Preschool Sunday School

Faith Quest - Preschool Sunday School - God's Growing Garden - 9:39 and 11:00

At Due West UMC, we define a preschooler for the 2008-2009 year as one of the following:

• A child who was 3 years old on September 1, 2008
• A child who was 4 years old on September 1, 2008
• A child who was 5 years old on September 1, 2008 that is being held-back and did not enter kindergarten

The children will meet together for Assembly in Room N103 (North Campus, lower level). They will then divide into age groups and move to another classroom in the same area for their lesson. Using the Workshop Rotation Model, they study the same story for one month participating in lively, interactive lessons each week. Activities include games, drama, cooking, arts and crafts, music and MORE!

At the start of the year we divide our preschoolers into two classes based on their age on September 1, 2008. Since everyone has a birthday during the year and we don't promote to the next age group until August, we find that teaching the children to identify their classes based on a class name makes it simpler for everyone. Once they are identified by their class name, they will stay with that group all year.

So, what group does your child belong in? Well, if he or she attends the 9:39 Sunday School hour, he or she will be a Laughing Ladybug (threes) or a Giggly Grasshopper (fours & young fives). These designations are strictly assigned by birth date...

• If your child is born between 2003 & September 1, 2004, he/she is a Giggly Grasshopper
• If your child is born between September 2, 2004 & September 1, 2005, he/she is a Laughing Ladybug
• If your child is born after September 1, 2005, he/she will be in the nursery

Faith Quest Stories and Themes for 2008-2009
(Preschool - 5th Grade)

August/September Bible Story: Noah
October Bible Story: Esther
November Bible Story: David & Jonathan
December Bible Story: Follow the Star (Wise Men)
January Bible Story: Jesus Blesses the Children
February Bible Story: Feeding the 5000
March Bible Story: Triumphal Entry
April Bible Story: The Empty Tomb
May Bible Story: Pentecost
Summer Bible Story: Dig Into the Bible

 

Frequently Asked Questions About Preschool Sunday School...

What is the difference in Nursery, Sunday School and Children’s Church?

Nursery on Sunday mornings is child-care for children newborn through age 3. Nursery is offered during each of the three Sunday morning services.

Sunday School is offered during the 9:39 hour and the 11:00 hour. There is a prepared lesson each week with carefully planned and structured time and routines.

Children’s Church is a step in “worship readiness”. Children (age 3 – Kindergarten) attend the beginning of the service and then exit following the children’s sermon for singing, story time, etc. By first grade, they are “ready” to stay for the entire service.

How do I decide whether to put my child in Sunday School or Children’s Church?

If you come for two hours on Sunday mornings, the decision is easy. While you are in adult Sunday School, your child would also be in Sunday School. When you attend worship service, your child would go with you and exit to Children’s Church following the children’s sermon. If you only come for worship on Sunday mornings, we suggest that you alternate between the two to give your child experiences with both worship and Sunday School.

Can you give me some hints for making a smooth transition from Nursery to Sunday School?

• Talk to your child about his or her Big Boy/Girl class ahead of time. Explain that while they will not be playing with toys in class, there are many fun things they will get to do now that they are “big.”
• Identify friends or acquaintances that may also be in the class.
• Be sure to go potty BEFORE class. (For some of the newly potty trained, it may be difficult to tell a new adult that they need to go. Many will dissolve into tears over a needed potty trip rather than let a grownup know what is going on. Plus, it helps everyone if classroom disruptions are kept to a minimum. Often, just the opening and closing of the classroom door can remind a child that they are waiting for their parent to come back and start the tears flowing.)
• Teachers will have a gathering activity designed to make separation from parents a bit easier. However, parents are ALWAYS welcome as part of the class if your child needs some extra time to adjust.

Where is my preschooler's Sunday School class?

Preschool Sunday School classrooms are in the North Campus building, lower level - rooms N101, 102, 103, 110 & 111. These classrooms were renovated in the summer of 2008 just for our youngest disciples. Preschoolers will first gather for a praise and worship time in N103. They then travel with their Shepherds to their weekly workshop. A schedule is posted on the preschool bulletin board that tells what workshop your child's class attended. This is where you need to go to pick your child up. This location will change each week.

Can my child attend Sunday School at both the 9:39 and 11:00 hours on the same Sunday?

The children at both Sunday School hours hear the same lessons and do the same activities. Children need to experience the word of God in different fashions. If your family will be at church for both hours (and we hope you are!), your child should attend Sunday School one hour and go to a worship service the other hour. Preschoolers can either remain in the service the whole hour or exit with for Children’s Church following the Children’s Message. No child should attend two hours of Sunday School on the same Sunday.

My child turned 3 this week. Do I move him from the nursery into Sunday School this Sunday?

No. We promote children in August (the first Sunday following the first week of Cobb County public schools). All children who have turned 3 during the year or who will be three by September 1 are promoted from nursery to Sunday School on the same date. If your child was born September 2, 2005 or later, he/she should remain in the nursery for the 2008-2009 year.

I do not feel that my child is ready for a structured Sunday School class. Can he remain in the nursery even though he was three years old on September 1?

Yes, the nursery will be happy for a child to remain with them for a few extra months if a parent feels that their child may not be ready for the move. This might especially apply to children with summer birthdays who have JUST turned three. We suggest, however, that these parents come observe in our 3 year old class to see what the expectations for behavior are. They might be more ready than you think!

My child is not potty trained. Can she still attend Sunday School?

We have no diaper changing facilities in the preschool Sunday School area. Per our Safe Sanctuaries policy, our volunteers are not permitted to change diapers. Therefore, children need to remain in the nursery until they are able to tell a person that they need to use the restroom and can go with minimal assistance.

Do you collect offering and where does it go?

Offering is collected each Sunday morning during Sunday School. Each month, a mission is chosen that coordinates with the Bible story that we are studying. Some are local and some are overseas missions. The offering we collect during the month is then sent directly to the organization that supports that particular mission.