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Our heart, as the pastors of Wellspring, is to care for and counsel you through your struggles.
Kids Ministry Guidelines & Best Practices
Updated: August 2023/January 2024
Conduct
All workers will represent Christ in their speech, attitudes, and manners. We will treat every parent and child with respect.
Volunteer Arrival
Workers are asked to arrive at 8:45 if you are serving in the 9:15 service and 10:45 for those who are serving in the 11:00 service.
Safety and Security
We believe that it is of utmost importance that our children are nurtured in a safe and responsible environment. We also desire that our staff and volunteers be protected from any false allegations of misconduct. Therefore, always wear a volunteer shirt or name tag.
There is a Two-Adult rule in place for all classrooms (mainly for 2nd grade and down). This means there should always be two adults present while children are in our care. This is to protect the children from the possibility of abuse and to protect the adults from false accusations.
If there is a situation in which there is only one adult, the door to the room should remain open.
If there are last minute volunteers who have not been screened, they will be approved by the supervisor and placed with a volunteer or staff member who has had a background check.
Wellness
Volunteers and children must be symptom free from the following illness without medication for 24 hours before entering the children’s area:
• Fever of 100 or higher
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Conjunctivitis (pink eye or other eye infection)
• Rash
• Sore throat
• Cold
• Excessive coughing
• Lice
If a child develops any of these symptoms while in class, the parent will be notified to pick up the child. If a parent cannot be reached, the child will stay outside of the class with the supervisor or greeter.
Child Sign-In/Sign-Out
Children must be wearing a printed name tag to enter the classroom. If a child arrives without a name tag, please direct the parent and child back to the check-in area.
Parents should retain the security tag portion as it is required for admittance to the hallway for pick up. When a parent arrives for pick up, ask for the child's security tag before releasing the child. This is imperative: do not release a child without having the security tag.
Match the child's name tag with the security tag sticker, affix security sticker to the roster, and turn in rosters to the supervisor after the service. In the case that parents cannot locate this security tag, the parent must meet with the director and show valid identification before releasing the child.
Emergency Situations
Medical Concerns- Immediately report any medical needs or concerns to the director or lead worker. In the event of an emergency, the parent will be immediately notified, and emergency personnel contacted as needed.
Be particularly aware of children with allergies and check all name tags for any indication of allergies or other special needs. Ask parents for further clarification.
Missing Child - In the event that a child is determined to be missing, immediately notify the director, lead worker or another Wellspring staff member. If the child cannot be located, parents should be contacted immediately. Outside authorities will be called as necessary.
Class Divisions
Nursery - Birth - 23 months
Toddler -2 & 3yr old
Pre-K - 4 & 5 yr old (not started Kinder)
Kindergarten
1st Grade
2nd Grade
3rd Grade
4th Grade
5th & 6th Grade (PreTeen)
Note: the division of age groups may be adjusted during the 11 o’clock service.
Visitors
Any person not approved by Wellspring Kids is not permitted to enter the classroom. If there is a problem, or you feel uncomfortable asking someone if they are approved, consult with the Kids Director. If a parent has been approved to come in the classroom, they must wear a visitors tag at all times.
Restroom and Diapering
Parents are encouraged to take their toilet-trained child to the restroom prior to dropping him/her off in class. If a parent desires to take their child to the restroom (if it’s during class time) they will indicate with a “No text me” on the sign in sheet. You will simply notify the parent to come and take their child to the restroom. Never take a child to the restroom alone, always have another volunteer with you.
If a child has a bag, all belongings should be marked with the child’s names (diapers, diaper bags, etc.). Prior to the end of the service pick up all babies/children’s belongings and return them to the diaper bags or backpacks. This will help parents collect their children in a timely manner.
Each child should be checked—and changed, if soiled or wet—during each service. No child should leave soiled or wet.
Parents will be asked to provide diaper changing supplies. If a child does not have diapering supplies in his or her belongings, please let the parent know. The nursery will keep additional supplies on hand as needed.
Proper hand washing or sanitizing will be required after each diaper change.
Feeding/Napping Procedures
Please wash your hands before and after each feeding. Always ask what snacks children are allowed to have, and be mindful of allergy information printed on child nametags.
Document when the child was fed (bottle or snacks) so parents can be provided with this information.
During naps, ask the parent what position they want their child to be in while sleeping – back, stomach, or side. Safety rules are continually updated, and parent instruction is what will be honored while babies are in the care of nursery workers.
Discipline
Under no circumstances will physical contact be allowed, even if the child in question is a child or relative of the worker.
Minor discipline problems should be handled with love and care of the child. The only forms of discipline allowed by leaders and volunteers are verbal warnings and age appropriate time outs. The director or lead worker should be notified of any major discipline issues. If any child becomes unruly or has potential to harm other children, the child will be removed from the classroom and kept with Wellspring Kids staff while the parents are notified to retrieve the child.
If the discipline issue necessitates it, the director of Wellspring Kids will meet with the child’s parents to develop a further plan of action.
Parental Involvement
A parent should be notified if the child is injured, ill, completely inconsolable (after 10 minutes of care), or becomes a danger to himself/herself or other children.
A child may be walked in the hallways of the church to help calm them, as long as a child is never taken outside or into a private room.
Enjoy being with the kids! Remember that this is not babysitting, but ministering to these children and guiding them closer to the Lord.
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