No doubt about it—children do crazy things sometimes. It may be from high spirits, boredom, wanting attention, or a host of other causes. Often it’s not even misbehavior; it just happens to get on your nerves at the time.

What’s the secret to successful Pioneer Clubs meetings? Your success in club 80% of time depends on your preparation. Your mother was right: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Here are nine checkpoints to make sure you’re ahead of the game and ready for a super Pioneer Clubs meeting.

• Arrive early. It’s important to be organized and ready when the first club members arrive so you can spend time getting to know them. Also, if you’re already prepared, you can channel early arrivers’ energy so they don’t get out of hand.
   
• Put problems aside. Prepare your frame of mind. Are you exhausted from work? Angry at your spouse? Worried about an upcoming decision? Any of these concerns will affect your ability to handle behavior problems well. Ask God for a sense of calm and the ability to focus. Work at relaxing, and do your best to put your problems aside for an hour or so.
   
• Have supplies ready. Make sure whatever items are needed for the Bible Exploration or activity awards are ready so your meeting plan can go smoothly.  Both discipline and relationships improve if you (and your coleaders) use club time to interact with the children rather than do preparation.
   
• Communicate expectations. Let club members know what type of behavior is expected. Boundaries are a good thing. Review your club rules at the beginning of each meeting.
   
• Know the plan for the meeting. Have the flow of the meeting in your mind so you can move smoothly from one part to the next.  This prevents gaps that give club members’ attention a chance to wander.
   
• Know the Bible Exploration. Familiarize yourself with the Bible Exploration or Bible Story. Practice it aloud a few times so that you feel comfortable.
   
• Plan transitions. Transition times, such as the time between finishing an activity award and beginning Bible Exploration, are key to maintaining discipline. Have a plan for club members who finish early—maybe a quiet game or worksheet—so they aren’t dashing around the room.
   
• Involve club members. When club members are engaged and interested, they’re not as likely to act up. Asking certain children to help pass out supplies may give them the attention they need so they don’t seek it in a disruptive way.

Instead of having to address discipline issues when they arise, here are a few tips that may prevent them from coming up at all.