Key Elements of Drumbeats

There are 6 things that I think help make Drumbeats a positive, welcoming and friendly group. They also are express in small but strong ways that everyone matters to God. 

#1 We all sit together in one big circle (normally on cushions, not chairs): this means that everyone faces everyone else and no adult is facing someone's back. It also creates a defined space within which kids can play, crawl, watch and sing. 

#2 Every kid is welcomed by name: this expresses a profound truth that everyone, including the youngest and smallest is known by God. I do this welcome in two ways. Firstly I try to give every child a shaky egg informally as they arrive (it's a great way to check names). And secondly we sing the 'hello' song (see the blog 'How to Run A Drumbeats-style Group' for info) and go around the room name each child as we say hello. If you can't remember the names, you can instead invite the parent or carer to shout the child's name in turn.

#3 Every adult has their drink brought to them: it might seem a small thing, but parents and carers can spend a lot of their time doing things for their kids. So this is one way to do something for them, and to serve them. It's noticeable how many parents express deep gratitude for not having to move to get their drink

#4 We use familiar tunes and adapt the words: this makes it easy for sessions leaders to think of songs and for people to join in. Traditional nursery rhymes are a great basis, and a few of the more recent simple tracks. You'll spot in the 'Resources' blog that 'Wheels on the Bus' has been adapted to 'The Cow in the Barn' and 'The Wheels on the Loader'. A modern version of 'Wind the Bobbin Up' is 'There's a Dinosaur' and it's a big hit.

#5 We use lift-the-flap books for the books we read together: Asking different children to lift a flap on each page of the story is a great way to interact with kids, especially toddlers and pre-schoolers. It's a way of valuing the kids. You'll find a list of the books we use in the 'Resources' Blog. But here's a really practical hint: hide away the book you are using with the group before it's refreshment and free play time, otherwise you'll probably find a flap or two gets ripped off accidentally. Give a book box instead with different books in. 

#6 We keep it simple, welcoming and familiar: You don't need to do lots of new creative and innovative things. I've learnt that kids (and their carers) like to know what they're coming to. So we only change the book we read every half term. And the songs we sing once the book has finished, are always drawn from a pool of about 10 or 12 songs that are familiar. It also makes the group low level demand on the team in terms of preparation. All this makes Drumbeats sustainable.