Wiggles, Giggles, and Pokes

By Heather Roth Johson

Wiggles, Giggles, and Pokes is the essential guide for pastors, church leaders, volunteers, and families who want to cultivate a worshiping community where children truly belong. Drawing on interviews with over 200 ministers, educators, parents, and volunteers, Rev. Heather Roth Johnson weaves research, theology, personal stories, and practical tools into a comprehensive and hope-filled vision for including children in worship.

With warmth, wisdom, and humor, Johnson explores why children's presence in the sanctuary matters-not as future members of the church, but as full participants right now. Through Scripture, neuroscience, liturgical insight, and real congregational case studies, she equips leaders to welcome every child: energetic, neurodiverse, curious, wiggly, reverent, noisy, observant, and wonderfully made.

Inside this book, you'll discover:

Why belonging precedes believing-and how worship forms faith at every age.The biblical and theological foundations for welcoming kids into worship.Research on how worship shapes children's brains, identity, and discipleship.Practical tools: worship boxes, sensory spaces, liturgist roles for children, and more.How to help congregations embrace adaptive change with grace and courage.Strategies for cross-generational discipleship and reducing "information overload."A "One-Story" approach that brings the whole church around a single biblical narrative each week.Real stories of failure, growth, hope, and surprising moments of Spirit-filled joy.

For churches of all sizes and traditions, this book offers a pastoral, practical roadmap for creating worship experiences where God's people-all ages, all abilities-are welcomed, loved, discipled, and sent.

Whether you're a children's minister, lead pastor, volunteer, parent, or someone who loves the church, this book will inspire you to imagine worship as a place where kids aren't just watching-they're leading, learning, and helping the whole congregation grow in faith.

Because kids wiggle, giggle, poke... and worship.

And the church is better for it.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0GMSKSXR9
• ISBN13: 9798895320990
• Release Date: February 2026
• Publisher: Parson's Porch
• Length: 132 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.5" x 8.5"