What to Expect on Sunday Morning
Excellent Elephants - 4/5 year old class
Location - under the Elephant in the Ark
Children entering this class upon graduation from the 2/3 class are both excited to be bigger and frightened of the change to a larger room and much larger group, but once they experience the small groups, of no more than 10, and the adventure of a morning filled with kindergarten age experiences with 11-15 year old SERF’s as well as our well-trained volunteer teachers and leaders, they will not want to turn back.
They are ready now for a class that teaches them the reasons why God Made Our World and are taught to ask questions and listen to each other as they build relationships as well as solid faith foundations.
SIGN-IN
Upon dismissal from the morning service, at approximately 11:20, you will bring your child for a registered sign-in. We will only accept a child from a parent or sibling 12 or over. We have two sign-in clipboards at our Registration Desk, inside the classroom under the Elephant. One is for our Registered Children. The other is for Visitors. If you have been attending TACF for one month and have decided to make this your home church, please ask Ruth for a Registration Form for your child. We will then make a permanent nametag with his/her name on it. This is always a big day for your child and helps them to establish a sense of belonging to this class.
HANDLING INSECURITY OR SEPARATION ANXIETY
TACF is a large facility and during the first visit it can seem overwhelming to an adult let alone a small child. It is important to us that your little one loves our church and quickly receives a sense of safety and job. We are her to assist you as a parent as you introduce your son/daughter to Heavenly Father’s house, where children can learn lots of exciting things about their Creator. If this is your child’s first time and she is apprehensive about the experience, you may ask to stay with your child to help her/him adapt. Remember this is the Father’s House and it is important to us that each child establishes a sense of safety and security here. It is well worth the time to demonstrate to a child that not only is God with him at all times, but that He has parents that will make sure he is okay in all situations. After walking through the different stations and meeting the teachers, you can then assure him that you are comfortable with the people who are teaching your son/daughter and you will be right outside in your own service. You can also come back in from time to time to connect and assure your child that you are still nearby.
We have noticed that sometimes children who attend Daycare during the week with no problem may exhibit separation anxiety much to the parents’ surprise. The reason for this is that you are not at the Daycare and you are here. Also, children sometimes do not want to give up an opportunity to be with a parent if they are not with them during the week. However, the good news is that once they are familiar with the other adults and the stimulating learning environment, they are quite happy to let you go for a short time so they can continue to learn and grow through play. Those brain transmitters are operating at an accelerated rate at this stage and every waking moment is a time of discovery for your child until the age of six.
CLASSTIME
When you sign-in your child, a nametag will be clipped onto his shirt and he will be taken to his small group activity.
There are four groups: Yellow – 4 yr. Old Boys; Blue – 5 yr. Old Boys; Green – 4 yr. Old Girls; Red – 5 yr. Old Girls. They will rotate through six learning centers with each being 10 minutes with up to ten others in their group. This facilitates a more personal learning experience with centre leaders and teachers as well as opportunities to build friends with familiar faces each week.
Our mornings include Bible, Worship, Art, Science, Play and Snack Centers. These are led by our top Early Childhood specialists, and always include a large muscle activity in our fantastic playroom equipped with climbing equipment and slides, costumes and toys.
This class will also learn to soak in God’s presence during part of the worship time by lying on the floor and closing their eyes while a quiet song of the Father’s love is played. Our screened staff will gently pray for each child as they rest in Him for these few minutes.
OUR CURRICULUM
Our centers are designed to encourage growth. Four year olds are beginning to realize that they are growing and will not always be little. Unlike three year-olds, four year olds are now ready for associative play and are learning to cooperate. However, four’s are still very focused on their own wishes and can be active and assertive in pursuing their own interests.
Our Karen Henley Curriculum takes advantage of these changes, encouraging children to include God in their exploits, helping them learn that God is in control of life and that growing children can choose to honour Him. Five year-olds are explorers in God’s world, excited about learning and discovering. They are discovering a sense of purpose for all that God has created, from the sun sea and land in our Fall Quarter, God’s Purpose for His World, to friends and family in our Winter Quarter, God’s Purpose for Friends and Family. Often called the “golden age” of childhood, kids in this age group are usually fairly calm, friendly, and eager to please. However, they can be very self-focused and adamant about getting their way. This curriculum guides children from self-focus to God-focus and Fives learn that God’s purpose is to bless us in order to show us who He is. They also learn that God wants us to bless others to show others who He is.
We will continue to build upon the foundations established from Nursery and our 2/3 class.
1. God Made Everything
2. God Loves Me
3. God Will Take Care of Me
4. God Wants to Talk With Me
Spring Quarter will teach God’s Purpose for Jesus.
Summer Quarter will teach God’s Purpose for Me.
DISMISSAL
Our class runs till 12:45am 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.
Remember a parent or child of 12 only can pick up your child. We prefer a parent so we can connect with you about your son/daughter’s experience.
GRADUATION
Graduation takes place once a year on the second Sunday of the Fall Session. This is a special ceremony for all our children who have turned 6yrs. old during the past year. We will celebrate with cake, balloons and a certificate and present. The following Sunday, these children will go as a group up to the Flightkrew Class. It is helpful for you to assist your child in this transition by taking her/him to the class to meet Miss Daphne a week or two beforehand. If there is a big brother or sister in this class, they will enjoy the move. However, if that is not the case, there will be friends graduating with your child to help. They will also recognize some of the 11 yr. old SERF’s who have been leading their small groups and you are always welcome to join your child for the first week or two. Better yet, become a volunteer!
THINGS YOU CAN DO TO PREPARE YOUR CHILD
During the wek, talk about the fun time your child will have in their special class with Miss Ruth.
Tell him he will be getting his very own nametag to wear and after he comes six times he will have a nametag with his name on it. It will say______________. 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 – 4yr. boys; Blue – 5yr. boys; Green – 4yr. girls; Red – 5 yr. girls.
Talk about the fun experiences he/she 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 friend and teachers. Pray for them together as well as the things he is learning about God.
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 Ark during this season. Explain that you will be sitting just outside his class in your mommy/daddy service, so if she needs you, you are right there.
Bring your child for la visit to the classroom after 10:15 before service, to meet Miss Ruth and to see the environment.
WHAT TO BRING
Be sure to take your child to the washroom before class time. We will provide snacks and juice, however if you have allergy or other concerns, please provide an alternative 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 it can be. It is best to keep any toy your child brought to church with you as this is a large area with three big rooms where things get lost among our own toys.
HEALTH SAFETY
We do not receive children with runny noses, rashes, bad coughs or fevers 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.
As you see, this is the place to bring your child for a full and rich experience as you grow as parents in our adult service. Please approach any of our leadership or pastoral team at any time and we would love to answer your questions and assist you in any way we can.
We look forward to getting to know your family.