Read any article about children and teens today and you realize many of them are struggling. There are a lot of reasons for this that you can perhaps work to resolve over time, but how can you help a teen feel loved and supported (a key component of resilience) during the holidays, when they may be particularly vulnerable?
For many in ministry and for volunteers, the holidays may be the busiest time of the year. It seems we are in a constant swirl of activity. How are you supposed to make time for a hurting child or teen? The good news is that there are some creative things you can do that will give you an opportunity to minister to a hurting young person without becoming overwhelmed yourself. Here are a few of our favorites.
- Enlist their help in preparing for an event. A lot of conversations can happen as you are setting up tables or folding napkins. Make sure it’s a situation that will give you one on one time with the young person. While there may be others helping with set up, choose a task for you and the young person to complete together so you can talk as you work.
- Have them join you in serving someone else. Most ministries sponsor service projects. Have the young person help you purchase or deliver needed items. I’ve taken elementary aged children to purchase cartloads of food for a holiday in a box service project. To my surprise, they were much better at spotting bargains and organizing the carts than I would have been. Plus, the task went much faster with the extra hands.
- Cook together. Kitchens are almost magical for getting people to talk. Have the young person help you bake and decorate all of those cookies or prep the sides or desserts for a holiday meal.
- Take a long walk together. Walks are also great for getting young people to talk. You need the exercise and so do they for health and mood leveling. Long walks even improve sleep. And when you think of it as ministry, it won’t seem like exercise!
- Get a cup of hot chocolate together. You don’t have to go to Starbucks. Everyone seems to sell hot chocolate this time of the year. Hot drinks take longer to drink and give you more time to chat.
- Send a text. All you have to say is that you have been thinking about them and ask them how they are doing and if they have anything they want you to pray about. Send individual texts, not group ones. Make sure you have a few minutes in case they text back and are obviously struggling.
- Have them help you address Christmas cards. Okay, this one may require offering to pay them with cookies or a free meal, but it’s one of those mindless tasks that you can do while talking.
- Get them to help you decorate the tree. Who wouldn’t like some help decorating a Christmas tree? The task takes awhile and gives you a chance to talk while working.
- You guessed it! Have them help you wrap presents. You may have to teach them how to wrap, but it’s an important life skill (!) and gives you time to talk. If there are presents for people they know, make sure they can keep a secret. (Note: This is not a great activity for children or teens whose family is struggling financially.)
- Have a daily Bible study together. You probably read at least a verse a day anyway. Find a plan that works for both you and the student. Focus on scriptures that will encourage hope. Set a time each day to have a call or video call for five minutes to talk about what you read.
Don’t let the busy-ness of your life get in the way of ministering to children and teens who are hurting. Get creative, but make sure you are intentional about engaging in conversation with them. Find ways to let them know you love them and are there for them – no matter how busy you are.