What to Expect on Sunday Morning
Little Lions Toddler Room - Ages 2 to 3 years
Location - under the lion, in the Ark
Our 2/3 yr. olds get so excited about coming to this class, that parents report they are awakened with adamant reminders to hurry so they can come to their “God School”.
Like many parents, our co-ordinator, Marlene’s, initial exposure to the 2/3 ministry was as “companion” to her son, Cameron who, while he loved coming to church, wasn’t at all comfortable with flying solo in his class. The desire to ensure both children and their parents are comfortable with what is going on remains an important consideration to the leaders at TACF. If your child experiences separation anxiety (or you as parent feel it) we welcome you to bring your child into our area before service begins and we will give you both a quick tour of our class.
After worship, there will be a dismissal announced from the front and all children are brought by a parent to the Ark for registration and sign-in. A tag will be issued to you and to your child. If your little one is still anxious, you may enter the class with her as we want each child to get to know the Father’s House as a place of love, safety, fun and discovery. Your child will be placed in a colour group according to gender and age of no more than 5 children, with whom he/she will spend the morning travelling to 6 different learning centres. Each centre is 10 minutes and one of our teachers will provide hands-on fun experiences to instil the Four Biblical Foundations, which we believe children need to learn before the age of six. These are repeated for one month.
1. God Made Everything
2. God Loves Me
3. God Will Take Care of Me
4. God Loves to Talk With Me
The children’s favourite centre is always the Bible Centre, led by Miss Marlene. This centre lays the foundation for the other centres and every parent needs to experience this just once. You will be delighted for your child as she draws them into a world where God has relationship with a Biblical Character that will leave your little one excited about their own growing relationship with their Creator and Father as well as Jesus, His son and of course Holy Spirit. She may have them smelling fish, dropping seaweed on Jonah, and giggling with delight, while holding a small whale that shakes and blurps out God’s special messenger safely to carry His love to the people. From there, they will move to other centres to discover more about Animals God has Made to demonstrate His love for Us. Along with Holy Spirit, Marlene is guided by the ‘pork chop principle’ when it comes to deciding what 2’s and 3’s should be being taught. “While a child of two or three may not be able to eat a whole pork chop, cut it into small bites for them and you will see that they can handle meat just as well as any adult”. As such, lessons may focus on the importance of forgiveness (Joseph), the fact that when we listen to God we can become great men and women (Samuel), that we can choose to do the right thing…that God’s ways are right and good and that when we follow God’s ways, we are happy (Adam & Eve).
Rather than boring the children, repeating the theme for an entire month allows them to anticipate what will be happening, to participate in it more fully and ensures that they will retain the truths being taught far longer than they otherwise would.
DISMISSAL
Our class runs until 12:45 am and we would ask you to pick up your child by that time to allow us to clean our classroom and release our volunteers to join their families as soon as possible.
Only a parent may pick up your child for security reasons. This provides us with an opportunity to speak to you about your son/daughter’s experience. This is an important time and we want to support you in your vital role of training up your children before the Lord.
GRADUATION
The Sunday following your child’s birthday will be celebrated in our class. On the 4th birthday, it will be the last class with Miss Marlene, and the following week will be the first day in the 4/5 class. You may take your child to visit that class before or after the service to familiarize her with her new environment and to introduce her to Miss Ruth, the co-ordinator of the 4/5’s. This will ease the transition and if you feel it is needed, then be sure to attend the first class with your child.
Things You Can Do to Prepare Your Child
During the week, talk about the fun time your child will have in their special class with Miss Marlene. Show him the website page with Marlene’s picture and the other pictures displayed on the side.
Tell him he will be getting his very own nametag badge to wear and after he comes six times, he will have a nametag with his name on it. It will say "his name". It will also have a happy face sticker the colour of his special group of church friends and all of his friends will have the same colour. Yellow 2 year old boys, blue 3 year old boys, green 2 year old girls, or red 3 year old girls.
Talk about the fun experiences he will have to build anticipation and security. Talk about God’s house as a very special place where we can learn about our Heavenly Father and Jesus and Holy Spirit.
In your nighttime prayers together, mention things about your child’s new friends and teachers.
If your child is sensitive and you are concerned about the transition, reassure him that you will be staying with him until he doesn’t need you there. Be committed to making this new experience in the Father’s House a safe, secure and happy one. We have great services every week at TACF but you only have one season in your child’s life to build foundations of security and love. Make your child top priority.
Show your child where your seat is in relationship to the class. Try to sit in the section just outside the class during this season. Explain that you will be sitting just outside the classroom in your mommy/daddy class so if she needs you, you are right there.
Bring your child for a visit to the classroom after 10:15 am before service, to meet Miss Marlene and to see the environment.
Start her with a dry diaper or washroom visit before class time. There is one in our class you may use to reassure your child that if he/she needs to go there it is handy.
WHAT TO BRING
If your child wears a diaper, we will need to be informed and provided with the necessary items to change him. If you are toilet training, take her before class. We will provide a snack and juice, however if you have allergy or other concerns, please provide your child’s snack so he/she is included in this centre time. We have a NO NUTS POLICY at all times. If your child does not understand English, please provide someone who does speak his language to stay with him so this experience can be the best for him.
Health and Safety
We do not receive children with runny noses, bad coughs or fevers or rashes to keep all children safe and healthy. Sharing of items is inevitable at this age so we are more careful than other age groups may be.