3 Ways to Boost Your Attendance

So you're running this really cool kids club, and kids are coming in droves, and you're pumped, you're excited, then suddenly... where are they?

Did I do something wrong?

Has club become boring?

Did something happen?

Is there new competition?

Welcome to the world of urban kids ministry!  In our world, it's up to the kids to remember where and when kids club happens, what day and time it currently is, and get themselves there ready to go.  Really, we should be surprised when anybody shows up!  Don't lose heart: there are ways to help your ministry have a steadier attendance record - but it will never be ideal!

1) Get parents, siblings, teachers, grandparents, family pets - everybody - on board!

If at all possible, send out reminders (in person is ideal) to everyone reminding them of the wheres and whens of your ministry.  This is not a one-time reminder.  This is a weekly, bi-weekly, or even daily reminder!  If you happen to have tech-savvy kids, let them sign up to get email reminders or texts an hour before club starts.  Remind, remind, remind until they are sick of you and tell you "I KNOW ALREADY!" and really do.  And then send out reminders a few more times just to make sure!

2) Help kids plan to come.

I have often discussed plans of how a child can not only remember to come to club, but successfully get here on time.  Sometimes it means I arrange to have the child picked up from school.  Sometimes I allow a few kids into the centre a little early so they don't have to go home inbetween school and club.  Sometimes I help them arrange to walk with a friend.  At our centre, we have a standing rule that if you can make it here, we can get you home.  This helps remove obstacles for caregivers, as well as making sure the kids are safe after dark.  Usually we just walk the kids home, but if any live a little farther out, we make sure we arrange transportation.  In this way, more parents are likely to help their kids get to clubs if it's only one way they have to arrange.  Ideally, I find a group of friends that live close together who will remind each other and pick each other up to get here on time.

3) Pick up kids.

I have never met someone in ministry who loves knocking on doors to pick kids up.  We all think we can run a good enough program that the kids will come on their own.  They will - sometimes.  In the meantime, swallow your pride and go knocking on doors.  Nine times out of ten, the kids simply forgot and no one thought to remind them.  If they're home, they will probably be happy to have the reminder: not only does it mean they won't miss their favourite (we hope) part of the week, it also means we care enough about them to know where they live and miss them when they're not there.

Attendance does help you evaluate some things in ministry, but in urban centres, it is a fickle indicator.  We find ourselves with an empty drop-in every time the weather changes, routines change (school vacations), or when there's something else competing for their attention (a fight, a carnival, a funeral, a school event, etc.)  It's possibly to overcome some of this by scheduling: immediately after school leaves less time to get distracted, but is also harder to coordinate volunteers for.  Knowing what's going on in your community helps avoid scheduling conflicts.  Basically, unless your poor attendance is becoming long-term, and efforts at talking with families, sending out reminders and picking kids up is yielding no fruit, take it in stride and know that next week you might be right back to full again.