Follow-Up for Families with Kids: What to Send and What to Offer in Week One

Families with kids make church decisions differently.

It's not just about whether the adults liked the service. It's about whether the kids were happy, whether drop-off was stressful, and whether Sunday morning felt like a win or a battle.

Your follow-up should acknowledge that. Families have different questions—and different barriers to coming back.

What Families Care About

These are the questions they're asking on the drive home.

Do they do background checks? What's the check-in process like? Are there policies posted? Did the kids seem supervised?

Safety is non-negotiable for parents. If they felt uncertain, they're not coming back.

Did my kid have fun? Were they excited after? Was the environment age-appropriate? Was the lesson engaging?

Kids vote with their enthusiasm. If they begged to go back, that matters.

Was check-in smooth, or did we stand in a confusing line? Did we know where to go? Were volunteers helpful?

The more friction Sunday morning has, the less likely a family will repeat it.

Is there a nursery? What ages? Does my child need to be potty-trained? Can I stay nearby if needed?

Teens often get forgotten. If a family has a 13-year-old, what's for them?

These are the unasked questions. Address them in follow-up, and you remove barriers.

The Family-Specific Follow-Up

If someone checked "kids" on their connection card—or you know they have children—adjust your follow-up.

Email subject:

• "Thanks for visiting—and thanks for trusting us with your kids"
• "How'd the kids like it?"

Email content:

Hi [Name],


Thanks for joining us Sunday—and for trusting us with your kids! We know visiting a new church with little ones can be a lot.


A few things that might be helpful:


- Nursery: Available for ages 0-2 in the west wing
- Kids' Church: Ages 3-5th grade, upstairs in Building B
- Check-in: Arrive 5-10 minutes early to avoid the rush


If you have any questions about our kids ministry—or anything else—just reply to this email. Our kids ministry director, Sarah, would love to hear from you.


Hope to see your family again!

Acknowledge the kids. Provide useful info. Make it easy.

The Kids Ministry Director Touch

If you have a dedicated kids ministry leader, a personal email from them goes a long way.

Why this matters:

Parents trust kids ministry leaders more than generic "church" communication. A personal note from Sarah feels like relationship-building, not marketing.

Template:

Hi [Name],


I'm Sarah, and I lead our kids ministry at First Community. I wanted to reach out and thank you for visiting—and for trusting us with your kids on Sunday.


If you have any questions about what we do, or if your child has any special needs we should know about, I'd love to chat. Feel free to reply here or come find me Sunday morning—I'm usually near the kids check-in area.


Hope to see your family again!


— Sarah

Short. Specific. Opens a door.

The Second Visit Setup

A lot of first-visit stress comes from the unknown. Reduce it for their second visit.

Before Sunday:

If you have the kids' names and ages, use them.

Hey [Parent name], just a quick note before Sunday! We'll have [Child's name] all set for check-in in the [age] room. Just head to the welcome desk and we'll get you pointed in the right direction.


Doors open at 9:45—arriving a few minutes early helps avoid the rush. See you there!

The goal:

Make the second visit easier than the first. When parents know what to expect, stress drops—and they're more likely to come back.

Parent-Specific Content

Beyond logistics, offer something for parents.

In follow-up:

• A family devotional resource
• A link to an upcoming family event
• A parenting article or short video

Sample addition:

P.S. — If you're looking for a quick family devotional to use during the week, here's one we like: [link]. Simple enough for busy nights!

This signals that you care about the whole family—not just their kids during service.

The First Visit Matters More

For families, first impressions compound.

If check-in was confusing, they remember.

If a volunteer was cold, they remember.

If their child was upset at pickup, they remember.

Your follow-up can't fix a bad experience. But it can reinforce a good one—and provide clarity if something was unclear.

If you sense something went wrong (child was upset, parent seemed stressed), address it:

I noticed [Child's name] had a tough time during check-in—I'm so sorry if that was stressful! Our team is here to help. If there's anything we can do differently next time, let me know.

Acknowledging friction builds trust.

Sample Family Follow-Up Email

Subject: Thanks for visiting with the kids!

Hi [Name],


Thank you for joining us at First Community on Sunday—and for trusting us with your kids!


We know visiting a new church with little ones can feel like a lot. Here's some info that might help for next time:


Kids Check-In: Arrive 5-10 minutes early to avoid the rush. Check-in is in the lobby of Building B.


Ages:
- Nursery: 0-2 years (west wing)
- Preschool: 3-4 years (Room 101)
- Elementary: K-5th grade (Room 201)


Questions? Sarah leads our kids ministry and would love to connect. Reply to this email or find her at the kids check-in desk.


We'd love to see your family again!


— The First Community Team

The Long Game

Families take longer to commit. They're making a big decision—not just for themselves, but for their kids' spiritual formation.

Be patient. Be consistent. Be helpful.

Follow up well. Keep showing up in their inbox. Invite without pressure. Eventually, if it's a fit, they'll keep coming.