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 Church nurseries are everywhere. It seems that some churches don’t have enough workers whether it’s because the church is small and there are not that many ladies who are willing to work in them or they feel that they only need to be in the nursery if they have kids in there. Some churches are so big that they run several nurseries at the same time of different ages and due to this there is a shortage of workers as there are many more worker spaces to fill for one service.
No matter the size of the nursery or how often you are in there as a nursery worker it is possible to enjoy your time that you are in there. Having worked in several nurseries over the years, here are some things that I have found make the time more enjoyable and productive.
1. Be the Authority: You must be the one that is in charge. You can’t allow one kid or several kids to feel that they are the one in charge. When kids see that they are frustrating you they have already won the battle.
2. Be Creative: You can do several different things to make it fun for yourself as well as the kids. Sing songs, play games, read books, have a Bible story time (make it short with one point that even young kids can remember), have a snack time (make sure that you are aware of any allergies and that you are careful not to cause any allergic reactions), and even get down on the floor and play with the kids. They love to have you play with them and not just have you sitting in a chair or walking around watching them.
3. Be Positive…and Stay Positive: Don’t allow the kids to frustrate you. Don’t yell and scream at the kids. When there is an issue with a child stop and make sure that you have their attention while speaking to them in a calm voice. If need be take a few deep breaths before handling an issue to help yourself relax.
4. Build Relationships: Get to know the parents of the children this way you will also learn some of the likes and dislikes of their child. No one knows more about a particular child than their parents.
5. Be the Referee: There are always going to be kids in the nursery who are considered the bully or kids that just don’t get along with one another. There will be toys thrown or taken by one person or another. There will be pushing and hitting. You need to be aware of those issues and step in before a problem arises. If it is a new conflict among some of the kids then step in and separate them before someone gets hurt.
6. Have a Plan: You never think that a kid is going to get seriously hurt while you are the one watching them but it can happen. Know how to handle the issue. Have basic first aid supplies on hand and know how to use them. Know how to get a hold of the parent during the service. If your church has accident reports fill them out and give them to the appropriate people.
7. Be Aware of Special Needs: You need to be aware of the needs of the child and know how to handle them. Some children with special needs require a strong hand not a hurting hand. If you’re not sure how to handle them when a situation arises like they hurting themselves or another child ask the parent what is the best way to handle their child in this situation.
I have been in the nursery with an autistic child who enjoys banging his head against the wall or the flexi-glass window that is in the nursery. He could hurt himself the best way to handle him in this situation is to remove him from the window and take him across the room. Most parents of special needs children are willing to tell you how to best handle the child in this situation.
8. Smile: Although this is along the same lines as our point about being positive, it’s very important that we focus specifically on the impact of a positive countenance. If you are welcoming a child to the nursery and you have a big frown on your face or a look that says you’d rather not be there, no parent is going to want to leave their child with you and no kid is going to want to come to you.
9. Communicate: Make the parent aware of any incidents involving their child or children. If their child bonked their head or was being violent towards another child the parent needs to be made aware. If they were ill or had to have their clothes changed due to an accident make sure they know why their kid is wearing a different outfit than what they came to church in.
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