“Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of My heavenly Father.”

Matthew 18:10

At our church, every child matters—because every child matters to God! We strive to make sure every child feels seen, loved, and valued. Some kids need extra care, and we are committed to creating a safe, welcoming space where all children can learn, grow, and experience God’s love in a way that meets their unique needs. Whether through extra support, a listening ear, or a helping hand, we want every child to know they belong and are deeply cherished here!

 

Info on care team 

Joining the care team

Video ??? 

 

What If My Child Needs Me?

We understand that sometimes kids just need you—there’s no substitute for the comfort of a familiar caregiver! Upon check-in, your child will receive a tag with your contact information. In the event of an emergency or if they simply need you, we’ll use that information to reach you right away. While we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy the service, we also want you to have peace of mind knowing that if your child needs you, we’ll make sure you’re there for them.

 

Here are some reasons we may call you:

 

They seem unusually distressed or inconsolable. 😭

If your child is upset, we want to reassure you that we are here to help them feel safe and cared for. Here’s what we do to support your child:

  • If your child is crying but not hurt or sick, we’ll first make sure all basic needs are met (this will depend on age)—diaper change, hunger, or needing comfort. We’ll try to engage your child with activities like quiet reading, music, or art, which often help soothe them.

  • We’ll gently reassure your child that they are in a safe and fun place. If needed, we’ll explain that you’ll be back soon or share the schedule so they know what to expect.

  • If your child continues to cry for 10 minutes or more, we’ll contact you right away. We’ll let your child know we’ve called you and keep trying to engage them in an activity while we wait.

  • If you come to comfort your child, we’ll let you know what happened, including the steps we took to comfort them. You are welcome to stay with your child for 10-15 minutes until they feel more at ease in the environment.

 

They appear to be sick. 🤢

While we want every child to be able to experience iheartkidz on Sundays, we also recognize the need to limit exposure to contagious germs that make other kids get sick. This is why, in certain instances, we may regrettably, but only temporarily, ask that your child not attend class in order to prevent the unnecessary spread of communicable illnesses. 

The Committee on Control of Infectious Disease of the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that a child should not leave home when any of the following symptoms exist:

  • Fever (over 100.4 degrees)

  • Vomiting or diarrhea within the last 24 hours

  • Any symptom of childhood diseases such as scarlet fever, German measles, mumps, chicken pox, or whooping cough

  • Common cold

  • Sore throat

  • Croup

  • Any unexplained rash

  • Any skin infection – boils, ringworm, or impetigo

  • Untreated pink eye or other eye infection

  • Lice, including the presence of eggs or nits

 

They harm other children. 😳

What if my child bites, kicks, or hits, oh my!? Don’t worry, we are parents, too! We understand that children need space to learn, grow, and find boundaries. A big part of growing up is figuring out how to “play nice” with others! Our goal is to help kids find ways of communicating their needs as they navigate “big feelings” in ways that don’t harm others. 

With understanding and love, we help reinforce appropriate expressions of frustration and anger by limiting a child’s access to other children when repeated disrespectful or harmful behavior towards teachers or classmates is exhibited. Here are a few action steps we will take:

  • Immediate Action: If your child hurts another child, we will calmly separate them by placing them in a contained area or timeout chair and comfort the child who was hurt.

  • Notifying Parents: We will immediately contact the parent/guardian of the child who caused the harm to remove them from the classroom.

  • Notifying the Other Parent: Once the first child has been removed, we will notify the parent/guardian of the child who was hurt, ensuring they are informed in a private and respectful manner.

  • Separate Discussions: We will discuss the situation separately with both sets of parents/guardians, without revealing the identity of the other child involved.

  • Confidentiality: We will not share names or details about the situation with anyone else to protect the privacy of all children involved.

 

They repeatedly disrespect the teacher or rules of the classroom. 💔

Don’t worry, we have thick skin! We understand kids act out when they are exposed to new environments. There are also times when children just need a little extra TLC! We are in no hurry to remove children from classrooms and prefer to work with parents to help overcome (temporary) behavior issues. Your child may be in the wrong classroom, need a buddy, or perhaps he/she is just having a hard week! 

 Again, we are parents, too, and trust us, we have been there! Discipling little hearts can be tricky sometimes, but we are committed to working with you to find a solution. No guilt parenting here, folks! It takes a village! 

With grace for your child in mind, these are some of the policies we have in place: 

  • We will use positive language, such as “Please use walking feet” instead of “stop running,” to guide your child’s behavior.

  • We will address the behavior with a firm, but gentle tone, always focusing on what we’d like to see instead of just what they shouldn't do.

  • If needed, we may remove your child from the activity for a short time to help them refocus and calm down.

  • If your child continues to be disruptive and is not responding to redirection, we will contact you to address the behavior.

  • If we cannot reach you and the behavior continues, we may ask security to step in and assist, ensuring the class can continue smoothly.

Our goal is to work together with you to help your child learn how to respect others and enjoy their time at church in a positive, nurturing environment.