What is TUMC Children’s Time?
During the first half of the 11 a..m. worship service, your children are able to stay and worship with you as a family. Before the sermon, your children leave the sanctuary for their special time. There are folks waiting in the hallway to lead you to the room. Once checked in, your child will have the opportunity to pray, hear a short children’s message, have a snack, as well as sing, dance, and play.
Transitioning from Nursery to Children’s Time
Children may transition into the preschool group as they turn three if they exhibit the maturity to function in the group. If not, they may stay in the nursery until they enter the three-year-old class in the fall. This will be decided on a case-by-case basis.Elementary children make the transition to the next level on Promotion Sunday, the beginning of the Fall Sunday School Program. During the summer they stay with the group they were with during the previous school year.”
Preschool children (ages 3-5) Room 203:
Please enter and check in your child in the back of the room. As Cathy gets to know your child, this will be a speedier process allowing you to make a quick exit back to the sanctuary. Then, please exit out the other door to prevent a pile up near the sign-in area. We ask that if you need to chat with another parent, please do so in the hallway so the leader may get the program underway.
Following the service, please sign your child out so that we will have a record of who you child left with—in case your spouse comes by and needs to know.
You do not have to wait until promotion Sunday for your 3 year old to participate. Once your child is potty trained and ready to leave you for a short period of time, we would love to have them in come to children’s time. You are always welcome to stay with your child if you wish. The nursery is also open to your preschool child.
Elementary children (K-2nd grade) Room 202:
A volunteer will check the children in at the door. There will be no need to sign in—just make sure they make it to the room. At pick-up, please come in and find out what they learned about. This is a great way to start a conversation about your faith over lunch. You don’t need to sign them out, but we do want to see your face before your child leaves the room.
How can I help?
As a parent you are an integral part of our support team. You are always welcome to stay and play with us, but we know that you might rather participate in a way that still allows you to hear the sermon.
Snack:
Once every few months you will be asked to bring in snack. Please plan to bring a large Costco/Sam’s-sized container or two traditional grocery store sized packages. Goldfish, animal crackers, vanilla wafers, or pre-sliced apples make great choices. (Think: non-messy, non-choking hazard, non-peanut type items. We want to keep the rooms tidy and don’t want to mess up any Sunday best.)
To sign up for snacks, please click here: http://bit.ly/1FY1sWh
Other support team tasks:
- Write, or help your children to write a hand written note to a volunteer letting them know what their help means to you or your child.
- Sub if one of our volunteers can’t make it at the last minute.
- Help new parents find their way back to the room.
- Invite one of our volunteers to join you for lunch after church.
- Purchase or donate games that are cooperative and easy to exit when it’s time to go.
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” 3 John 4