3 minute read
Starting Out
Becoming a parent is life changing and the start of a whole new journey as a family, for some the journey will be full of fun and laughter, but for many the journey will be a bit of a shock – full of unexpected challenges. Finding a place where you are welcomed and cared for, and your little one gets to play with different toys and with other little ones is invaluable.
Baby and toddler groups offer an amazing space for babies, toddlers and their parents and carers to play, experience a warm welcome and develop a supportive community. They are a place where the love of God can be experienced in so many ways and they are a place where families can be supported, loved and challenged as they continue on the journey of life.
Grateful first-time parents, grandparents and childminders find a warm welcome and a listening ear. The ministry of putting a hot cup of something into an adult’s hand should not be underestimated: it may be the only time that week that someone makes them a drink. The volunteers who make baby and toddler groups happen are amazing – they welcome, remember names, serve tea and coffee, hold a crying baby whilst parents have a drink, play with a child for five minutes to give carers a break, or are on hand to listen.
Many people in churches today can trace the beginnings of their own journey of faith to an initial contact through a baby and toddler group, making them amongst the most exciting and significant starting places for mission to both adults and children.
The Talking Toddlers Report (released in May 2020) shows that 74% of all parents with children under the age of five attended a church-run activity in the past year – what a great missional opportunity!
A UK child has on average just 1,277 days between birth and starting nursery education. ‘1277 – Make them Count’ are passionate about supporting church-based toddler groups to make those days count. Several years ago, a National Month of Prayer for these groups which takes place in June was initiated to encourage people to focus their prayers on toddler groups, their leaders, the families that use them and the communities that they serve.
This June we want to encourage churches across the Diocese of Llandaff to pray for the work of their baby and toddler groups as they reach out to serve the needs of families in the local community. Keep your eyes open in the run up to June for ideas on how to engage Under 5s in the Bible and of course, prayer.
If your church is running a baby and toddler group and Ruth (Children and Families Outreach Enabler) hasn’t got in contact with you, please do let her know! She’d love to visit as many baby and toddler groups across the diocese as possible.
There is no ‘one size fits all’ for baby and toddler groups – they meet in churches, church halls, community halls and schools, they meet inside and outside, they meet weekly, fortnightly or monthly, they meet in the morning or the afternoon, they meeting on a weekday or a weekend. The possibilities are endless.
If this article has made you think about exploring starting a baby and toddler group please do get in contact with Ruth via ruthyoung@cinw.org.uk. She would love to talk to you about the possibilities and help get things started.
