Update on Children's Work
Issue 27 April 2008
Read through the following list with your team and decide on who will take responsibility for each aspect of the event and who will check out those things that you are unsure about. All Leaders must to be CRB checked. Be aware of the recommended ratio of adults to children. The supervision ratio for children aged 3-8years is 1 adult: 8 children. For children over 8 years, there is no official guidance, however, a suggested ratio is 2 adults: 20 children (preferably I male and 1 female in a mixed gender group). This ratio may need to be increased if catering for children with disabilities/ special needs. Buying in activities e.g Bouncy Castle etc. Ensure that the loaner has adequate insurance cover and has completed a risk assessment for use of the equipment. (Ask for written copies)Child protection. Work within the guidelines of the Church in Wales Child Protection Policy. Your parish will have a copy and it is also downloadable from the Church in Wales websiteChildren should always be accompanied if for some reason they have to leave the group; however, male leaders should not take girls to the toilet. Do not take responsibility for children without written permission from parents/guardians. Pre-registration forms are recommended which include contact telephone numbers and any medical information. Exits & entrances to the venue should be stewarded and all those who are leaders should be clearly identified in some way so that children know who is ‘safe’. First-aid qualification should be held by at least one adult leader for every 50 children at the event. Accidents should be recorded and reported to the person in overall charge. St John’s ambulance will cover First Aid for a small fee.Funding. Access funding from you parish and local sponsors and set a budget for the event.General simple safety rules should be clearly set out, especially concerning movement about the building, refreshments, going to the toilet and being quiet for important announcements. Have a designated overall leader for the event, who takes final responsibility for safety, security and any pastoral issues that may arise. Insurance for the event should be covered by your church (through EIG Parishguard). However, EIG should be informed if you use something like a Bouncy Castle. (They are very fussy about these!) The Local Authority needs to be informed only if the event includes 8 year olds and under for more than 2 hours a day on 6 or more days a year. Junior leaders (under 18) should not be left in charge of any activity or workshop involving children. Keep children occupied with plenty of activities. (Have more than you think you will need)Numbers are not important. It is all about children coming together for faith, fun and fellowshipRisk assessment. Complete a Risk Assessment for the event. Look carefully at the venue and the activities.Theme. Think about your theme and fit all the activities around it. Volunteers. Gather plenty of volunteers to:- Welcome- Register each child - Lead activities- Cover first aid- Steward- Make refreshmentsPrepare well in advance and enjoy the event.
Messy Church by Lucy Moore ( BRF 2007) (website www.messychurch.org.uk
) 100 Bible Craft Ideas for children by Sue Price (Kingsway Publications
1998) Here's one I made earlier by Kathryn Copsey. (Scripture Union
1995) Here's another one I made earlier by Christine Orme (Scripture
Union 2000) Seasons and Saints for the Christian Year. Currie, Nicola
and Stuart. (NS/CHP) 100 Children's Club Activities by Jan Dyer. (Children's
Ministry 2001)Across the World By Martyn Payne and Betty Pedley (BRF
2005)Praise, Play and Paint by Jan Godfrey (NS/CHP 1995) Under fives
- alive! by Jane Farley, Eileen Goddard and Judy Jarvis. (NS/CHP 1997)
Under fives - alive and kicking! by Jane Farley, Eileen Goddard and
Judy Jarvis (NS/CHP 1999) Rural Children Rural Church by Rona Orme (Church
House Publishing 2007)Not Sunday not school by Eleanor Zuercher (BRF
2006)Various Holiday Club programmes which may be adapted
Scrapstore website www.childrensscrapstore.co.ukPlay Resource centre ( Swansea scrapstore)Unit H22, Ashmount Business Park, Upper Forest Way, Swansea.SA6 8QRFor a small fee, you can help yourself to a whole range of recycled creative materials to use in activities!BuyologyCwmdu Estate, Carmarthen Road, Swansea.S and S Services, 17 Arden Business Centre, Arden Forest Industrial Esate, Alcester, Warwickshire. B49 6HW Tel: 01789 765323A catalogue is available or you can order on line www.ss-services.co.ukBaker Ross Ltd, 2-3 Forest Works, Forest Road, Walthamstow, London, E17 6JFTel: 0870 458 5540A catalogue is available or you can order on line www.bakerross.co.ukLocal £ Shops
RESOURCES AT THE EASTMOOR CENTRE LIBRARY
· Assemblies · All-age worship· Bible stories/ activities· Children
and Communion· Child development· Church· Confirmation· Courses· Crafts
· Drama and Song· Holiday clubs· Evangelism · Spirituality· Godly Play
materials· Pastoral issues· Posters· Prayer and worship· Projects· Saints
· School issues· Seasonal material· Training· Under 5s· Videos/ CDs·
Reference· World religions· 11 plus materials
TRAINING COURSES. The following courses are currently in progress Refer
to dates on front page.
This was passed on to me by a colleague to be read “tongue in cheek”. Churches are always struggling with All Age Worship - here are some 'top tips' you might want to think about................. The essentials for a family service:1. Families.2. Sermon in a language aimed at anybody under the age of 9. I think this may possibly come under the banner of 'inclusive language'.3. Children under the age of 9 doing anything except listening to the sermon.4. Parents ignoring their children getting on the nerves of people who forgot that it was the 2nd Sunday in the month, but are too polite to just turn around and go home.5. The noisier and messier the better.6. Anything goes as long as it gives the traditionalist crowd something to moan about.7. At the end of the service all MUST leave the church without tidying anything away or mopping up spillages of any kind.A vital element in planning All Age Services is in catering for ALLages*. This should involve a checklist such as:0-5 years something cute6-10 years something involving animals11-14 years something RELEVANT15-18 years something they can consider "lame"19-29 years something aspirational yet cool 30-45 years something for their children45-60 years something they can complain isn't for them60-70 years something they can't quite hear70+ years something cute* other age brackets may apply
GOING GREEN - SOME SUMMER ACTIVITIES.Caring for our planet has been one of man's tasks since creation – but we haven't made a very good job of it. Here are some suggestions for helping engage children in the care of our world. Perhaps they could form part of a Family day during the holidays.
Kay Warrington - Diocesan Children’s OfficerGwynfa, 17 Ffordd Emlyn,
Ystalyfera, Swansea. SA9 2EW8 kijwarrington@tiscali.co.uk ' 01639 842874