Parenting for Faith in church with under fives and parents

How can we make Sunday morning under fives’ groups more than just childcare?

Sarah Hogben – a mum, experienced children’s and families leader and member of the Parenting for Faith speaking team – shares how we can help little ones meet and know God while at the same time supporting and equipping their parents and carers to feel confident to help them on that journey too.

This was recorded at the Nurturing Babies and Toddlers Spiritual Lives training morning in February 2021. We’ve added short notes below.

Sarah talks about her church’s journey from creche being a place no-one had a clear vision for to where they are now – a place full of expectations and teaching for their under fives.

Two things Sarah loves about working with under fives:

• Their level of faith – eg a kid throwing themself at a parent expecting to be caught. They are full of faith about who God is and what he does.
• They can’t fake it – you get glimpses of what God’s doing in their lives.

Two things that will help you shape your ministry with under fives:

1. See them in a new light

Psalm 139 tells us that God has just finished shaping these kids in the womb! They are fresh from this encounter with God. God is able to communicate with God in any way that works.

• So make space for under fives to communicate with God
• Make space for them to catch for other people
• Include the under fives (and all kids) for their input if the church is praying for something and seeking God’s guidance.
• Show kids they have a purpose – eg going to over 65s event – their purpose displayed there in the joy and relationships

1. Know the purpose of your creche

• It is church! It’s not childcare. They need to be different from any other group those kids go to.
• The aim shouldn’t be for it to be the most fun. The aim should be for connection with others and connection with God – this makes it special and makes it church.

Early Steps with Jesus by Olly Goldenberg – a good course for working this through with your team.

1. Supporting parents and carers

• Be IKEA for the parents. Give them options. Try this, see what works, different things work for different people.
• Parents of newborns – IKEA is a great model. Stay in the service / come here to listen in a quieter space / baby room with someone to talk to / leave your baby.
• In baby room, each child has a journal and team members pray over the baby – starting before they are born. Team adds Bible verses, prayers, what they think God is saying. Stays at church. Book stays with them and is added to in their various groups until they are 18 or leave the church. A record of what God’s said to them, what he’s said to leaders.
• For babies and preschoolers, there are stickers with a prayer covering what they’ve been doing / praying for today so parents/carers see it.
• New baby bag – gifts, Babies and Toddlers book, journal for parents and carers to use at home.

Links you might be interested in:

• Explore our ‘Stepping Stones’ sessions.
• Watch our Bitesize Babies and Toddlers videos.
• Check out our Baptism and Dedication Preparation Videos.