Any Church, no matter the size, should have some sort of check-in system for their children’s ministry.
My wife and I have been involved in children’s ministry at a few different Churches. One had 9,000 in attendance, the others, a few hundred. The importance of a check-in system was equal for all the Churches.
It may seem silly in a small Church for having a check-in system, when you know 95% of the kids you may see week in and week out. Here are a few things that you should consider:
- Stranger Danger
Our Churches need to be warm and welcoming, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be careful. Small Churches are more likely to be targeted than Mega Churches. Why? They’re less likely to have security measures, including child check-in. - Divorce
It happens. A couple in your Church, or a visitor, maybe in the middle of a custody battle. When Mom or Dad come and pick up the kid, you may be handing the child off into the wrong hands. Also, a huge number of kids who go missing, are taken by someone they know. Stranger danger is real, but it’s not your number one threat. - Care
By setting-up a strong check-in solution, your children’s ministry says, “We care about kids.”
Every week, for the next several weeks, we will be looking at different Church check-in solutions for children’s ministry.
Dave Sandell contacted me, yesterday, asking about a number of solutions.
- Lambs List
- ACS Checkpoint
- Excellerate
- KidCheck
- Advanced Kiosks
- Fellowship One
- Children’s Church Check-In
- Kidzpro
- Parent Pager
- Church Community Builder
- Event Espresso for WordPress
These are some of the check-in solutions we will be reviewing in the coming weeks, but if there are some others that you are currently using or have heard about, be sure to share it with us, and we’ll be sure to take a look!
[HT: Dave Sandell | Image via jmayer1129]
Paul says
we have our check-in system rolling out in mid/late august for Fresh Vine. Would love to get your thoughts and feedback on it.
Eric Dye says
Hmm, perhaps we’ll have to review two per week, then.
Mike says
We used Kidzpro for a while while we met at a school where we didn’t have internet access. It syncs when you get a connection. http://www.kidzpro.com/
We didn’t have any problems with it.
Eric Dye says
Added to the list! Thanks for the link!
Zach Gilliam says
We use Fellowship One and its great — not just for children’s check-in but for event check-in and the whole ecosystem.
Eric Dye says
Fellowship One is pretty solid stuff.
silentfool says
We’re right in the middle of looking for a new alternative for our check in process, so this is perfect timing. I’m anxious to read what’s ahead, as well as any comments and recommendations from other readers…
We used a system called “Confident” for a while, which used fingerprint scanners for check in. It was OK overall, but we’d really like an option that is web-based, allows self check in…and isn’t ridiculously expensive…
Eric Dye says
Exactly. There are plenty of solid solutions that won’t bust the budget.
Eric Rovtar says
Check out Parent Pager (parentpager.com) by Acink, Inc. Our Children’s Pastor is friends with the developers and they are great to work with. The technology is good and they’re more than happy to help customize the solution for you (example, they build a syncing app to sync the Parent Pager database with CCB). Add in the fact that it’s so secure (picture verification, biometric ID, etc) and it’s definitely a great solution.
Eric Dye says
We’ll add it to the list – thanks!
Graham says
We use ACS for some things around our church but our Children’s Ministry doesn’t yet have ACS Checkpoint. I’m curious about this series.
Eric Dye says
😀
Mike Loomis says
You might also include Church Community Builder – implemented their system and really liked it!
Eric Dye says
Awesome! I’ll add that to the list!
Stephen Ward says
Do you use iPads as your check-in process with CCB?
Ben Richards says
We use iPads with CCB. We are a portable church of about 2000. One of our check in options is to role up to the entrance where a greater with an iPad check in your family and hands you the claim stickers, parents can then go park and go to service. Our kidmin facility is across the street from the adult worship center (K-6th).
Eric Dye says
Sweet! Love the iPad action!
Israel says
We are working with ccb and I’m having trouble with the connection of the ipad and printers wireless….any suggestions?
Eric Dye says
Have you tried contacting their support?
Jonathan says
Hi Ben!
How does your printing setup work, when printing from the iPad using CCB?
Bonnie barber says
We use Church Community Builder and their checkin solution. We love it and use both a manned station and a self checkin station. We love how it merges your groups, events, attendance, security, as well as visitor follow-up — no separate silos of information — pulling from / to the check in experience.
Eric Dye says
Good to hear! I might need to pick your brain.
Stephen Ward says
Do you use iPads for your check-in?
Matt says
I’m searching for an affordable solution that uses iOS devices instead of clunky & expensive kiosks. Really considering Event Espresso for a WordPress solution.
Eric Dye says
I like your thinking, Matt.
I’ll add that to the list.
Rabecka P says
We use Church Community Builder for all of our check in needs. We have a manned station at our KidZone entrance for our children checking in and we also utilize two iPads to do mobile volunteer check-in for everyone that serves at our Weekend Celebrations. We love how the CCB check-in system syncs with our database for attendance reporting. Makes it SO much easier!
Eric Dye says
Whoa! Glowing review!
Stephen Ward says
Rebecka, we are a new church plant and are looking at using iPads with CCB. Would you mind talking to me at some point and allow us to learn from you and your experiences with children’s check-in? My email is [email protected] and my cell is (509) 995-8010.
Julie Eastman says
We also use CCB and echo all the positive comments stated before. It serves as a reliable check in system. We have both manned and unmanned kiosks, it is user friendly for volunteers and families. It is serves as an all in one system, merging all information which makes for easy communication and follow up. We have also created forms for event sign ups and surveys with this system.
Eric Dye says
Awesome!
silentfool says
Hey. Remember that time when you posted that you would be reviewing a new check-in system every week and then you didn’t do it? Yeah….i do.
Eric Dye says
#sadpanda
Back next week? Cool. Thanks!
Carl Adams says
Hi Eric,
Are you still planning to review the different check-in solutions? I think that would offer some great info, so I hope so!
Eric Dye says
Covering KidCheck next week!
Donna Makowski says
Where might I find your reviews of Kid Check and Fellowship One?
Ben Sinclair says
We’ve recently released the child check-in system into elvanto. It’s still in BETA but we’re making updates every day to get it fully functional.
http://elvanto.com/blog/child-check-in-for-churches
Eric Dye says
Nice!
Carla Wiederhold says
Where might I find the results of the evaluations of check-in solutions. We are hoping to implement a solution in the near future. We use Shelby for our Church Management, my IT team wants us to implement their check in system. However, I am impressed with KidCheck (especially that it is web-based). I know your evaluations would help me in my process. THANKS!
Amy Madden says
I know this post is from a few years ago, but I wanted to follow up with a new children’s sign in program that I have recently developed for my church and am now offering it to other churches. It is called Simple Sign In and was designed to be easy to implement and use as well as be affordable for churches of all sizes. It’s 100% web based and starts at just $15 a month! Check it out at http://www.simplesigninonline.com!
Eric Dye says
We will check it out – Thank you!