith and maturity when you know them well.
• It’s leadership instead of control. You actually know your kids, and your kids know you, so you can lead them personally instead of controlling them externally. Kids don’t just participate and respond—they engage and grow.
• It builds trust and faith. You can know the birthdays, best friends, families, talents, and struggles of your kids. When you show authentic interest in those things, you build trust and set a foundation for them to trust the one you lead them to have faith in.

How Leading Small Helps Parents

• It builds security. Parents know their kid is connected to a leader who will notice them, attend to their needs, and keep them safe until they come back to check them out.
• It decreases anxiety. Consistent small groups help a kid know what to expect each week, so they look forward to attending. As a result, the parent knows drop-off will run smoothly, they won’t have to manage a difficult tantrum or evil eye from their kid each week, and they don’t have to worry about their kid while they’re away from them.
• It shows parents they aren’t alone. Parenting can be overwhelming. It is reassuring to know that a consistent small group leader is a second voice in their kid’s life to reinforce their parental leadership and turn their kid to answers that center on Christ.
• It shows parents their kid matters. When small group leaders show up by attending a school event, texting to check in on the family, or via a postcard in the mail, parents know someone else cares about their kid enough to get to know them and love them for who they are.
• It makes parents want to come back. When parents know their kid’s small group leader is trusted, available, and authentically cares for their kid, parents want to come to church each week so their kid doesn’t miss out!

Talk It Over:
Now that you’ve watched a video and read a few tips, help the info stick! Talk over these questions with your experience coach or a LifeKids staff member. Share what you’ve learned with other leaders in Konnect!

1. The list of benefits above isn’t all-inclusive. What do you think are some other ways leading small helps kids, leaders, and parents?
2. What makes the most sense to you about leading small? What are some things you still have questions about?
3. What do you think might be difficult about leading small? Talk about it with an experienced leader or staff member, and see what tips and tools they know that might make it easier.

A special thank you to Orange and the reThink Group for their ideas and research on their “lead small” philosophy referenced in this article.