Serving kids in Kid Experience is one of the most important roles throughout your church as we raise up the next generation to love and follow Jesus! Due to the sensitive nature of serving kids, we ask all Kid Experience team members, regardless of which KE team they are on, to go through the full Kid Experience training below.
The Kid Experience Ministry at a fully established CE campus will consist of the following teams within Kid Experience (but there may be multiple overlap areas at a new or smaller CE location and more age breakdowns for larger CE campuses)…
- Check-in Team
- Babies/Toddlers Team
- Preschool/Elementary Team
- KE Tech Team
WHY IS MY ROLE IMPORTANT?
As I make it possible for a child to hear, learn, and experience Jesus, it may alter his/her life and future!
This may be the most loved a child feels all week as he/she is surrounded by people who love Jesus!
This may be the favorite time of a child’s week because having Jesus as a part of your life is fun!
This is a time where a child learns about worship, and experiences Jesus Christ with their friends.
Parents can attend a service and grow in their faith knowing that their child is being properly cared for in a loving and safe environment.
WHAT IS COMFORTING TO THE PARENTS?
Happy/safe atmosphere.
Greeting the kids at the door with smiles, knowing the kids’ names, while Christian-based, age-appropriate music is playing.
Only background-checked adults can be in the Kid Experience area/classrooms.
All children are watched at all times and their tags remain on their backs as they play, worship, and learn.
VIPs (first-time guests) feel loved and important as you put them first in all the activities.
At least two KE leaders in each classroom.
Kids on task.
Crying kids are being comforted and distracted with something else (try multiple ways), and kids are engaged with songs, activities, games, playing at stations or at the table, etc.
Clean rooms.
Straighten carpets, tables, chairs, and toys.
As leaders in KE, we make sure that the rooms are cleaned before, in between, and after the services so all parents see and experience a clean room when they drop off/pick up their kids.
KE leaders happily engaged.
KE leaders happily engaging with the children, on their level, helping them have the best possible time. If you have fun and join in the activities, song motions, etc., the kids will follow your example.
WHO IS ALLOWED IN THE KID EXPERIENCE AREA?
Only background-checked KE leaders, guardians of the children in Kid Experience, and background-checked safety team leaders. Notify the security team if there is ever any concern!
DROP OFF
Always greet the children at the gate and help them into the room. Place their bags on the hooks by the main door in the classrooms.
Do not allow parents of babies and toddlers in the rooms, but instead receive their children at the door.
Be aware of any allergies or health issues noted on the tag of the children that are dropped off.
In the elementary/pre-school area, a KE leader stands at each door.
Only parents with a tag, background-checked KE leaders, and background-checked safety team leaders may enter.
A parent walks their child to the classroom, watches them engage in the activities, and leaves.
PICK UP
Meet the parents at the door being positive and encouraging with their children and don’t wait for them to enter the room. In preschool and elementary, please call their child to the door.
In the nursery and toddler room, please hand over the child and bag at the gate.
Parents must always have their child’s matching tag. A KE leader is responsible for checking every guardian’s tag. When it is confirmed to match the child’s tag, take the tag off of the child and allow him/her to leave with a guardian.
If a parent does not have their ticket, he/she must show their driver’s license. Please lead the adult to the computers and verify that he/she is listed in the same family on the check-in page. Once it has been approved, then the child may leave the room with the adult. For any adults that do not like the inconvenience, feel free to say, “We were trained that we have to do this with everyone even if it is one of the leaders or pastors in the church because we value the kids’ safety.” If you notice a child has lost their tag during service, please notify the check-in team immediately so they may print a new one.
DOORS
Doors should remain open at all times, and in the nursery and toddler rooms, the security gate stay securely in place. If there is a defect with your gate, alert the KE service team leader immediately.
When worship ends, the nursery and toddlers rooms are on lcokdown. The doors at the ends of the hallway remain locked down until the closing song. Only have these doors opened by a KE service team leader, pastor with a tag, or a safety team leader.
INTERACTIONS
Quick hugs, high fives, and fist bumps are welcoming to the children.
Wrestling, rough housing, piggyback rides, tickling, or lap sitting is not appropriate.
Leaders must be over the age of 16 to hold or pick up babies and toddlers.
ARRIVAL
Please arrive more than 15 minutes before the service begins.
ATTENDANCE
Please respond to your weekly planning center email and accept or decline the leader request so that all gaps are filled. Your attendance, punctuality, and involvement are crucial for a successful service.
ATTIRE
KE leaders wear a KE t-shirt weekly. This represents you being a safe, background-checked KE leader to the parents and the kids. Please wear appropriate attire that allows you to sit on the floor and interact with the children while serving.
KE LEADER PLACEMENT
2-3 KE leaders per nursery room and 3 KE leaders per toddler/preschool room. There must always be 2 females in each room. Spouses are permitted to serve together, however a third, unrelated party must also be in the room.
No adults should be in the rooms that are not background-checked, trained, and approved by the KE Service Team Leader or KE Pastor.
CELL PHONES
Please put your cell phone away so we can fully love on and focus on the children, and do not post any pictures of children on social media unless you have verbal or written permission from the KE pastor or KE service team leader.
CLEAN UP
Please straighten rugs and toys before parents pick up kids. It is important to clean up all toys before any lessons begin so that all children can focus. Before you leave, please make sure the room looks nicer than when you came.
SUPPLY BOXES
You can find everything you need to lead the class here. (ex. schedule, walkie talkies for communication with safety team, incident reports if a child is injured, etc.). If you ever run out of something, go to the back-up bin in the storage area or notify the KE service team leader.
DIAPERS
For all children 2 and under, every child’s diaper should be changed before the parent pick-up. Please also place a “Changed with Love” sticker on each child’s back. These can be found with your diaper changing items.
Two KE leaders must always be present in the room at the time of the diaper change and the second KE leader must be in eye-sight.
Birth – 2’s only change diapers at the changing table. 3’s change diapers on the portable changing mat.
Never leave a child unattended at the changing table.
Place a new liner on the changing table and wear a new pair of gloves after each diaper before moving on to the next child.
Only women (16 and older) are permitted to change diapers.
Dirty diapers sealed in a bag or gloves and thrown away with used liner.
BATHROOM
Before leaving the classroom with the child/children, always let the other KE leader(s) know which child/children you are taking to the bathroom.
Prior to child entering the restroom, the female KE leader must verify the restroom is vacant.
No adults outside of approved KE leaders may enter the bathroom while children are present inside.
Children are permitted to go in and use restroom while female KE leader remains stationed outside at the restroom entrance.
For preschool and elementary, if a child has an emergency, a female KE leader may take a child to the downstairs restroom while being watched by the safety team, leaving two KE leaders in the classroom.
If a child needs assistance, after the bathroom is cleared, a female KE leader will assist the child while another female KE leader holds the door slightly open where she sees the KE leader and child being assisted.
When a toilet-trained child has an accident, contact the KE service team leader to decide if the parents need to be paged. There are spare clothes if needed in the KE storage closet.
DISCIPLINE
If there is a problem with a child (ie… talking back repeatedly, hitting, kicking, biting, etc…) follow the Three “R” Rule…
- Redirect – Gently correct the inappropriate behavior and redirect his/her attention.
- Remove – If a problem persists, remove the student from the situation for a few minutes.
- Refer – If all else fails, refer the student to the SE Pastor
There will be no physical discipline, harsh words, or unkind raised voices in Kid Experience for any children (even your own).
Please help the KE service team leader and/or the KE pastor by helping take care of any children off of task so that they may continue to teach the lesson.
If there is a pressing problem and a parent needs to be reached during the service, take this to the Kid Experience pastor or service team leader who will decide what may need to be done.
SCHEDULE
Nursery/preschool – When you enter the nursery or preschool room, please begin the welcome songs for the children and also play these after the lesson until the children have all been picked up. All preschool schedules are posted in the room’s supply box.
Elementary – As kids and parents are entering and exiting your room please always have the song videos on the big screen. A KE leader will lead the service in the elementary area.
ALLERGIES
No foods or drinks may be taken into the classroom unless supplied by the KE pastor or service team leader.
If there is a special snack used for the curriculum, a sign must be posted at all drop off doorways.
While you are serving, please do not consume food or beverage. Hot drinks can be dangerous.
This is a nut free zone. If you consumed a granola bar, peanut butter, or something with nuts before the service, please wash your hands before working with the children.
If a child brings a snack into the classroom, please place the snack in the back storage room until they are picked up.
CHILD ABUSE
If you suspect a child is a victim of abuse, a child makes accusatory statements of abuse, or in any instance you suspect abuse of any kind, please contact the Kid Experience pastor or service team leader.
Do not gather information from the child, tell the parents regarding your concerns, or speak of this to other KE leaders. Church Experience leadership will sensitively handle the situation.
PAGING PARENTS
If a parent is needed anytime during worship, please let the Kid Experience pastor/director or service team leader know.
INJURY/MEDICAL EMERGENCIES
Contact a KE leader or service team leader by mouth or contact the security team with your room’s walkie talkie immediately for serious injuries/medical attention.
A detailed incident report should be filled out and handed to the KE service team leader for minor/major injuries.
If needed, take all healthy children to another classroom.
EVACUATION
In each room, a KE leader takes a head count.
Place babies in cribs and push them outside.
The check-in team will check boys and girls bathroom before evacuation.
Pre-school and elementary classes will line up, and walk out of the building to a designated safe place, sitting in circles with a KE leader.
Nursery and toddler rooms will exit outside and meet in the same designated safe area.
Sit in a circle with your class outside.
Once outside take a second head count to confirm all children are present.
NEVER let a parent without a matching tag pick up a child!
WEATHER EMERGENCIES
If time permits- elementary and pre-school need to move to a hallway or safe area away from any windows.
All other classes stay in their rooms in the “duck and cover” position against a hallway wall and wait for further instruction.
NEVER let a parent without a matching tag pick up a child!
OTHER EMERGENCIES
In elementary and pre-school: one KE leader shuts and locks the outside door. The elementary students will move to the pre-school classroom, and that door will also be locked by the last leader entering the room. The pre-school leaders will turn out lights, keep children silent and do not open the door until the Kid Experience pastor, service team leader, or a police officer unlocks the door and notifies the leaders that it is safe.
In nursery and toddler classrooms, the KE leaders will close and lock the door, and move the kids into a corner of the room keeping the kids silent. Do not open the door until the KE pastor, service team leader, or a police officer unlocks the door and notifies the leaders that it is safe.
Contact the security team with your walkie talkie on Channel 4 if ever needed.
NEVER let a parent without a matching tag pick up a child!
START SERVING OR EXPLORE ANOTHER MINISTRY
If you’ve completed your training above, it’s time to select a Serving Team within the Kid Experience Ministry. At a fully established CE campus, Kid Experience consists of the following teams within Kid Experience, but there may be multiple overlap areas at a new or smaller CE location…
- Check-in Team
- Babies/Toddlers Team
- Preschool/Elementary Team
- KE Tech Team
You can register to start serving on one of these Kid Experience teams by clicking on the button below…
If you don’t think any of the four Kid Experience Serving Teams above are the best fit for you, head back to the Serving Teams page and dive into a different ministry of the seven…