Children's Programs: Nursery Care and Information
The church Nursery is located in the second room in the Education wing, just past the Library bookshelves. Nursery care is provided for infants and toddlers up to age 4 during the Sunday School hour and the Sunday morning worship service.
Requests for additional nursery care may be made to the church office at least 2 weeks ahead of the event. In addition to our four Nursery Care providers, we have adult and youth volunteers that help care for the children. We are always looking for more people to add to our volunteer list.
"Nursery Guide for Parents"
Our "Nursery Guide for Parents" provides more information about our Nursery Program:
Welcome to the nursery at First Presbyterian Church! We are very excited to have your child here with us. Our nursery workers have a special heart for ministering to the youngest of God’s children. Please take a moment to acquaint yourself with the policies and procedures we have set up to make this a supportive environment.
Registering
Please completely fill out the nursery registration form. The Nursery Attendant often serves a snack and juice, so please be sure to list any allergies on the form or write “no allergies” in the appropriate space. If someone other than the parent or guardian needs to pick up the child, please make sure you have listed that person on the registration form.
Adjusting to the Nursery
Please hand your child to the Nursery Attendant when dropping off your child. We ask parents not to enter the nursery in order to prevent other children from leaving the room. This also eases the child’s transition.
The nursery opens 15 minutes prior to services and other scheduled events. A crying infant or toddler is common in any nursery program. Please do not hesitate to attend your activity while your child is going through this period of adjustment. Our workers are well qualified and will make every effort to help your child to enjoy the nursery. If your child seems very anxious, please check on them after the first 15 minutes and then again during the activity. Please check by listening from around the corner or by peering briefly in the door’s window.
To help your child to feel comfortable in the nursery, please bring everything that the child will need, such as an extra bottle, diapers for a baby or a special blanket for a toddler and a change of clothing. Please make sure that all of your child’s belongings are properly labeled. Utilizing the nursery on a regular basis can also help your child to adjust successfully.
Security System
The nursery is for your use and convenience while attending church functions. Should we need to find you in case of an emergency, you must be available in the building at all times. Pagers, or “Thumpers”, are used to alert parents if they are needed in the Nursery. When you leave your child at the nursery, please take a pager and write down the corresponding number.
Picking Up Your Child
Please return to the nursery promptly at the conclusion of your activity. As other parents arrive, your child will be expecting you. Your prompt arrival will help your child to feel secure about your return the next time you leave.
For safety reasons, no child will be released to a person other than the parent unless that person’s name is on the registration form.
Illness Policy
We ask all parents who use the nursery to bring healthy babies and toddlers to our nursery. If a child with a clearly discernible cold, rash, or fever is brought to the nursery, we will not accept the child into the nursery that day. Children who repeatedly bite other children may be asked to leave the nursery. If you know your child has been exposed to any communicable diseases (such as chicken pox, pink eye, fifths disease, etc.), we ask that you not bring that child to the nursery. If a child who has been in our nursery contracts a communicable disease, we ask that you contact us so that we can notify the families of the other children who were in the nursery with the sick child.
How Parents/Grandparents/Guardians (Just About Anyone!) Can Help:
- Pray for the children in the nursery.
- Suggest ways to improve the nursery.
- Become involved in the nursery. Your volunteer service is greatly needed and valued.
Purpose of the Nursery:
- To help each child to feel comfortable and special
- To help each child to feel secure with adults who love and care for them
- To help each child share and play with other children
- To help each child to have positive feelings about coming to church
- To encourage the active participation of parents in worship, Bible study, and other activities