seeler
Child care at church meetings?
Posted on: 10/24/2010 15:07
I've been looking after my grandson this weekend while Seelergirl and granddaughter are away and sil is at his camp in the woods.
We had a visioning meeting after church - seeking the congregation's opinion at to the direction they would like the church to go in the next five years. The program was this - worship service, planned monthly soup luncheon in the gym, followed immediately by the meeting. Naturally we hoped that as many as possible would stay for the meeting as we wanted to hear voices from as many different individuals and groups as possible.
Although we have a Sunday School, indicating young families, and a youth class of about twelve teenagers, my grandson was the only person under 40 in the room.
I'm wondering if this was because no one thought to provide childcare. When I inquired a week in advance I was told it wouldn't be necessary. Huh? How do you get young adults without providing a place for their children? And how do you attract the teens if there are no young adults in the room?
One mother volunteered to watch grandson while he played with her kids and she helped with clean-up after the luncheon. Then he came into the meeting and played with his hand-held computer game. He was as good as gold, but not all kids could sit still for over an hour and none shuld be expected to.
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Beloved
Posted on: 10/24/2010 15:34
I know we have offered child care after annual meetings and found that it was not requried because those with young children didn't stay for the meeting anyway. I think young families are on the go and don't want to be involved in or stay for discussions, planning, meetings, etc. I know this is not the case for all of the younger generation, but it tends to be the case in my particular church.
crazyheart
Posted on: 10/24/2010 20:19
i thimk you have to offer it. I think you have to advertise it. I think phone calls should be made to young parents to tell them and invite them in person.
I think we all have to work better at this.
Oh yeah, the church should pay the babysitter something.
somegalfromcan
Posted on: 10/24/2010 21:22
Childcare should definitely be required! At our church we usually have members of the youth group volunteer. There is a great little room just off the downstairs hall where a TV is kept, so it's very easy to pop in a DVD and put some craft supplies out.
seeler
Posted on: 10/25/2010 06:33
Since our meeting room (parlor) is right next to the gym, once the tables from the soup luncheon are cleared away, the kids love to run around (chase, tag, follow the leader) or play with balls. A couple of responsible teens, and most of the kids could be accommodated. A line of chairs could provide a separate space for the very young with a few push toys or ride-ons, and provide a resting place for those who might like at take a break.
lastpointe
Posted on: 10/27/2010 01:08
It should be offered but may not be used.
most young families I know are pretty busy with activities after church or naps depending on ages.
For many kids, being at church at 10, sunday school, lunch and then more "play time" may be too long. Too long to be inside . If you think of it related to school, they arrive at 9, have recess at 10:15ish, leave for lunch at 11:45ish and then back at 1? In that same 4 hour period they have been outside to run around twice, once for at least an hour. Makes being at church from say 10 - 2 a pretty long time
somegalfromcan
Posted on: 10/27/2010 01:25
Our congregation is lucky - not only do we have a large room that the kids can run around in without disturbing the worship service/meeting, but we also have a park right across the street with a great playground. As a Sunday School teacher, I often try and plan a game for the kids because they do get quite restless.