Neighborhood Church of Redding
Wednesday, September 08, 2010

infants - kindergarten

  

 

Welcome to Early Childhood Ministries!

It is our privilege to provide a safe, fun and spiritually enriching environment for your little ones as they experience the love of Christ in our "Critter Corner". We provide care at the Saturday 5:30 pm, Sunday 9:00 am and Sunday 10:45 am services.

General Information

Registration

All Children between the ages of 0 and Kindergarten register using our automated check-in system prior to going into the appropriate room. As you check in your child, please be sure to include any special instructions (feeding information, food allergies, toileting needs, etc.) you feel would be important for caregivers to know in caring for your child. Parents leaving a diaper bag need to request an additional label during the registration process so that each diaper bag is properly identified.

Paging System

When you check in your child, a number will be assigned on your parent sticker. If you are attending the main service, this is the number that will flash on the small monitors under the large screens on either side of the stage when you are being paged. If you are attending a class on the main church campus or attending service at the Video Cafe or The Well at Lassen View School, please request a vibrating pager so that we may reach you if necessary.

Caregiver ratio:

Our caregiver ratio is 1 caregiver to 3 content infants. Three to five caregivers are scheduled to provide care during each service.

Spunky Skunks

Caring for your infant:

  • Clean toys and a clean sheet are placed on the floor on the infant nursery during each service.

  • Cheerios are provided to babies who are able to sit up and are old enough for finger food. Please specify when you check in if it is NOT OK for your child to have Cheerios.
If a baby becomes fussy while in the nursery, the following steps are takes prior to a parent being paged:
  • Comfort measures (pacifier, bottle, diaper change) are provided according to the parents instruction on the check-in printout.
  • Baby is entertained with caregiver holding, rocking, engaging with toys, placing baby in the swing or bouncy seat etc. Baby is passed to each caregiver in an effort to calm the baby.
  • Parents are paged if the baby is inconsolable and has been continuously crying for 10-15 minutes. 

Bouncy Bunnies

Caregiver ratio:

Our caregiver ratio is 1 caregiver to 4 content toddlers. Three to five caregivers are scheduled to provide care during each service.

Caring for your toddler: 

  • All toys and surfaces in the toddler nursery are cleaned weekly. 
  • Goldfish or graham crackers are provided at snack time during each service. Please specify during check-in if it is NOT OK for your child to have a snack.
  • Water is offered in a Dixie cup during snack time. If you bring a sippy cup or bottle please be sure to label it with your child's name.
  • If a child becomes fussy while in the nursery, the following steps are taken prior to a parent being paged.
  • Child is comforted with caregiver holding, rocking, reading books, and engaging the child in play
  • Available comfort measures are provided (diaper change, sippy cup, pacifier, cuddly toy)
  • Child is passed to each caregiver to see if he/she can be consoled.
  • If the child is inconsolable and has been continuously crying for 15 minutes the parent will be paged.
Occasionally toddlers go through a stage of hitting and/or biting. If you child is prone to either, please bring this to the caregiver's attention when you drop you child off. In instances where the same child is repeating these behaviors, parents will be asked to stay with their child until this stage has passed.
 

Preschool 

Our preschool classes are staffed with one teacher and one to three helpers depending on class size.
The lesson presented each weekend is the same during the Saturday 5:30pm service and Sunday 10:45am service. The Lesson during the 9:00am service is different to accommodate those children who attend two services each weekend.

Bashful Bears- two year olds

  • This is an introduction to Sunday School. Each class begins with unstructured playtime followed by singing, prayer, story time, snack and an age-appropriate activity sheet or craft.
  • Children are gradually encouraged to participate in structured activities.
  • Focal Concepts: God created the world and everything in it, when we pray we are talking to God, the Bible is God's Word. Jesus is God's son, God/Jesus loves us, it pleases God/Jesus when we pray, worship, read our Bible, obey our parents, and show love to others.

Rascally Raccoons- three & four year olds & Super Squirrels- five year olds and kindergartners

  • Each class begins with unstructured playtime followed by singing, prayer, story time, snack and an age-appropriate activity sheet or craft.
  • To avoid distracting other children, all are expected to participate in structured activities. 
  • Focal concepts: Bible stories emphasize the difference between right and wrong: Doing what is right pleases Jesus; Jesus presented as a personal friend children can talk with; Prayer is encouraged as a time of talking to God as they would a friend; Concept of forgiveness is presented (God forgives them,    others can forgive them. They can forgive others).
Early Childhood Ministries Director