Engaging with parents is a vital part of kids and youth ministry—and it isn’t always easy. Parents and caregivers play a huge role in the faith development of their kids, which means the way we communicate, support, and partner with them really matters. When we work together, kids are better supported both at church and at home.
It’s natural to want to jump straight into creating a family strategy, but real partnership begins with trust. Families won’t automatically trust us just because we lead a ministry—and that’s okay. Trust is built slowly, through consistency, empathy, and follow-through. When families know we care about their kids and respect their role, trust has room to grow.
And honestly, trust isn’t built through words alone. Parents and caregivers need more than encouragement—they need practical, tangible tools they can actually take home and use. When we provide clear, helpful resources that support them in their everyday role, we show that we’re not just talking about partnership—we’re committed to it.
Here are three tools you can offer to parents to build trust and help them do the difficult job of raising kids and teenagers.
1. PARENT HANDBOOK
A Parent Handbook can be the first real glimpse parents get into your ministry—and that makes it a powerful trust-building tool. It answers the question many parents are already asking– “Can I trust this place with my kid?”
A thoughtful handbook gives you space to clearly and warmly communicate…
- Who you are as a ministry
- What you value and where you’re headed
- How families can connect with you and your team
It’s also where families can find practical details about safety guidelines, check-in and check-out procedures, and what to expect when their kids are with you. When parents see that you’ve been intentional about both safety and spiritual growth, it reassures them that their kids are in good hands.
We recommend sharing your Parent Handbook at key moments—like an Open House to kickoff your year or a Parent and Small Group Leader Breakfast—and keeping extra copies available for new families throughout the year. Updating it annually with a fresh cover, current staff info, or small vision tweaks helps it feel current and cared for, not forgotten.
2. PARENT SURVEY
A Parent Survey is one of the simplest ways to show parents that you want to understand them—not just invite them to what you’ve already planned. Each year, there’s important information you need to collect, but surveys can do more than gather data. They create an opportunity to listen.
Through a short, thoughtful survey, you can learn things like –
- The ages and stages of kids in each family
- What parents love most about raising kids or teenagers
- Where they feel uncomfortable, uncertain, or in need of support
But the real impact comes after the survey is completed. When you follow up, acknowledge what parents share, or reach out with a simple note or conversation, trust deepens. Families can feel seen. They can feel heard. And they’re more likely to believe that you’re truly on their team.
3. PARENT TIP VIDEOS
Your ministry doesn’t stop with the kids and teenagers who show up each week—it extends to the families who are walking with them every day. That’s why regular, ongoing communication matters so much.
Instead of saving all your parent engagement for one or two meetings throughout the year, consider offering small, consistent moments of encouragement. Monthly Parent Tip videos are a simple way to do exactly that. These short videos can offer –
- Encouragement when parenting feels overwhelming
- Practical advice for common challenges
- Helpful resources parents can actually use
Over time, these touch points communicate something powerful: “We’re here for you.” And to make it sustainable, you can batch-record your videos once or twice a year and schedule them out—making it easier for you while still being meaningful for parents.
With each of these tools, you’ll be working to build trust with parents by providing them with helpful tips, encouragement, and resources. Getting each of these tools up and running might seem like a lot of work, but you already know parents are worth it.
And with Grow you don’t have to build these tools from scratch. In the Grow Marketplace, you’ll find ready-to-use Parent Tools designed to fit your ministry and your context! Whether you’re planning months ahead or looking for something you can use right away, the Grow Marketplace makes it easy to find exactly what you need, when you need it. Grow is more than just curriculum—it’s everything you need for your ministry, for the whole year or just for next week.
In this post, here’s what we’ll cover: