• Have your heart ready to receive the child(ren).

                If you have prepared your heart and mind in prayer and thinking about good hospitality when a family arrives at the door of the nursery you will be a step ahead in being a welcoming nursery worker.

• Put a smile on your face and greet the parents and child warmly.

                Greeting a family and child with a smile and a “Good morning!” or “Hello!” can go a long way. When a new person walks to the door to drop off their child off to strangers a smile is a reassuring gesture that will make them feel at home. It’s an awkward moment when a parent walks to the nursery and feels ignored or like they must begin engaging in conversation with the worker because they are shy or preoccupied. Help ease the stress of separation anxiety from both the child and the parent by making them feel welcome.

• Receive the child and their belongings.

Whether it’s an infant, toddler, or preschooler there is a hand-off from the parent to the worker that should work into being easier the more comfortable the parents and child become with the process. Take their child, then take their belongings and put them away where they belong. If their child cries at this time…

• Assure the parents that you will contact them if there is an issue.

However your church contacts a parent whether by pager or by text, assure them you will contact them if there is an issue. Do not allow their child to cry for more than 10 minutes without contacting them to come back and check on the child. Some children’s separation anxiety does not calm down easily and most parents would not like to hear their child was inconsolable for an hour or longer waiting for the service to be over. 

• Listen well. Receive the instructions for the child’s needs and write them down.

A parent should feel their desires and needs are heard about what can and should not happen with their child during our care. Whether it pertains to feeding times, food allergies, or preferences for a nap, please write it down to help you remember and communicate to the other workers.

• Explain any procedures and answer any questions kindly.

If there is something that needs to be explained, such as your church’s sickness policy, please give the instructions kindly to the parent.  If an issue arises that you do not know how to deal with please contact your nursery coordinator to help you work it out with the parent.

• Keep smiling and engaging the child throughout your shift in the nursery.

Cultivating an atmosphere of love takes work to show a child that church is a safe and good place to be. When a child cries and is frustrated that their parents are not with them or they’re tired, keep doing your best to speak to them kindly and use gentle gestures. While some verbal corrections for a fighting toddler or redirecting a child to do another task may be needed, remember to keep their nursery experience as positive as possible. We’re not the parent and no form of physical discipline should be exercised on the child. Don’t stop to take a phone scrolling break or solely talk with another nursery worker, engage the child(ren). Singing songs, reading books, rotating toys, or playing on the floor with the child(ren) can all be simple ways to engage little ones. 

• Make it a good goodbye.

Make the pick-up process easy by getting the children and belongings ready to go during the closing portion of the church service. Guests and members alike love to hear good feedback about their child’s experience and personality. Keep the parents informed about any notable situations or needs and always report injuries like a bump on the head or another child biting theirs. If there is time, ask parents about their week and invite them to come to the next service.

 

If a parent feels a place is safe and the workers are genuinely safe and caring toward their child(ren) then they will have a greater desire to come back. Many nursery workers have had a profound impact on creating long-lasting connections with families by loving their children and engaging them. If a family feels welcome and safe it can build trust and move them toward joining your church family. Never underestimate the importance of being a welcoming and hospitable servant of the Lord!