Nursery to Preschool
If you have any questions about our ministry at Birchwood or are interested in serving in any of our nursery or preschool areas you can contact Heidi Shuler by email.
Where to Go: Check-in
You will check in on the main level, down the hall from the sanctuary. Our check-in desk lies between the nursery and toddler classroom. At check-in, you will be asked for some basic information about you and your child, given an identification tag for both you and your child, and be led by a volunteer to your child's classroom.
Nursery: Newborn to One Year
Children birth to one year will enter beside the check-in counter. A large glass window will allow you to check on your child before leaving and as often as you like. Nursing mothers may use the nursery for nursing their little ones. Children who are beginning to walk will play in a separate room from our youngest babies.
What You Should Bring
Your diaper bag should include:
Arrival at Room: Toddler to Pre-Kindergarten
A volunteer will lead you from check-in to the appropriate room. A teacher will meet you at the door to receive your child and other necessary items. Please tell the teacher any information that will help in caring for your child such as feeding times, allergies, and special needs. We will verify that the child name on your parent stub matches the child name on your child's name tag. A child will not be released to a parent without presentation of the parent stub.
Saying Goodbye
After you have completed the check-in process, simply wave good-bye and leave for the worship service. As you know it is normal for little ones to cry when leaving a parent. This does not last long and separation becomes easier over time. Our leaders will immediately try to create interest in a toy or activity and give assurance that you will return after the worship service is completed. If your child cries for an extended period of time, we will let you know.
Checking on Your Child
Feel free to check on your little one at any time during the worship service. However, we ask that you do so discreetly, trying not to let your child see you.
Pick Up Procedures
When you return to your child's class please knock and wait for the teacher to greet you. You will need to give your Parent Name Tag that contains your child's name to the teacher before they will release your child to you. If you lose your label you can return to the desk for a new one. We will not release preschoolers to anyone without the proper matching label. Please make sure all your child's personal items have been returned to you before you leave the premises. Lost and found items will be retained for a short time. Items not claimed in a timely manner are donated to a charitable organization.
Take Home Activities and Papers
Every week our volunteers lead the preschool children in a different Bible story and activity. The activities are specially planned to match that week's lesson. You can review the story and the activity with your child and help them further understand the lesson. Save the take home papers and use it during the week. This interaction with your child can be very rewarding for both of you.
Your Child's Health
For the protection of all the children in our ministry we cannot accept a child with a severe runny nose, fresh cold (four days or less), fever, undiagnosed rash, persistent cough, lice, diarrhea or any other signs of illness. We ask that you do not place your child in class while they are at risk of exposing other children. Thank you in advance for helping us keep our classes a healthy place for all.
Snacks
Snacks are provided for the children once they graduate to the crawler classroom. The food items consist of Cheerios or fruit puffs for crawlers and Cheerios or Goldfish crackers for walking one year olds. Snacks for children age 2 and up may include pretzels, Goldfish crackers, Fruit Loop cereal, or Cheez-It crackers. If your child has an allergy, please let us know at the check-in desk to inform the leaders in your child's class each time you bring your child. For children with allergies, a red sticker will be attached to your child's name tag as a reminder.
Nursing Mother's Area
Nursing mothers may use the Nursery to nurse their little ones.
Curriculum for Preschoolers
During the 9:00AM service, children play and discuss the theme for the month. We concentrate on the monthly memory verse and the seasons. During the 10:30AM service we follow the Noah's Ark curriculum by David Cook. Learning that God is with us, God loves us and we are to love others.
- Cribbers and Crawlers: New Born - 1 year
- Toddlers: 2 years old last August
- Preschool: 3 years old last August
- Pre-Kindergarten: 4-5 year olds (will start Kindergarten next year)
If you have any questions about our ministry at Birchwood or are interested in serving in any of our nursery or preschool areas you can contact Heidi Shuler by email.
Where to Go: Check-in
You will check in on the main level, down the hall from the sanctuary. Our check-in desk lies between the nursery and toddler classroom. At check-in, you will be asked for some basic information about you and your child, given an identification tag for both you and your child, and be led by a volunteer to your child's classroom.
Nursery: Newborn to One Year
Children birth to one year will enter beside the check-in counter. A large glass window will allow you to check on your child before leaving and as often as you like. Nursing mothers may use the nursery for nursing their little ones. Children who are beginning to walk will play in a separate room from our youngest babies.
What You Should Bring
Your diaper bag should include:
- Two or Three Diapers
- Pacifier or another item your child needs for comfort
- A change of clothes
- A bottle of milk, formula, juice or water according to your child's needs
- Please let us know of any allergies or special information regarding your child
Arrival at Room: Toddler to Pre-Kindergarten
A volunteer will lead you from check-in to the appropriate room. A teacher will meet you at the door to receive your child and other necessary items. Please tell the teacher any information that will help in caring for your child such as feeding times, allergies, and special needs. We will verify that the child name on your parent stub matches the child name on your child's name tag. A child will not be released to a parent without presentation of the parent stub.
Saying Goodbye
After you have completed the check-in process, simply wave good-bye and leave for the worship service. As you know it is normal for little ones to cry when leaving a parent. This does not last long and separation becomes easier over time. Our leaders will immediately try to create interest in a toy or activity and give assurance that you will return after the worship service is completed. If your child cries for an extended period of time, we will let you know.
Checking on Your Child
Feel free to check on your little one at any time during the worship service. However, we ask that you do so discreetly, trying not to let your child see you.
Pick Up Procedures
When you return to your child's class please knock and wait for the teacher to greet you. You will need to give your Parent Name Tag that contains your child's name to the teacher before they will release your child to you. If you lose your label you can return to the desk for a new one. We will not release preschoolers to anyone without the proper matching label. Please make sure all your child's personal items have been returned to you before you leave the premises. Lost and found items will be retained for a short time. Items not claimed in a timely manner are donated to a charitable organization.
Take Home Activities and Papers
Every week our volunteers lead the preschool children in a different Bible story and activity. The activities are specially planned to match that week's lesson. You can review the story and the activity with your child and help them further understand the lesson. Save the take home papers and use it during the week. This interaction with your child can be very rewarding for both of you.
Your Child's Health
For the protection of all the children in our ministry we cannot accept a child with a severe runny nose, fresh cold (four days or less), fever, undiagnosed rash, persistent cough, lice, diarrhea or any other signs of illness. We ask that you do not place your child in class while they are at risk of exposing other children. Thank you in advance for helping us keep our classes a healthy place for all.
Snacks
Snacks are provided for the children once they graduate to the crawler classroom. The food items consist of Cheerios or fruit puffs for crawlers and Cheerios or Goldfish crackers for walking one year olds. Snacks for children age 2 and up may include pretzels, Goldfish crackers, Fruit Loop cereal, or Cheez-It crackers. If your child has an allergy, please let us know at the check-in desk to inform the leaders in your child's class each time you bring your child. For children with allergies, a red sticker will be attached to your child's name tag as a reminder.
Nursing Mother's Area
Nursing mothers may use the Nursery to nurse their little ones.
Curriculum for Preschoolers
During the 9:00AM service, children play and discuss the theme for the month. We concentrate on the monthly memory verse and the seasons. During the 10:30AM service we follow the Noah's Ark curriculum by David Cook. Learning that God is with us, God loves us and we are to love others.