Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Intentional Activities
How important is being intentional when doing activities? It is important to think about what we want to happen when we are developing a game. Do we want it to build teamwork, leadership or some other skill? After we discover what we want to teach, then the process is what needs to be worked out. Along with this we also need to take into account the responsiveness of the group as well as the potential hazards of the activity.
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I agree with Tyler 100%. Being intentional when planning games in activities for your youth group is imperative. Well organized and planned out games and activities can result in really great team building and relationship creating experiences. On the flipside, not being intentional with planning can lead to disorganization and un-preparedness. Lets just save ourselves the trouble, and be intentional with our planning!
ReplyDeleteI definitely believe that being intentional in activity planning is essential. My youth pastor had me plan games for a year, and I learned the hard way that if we aren't intentional with planning activities, they won't be very successful. When I planned games with a purpose and a plan, they were very successful and helped students learn something new. Students can tell when a game has been intentionally planned, and are impressed and more apt to participate in the future when they feel as if a game has been intentionally planned.
ReplyDeleteI agree with both of you that intentional planning is good. I agree that we need to figure out what our activities are going to accomplish and how we want them to work, but at the same time, we need to leave room for the Holy Spirit to work. We can't be so stuck on a doing something a certain way that is the Spirit is leading another way... we have to listen to that. I guess there needs to be a balance between being intentional and flexible. We have be intentional about planning activities some some "grace time" factored in. That way, if the Spirit prompts us, we are prepared and ready to go where he leads.
ReplyDeleteI agree with both of you that intentional planning is good. I agree that we need to figure out what our activities are going to accomplish and how we want them to work, but at the same time, we need to leave room for the Holy Spirit to work. We can't be so stuck on a doing something a certain way that is the Spirit is leading another way... we have to listen to that. I guess there needs to be a balance between being intentional and flexible. We have be intentional about planning activities some some "grace time" factored in. That way, if the Spirit prompts us, we are prepared and ready to go where he leads.
ReplyDeleteI believe that intentional activities are essential to recreational ministry, because if we are not being intentional with our activity, then we are just playing. We must make sure that we are intentional in teaching our youth to be more like Christ in the games we are playing and not just using our games for filler time. We must look at all aspects of our intentional activities down to keeping God first, the responsiveness of our youth, and making sure that there is no chance of things going wrong that would look bad to others.
ReplyDeleteAll activities in recreational ministry should be intentional in one way or another. Even basic games with no apparent "lesson" tied to them are important for building community and fostering a sense of teamwork. When leading youth, it is absolutely necessary that we take responsibility for making sure that all games and activities are intentional. We must be sensitive to the needs of the group to make sure the focus of the game is pointing in the right direction. This can pose a challenge due to the occasional game that loses focus and goes out of control.
ReplyDeleteAny of the games that you play in youth group should be intentional. I do not believe that it has to necessary be tied to the lesson but it should have a point in some way shape or form. I also think that if you are able to tie games to the lesson that would be best. It would be best because it would be another way that they could remember what you talked about.
ReplyDeleteBeing intentional when planning activities is important. When something is intentional, there is likely to be a better response to it rather than if it were unintentional and random. The activity should have a point (such as team-building, leadership, etc.) whether it ties into the lesson or not.
ReplyDeleteBeing intentional is important when planning activities because we need to make sure that we are meeting the needs of the youth group. Also if we plan out details and activities we are showing structure and that we care about what we are doing. At the same time there should be a level of spontaneity to planning youth group activities. Especially if things are not going the way you planned or are not being as affective as you thought. As a youth pastor you should be intentional in all that you do and know when to be flexible if the time comes for it.
ReplyDeleteBeing intentional is very important. You never want an activity to be pointless or a waste of time. You always want to be fully prepared and to link the activities with the lesson. There is a big difference between playing a game for fun and doing an activity that links the lesson with key points that are being made.
ReplyDeleteI believe it is very important to be intentional when doing activities, because everything we do impacts us in some way. The impact can be either positive or negative, meaningful or not meaningful. Also when your are being intentional in the activities you do, you are putting thought into the personalities of the group and the thinking about the best possible way for them to learn the lesson. Intentionally thinking and planning does tend to put more emphasis on the "lesson" that needs to be learned such as teamwork, or just the kids getting to know each other more. So being intentional should be part of a youth pastors curriculum for anything they do.
ReplyDeleteI believe it is extremely important to be intentional when doing activities. You do not want to do an activity where the kids do not get anything out of it, that is pointless. Instead, you want to do activities that have a meaning and a purpose.
ReplyDeleteI believe it is very important to think about the activities we prepare for our students. Building teamwork and leadership are two of the most important skills for a group to learn. When planning these activities it might be important to connect them to a life lesson or a theme. Lastly, it is vital to always take into account any safety hazards and make sure that all precautions are taken.
ReplyDeleteIntentionality when we play games is very important in my mind because it gives the activities structure which turns it from just hanging out into Godly play. This can also help put the minds of the adults in the church at ease so that they do not think the youth of the church are just showing up to simply play for an hour. Once they understand that you are being intentional about what you teach the youth, I believe the church will back you 100%.
DeleteI Believe being intentional is very important, you need to think about what you're purpose is, who is playing and where you are playing at. Although I think it is also very important to be adaptable in a game be ready to pick up on and adapt to any situation.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a important thing to do and understand about the group you are working with as well. I did a lesson last semester and I came up with a game and it was hard to do because of the variables I had to do according to my group along with the fact that it had to tie into my lesson. Its hard work but in the end in my opinion helps the learner to understand what the teacher is trying to tell them inadvertently.
ReplyDeleteI think that it is very important to be intentional with all activities among a group. For example we should not just have teens playing games in order to take up time, but instead we should use the games we have them play in order to reinforce what we are teaching them. By using games to help teach, we are also using a teaching style that will help those who learn best though activities as well as those who learn well auditory.
ReplyDeleteOne should always be intentional with the games and activities that are planned. They should be a reflection of the lesson and are very important in keeping the kids attention. When a game is played with no intentions behind it, it loses all its purpose, and could possibly give off unintended morals or lessons that go against what is being taught.
ReplyDeleteI believe games in a youth ministry setting should definitely have a predetermined purpose or then it just becomes a time filler. I think games should be chosen specifically for what the youth group needs at that time. If there are teens that are feeling like they aren't included in the group then a game that mixes the clicks up and causes people to get out of their comfort zone is important.
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