Welcome to the Connections Playroom! This is a safe and fun place for your children to play, and a perfect space for parents to build community. The playroom provides the opportunity for you to participate in your older children’s classes as we share the responsibility of watching each others’ younger children. It also provides a gentle and interactive environment for your young children to learn, play, and engage with other children. Each week parents take turns in providing a very simple yet structured ABC activity for the day. The activities may include Pre-K/Kindergarten-level reading, math, science, movement, art, or free play. Parents are welcome to stay even if they are not an assigned helper for the day.
As the playroom is intended to provide a place for younger children between their own classes or while their older siblings are in classes, families with children enrolled in Monday playroom must have at least one child enrolled in a Connections class other than playroom.
Monday Playroom Guidelines
- Please sign in your child with the assigned playroom parents. Your child will be given a nametag, and you will be given a card to match. For the safety of your child, the person picking up your child from playroom must present this card. The first time you check your child into Playroom, you will be asked to fill out a Family Profile form if you have not done so already.
- Hand-washing is required of all children at check-in and after bathroom use. Disinfectant is provided to clean surfaces such as the tables and toys.
- Please do not bring your child to playroom if he/she is ill.
- Please leave the room neat and clean. Check carefully that you have taken everything home with you, including coats, diaper bags, crafts, bottles, leftover snacks and the activities you have provided.
Playroom Rotation
- You will be scheduled to work in the playroom on a rotating basis. Our guideline is one adult for every seven children, depending on the ages of the children. Families with more than two children should expect to rotate more frequently than families with one or two children. If you are unable to work on your assigned day, please find a replacement for yourself among the other parents of the same hour. If you are unable to reach anyone to assume your shift, please contact the playroom facilitator.
- The first hour parent helpers should make sure supply boxes and nametags are out of the storage closet and set up; the 4th hour parent helpers should make sure supplies get put back.
- Please arrive 5 minutes early to class on the days you are working so you will be prepared to check in children. Distribute the provided name tags as children arrive. The parent’s name and location must be listed on the sign-in sheet. Give the parent a card to turn in when the child is picked up.
- It is a Connections’ requirement that there be a minimum of two adults in the room at all times. Please find someone to fill in if you must step out for even a few minutes. The Welcome Table ladies are usually available to step in for a few minutes to cover for you.
- On a rotating basis, you will be responsible for an activity. The activity person brings an ABC or holiday activity appropriate to the ages of the children. A list of suggested activities is available in the playroom binder. The facilitator will provide you with an “Alphabet Letter Schedule” for the year.
- Assigned parents need to be attentive to the needs of the children throughout the entire hour. If a child needs his/her parent, the assigned helpers can contact the child’s parent. A list of parent phone numbers is in the check-in binder.
- For the child’s comfort, we will come and get you if your child needs changing. Please change your child’s diaper on a changing table in the bathroom, not on the floor. All diapers and wipes should be placed in tied plastic bags (available in the nursery) and deposited into a bathroom garbage container.
Playroom Supplies
- A one-time supply fee will be collected at the beginning of the year. Nametags, crayons, first aid supplies, cups, pinnies, etc, will be provided from this fee.
- Please do not use anyconsumable materials found in the room or anything from the cabinets, as these are the church’s supplies. Use only those items found in the playroom supply boxes.
Emergency Drills
Several times throughout the year, the playroom will be practicing “Duck & Cover” exercises to help prepare the playroom for possible emergencies. Instructions will be on a brightly colored page in the sign-in book.