The Childcare During Worship (CDW) program takes place during the 9:30 am service. 

 

Children may arrive at CDW at 9:30, while parents attend worship or Adult Religious Education. Families may choose to begin in worship together and have children go to CDW after the Words for All Ages portion of the service. Pick up is immediately after the service.

 

CDW is designed primarily for Elementary school-age children from 5 yrs to 12 yrs old.  Children 4 yrs and under are encouraged to use the Wiggle Room with their families, or the Nursery.  First Unitarian has a cozy space for all our little ones! 

 

Middle School and High School age students are encouraged to stay in the Sanctuary and enjoy the Service.  However we do have some limited positions for “Teen Helpers” who wish to volunteer to help babysit. (Priority will given to those working on babysitting merit badges and similar. See Director of Religious Education.)

 

Childcare During Worship is held in the Assembly Room and Religious Education Courtyard where children may participate in indoor or outdoor play under the watchful eye of Adult Volunteers and Teen Helpers.

 

Children's Religious Education classes take place during the 11:00 am service.  Families begin together in the sanctuary and children head to their classes after Words for All Ages. Classes run until 12:15 pm and parents are asked to pick up their children at that time. 

More about Childcare During Worship.

 

If registered for the Childcare During Worship Program, the registered children gather in the Sanctuary foyer to be escorted to the Assembly Room by the adults in charge after the “Words for all Ages” part of the Service.

 

Guests may also use this program though not registered.  While the Childcare Coordinator is settling in registered children and teens,  guest parents  fill out all appropriate guest forms with the Director of Religious Education before returning to the service. We want your children safe and accounted for!

 

The teen helpers get their assignments for the day from the Childcare Coordinator.

 

 

Teen Helpers are not  "players."  They report to the Childcare Coordinator and are expected to help supervise crafts, be a “buddy” to the new or shy child so they won’t be alone, and be extra helping hands.

 

 

The kids in the Assembly room will have indoor play, arts and crafts, or games.  If weather allows, there will also be supervised outdoor play within the courtyard.

 

 

At the end of the service, parents come over to the Assembly Room to sign their children out.

 

Adults can participate in the Childcare During Worship Program by taking a turn to help watch the kids, type attendance sheets at home, or provide support in other ways.  See Childcare Coordinator for current volunteer opportunities or needs.

 

REGISTRATION INFO

All children of all ages must be signed up with the Director of Religious Education to accurately appear in the “Childcare During Worship” program attendance sheets whether they are “players” or “teen helpers.” Families typically register for this optional program at the same time they register for Children’s Religious Education classes.

 

Children are returned to their parents in the Sanctuary if any problems arise at Childcare During Worship.

 

Guests families visiting us throughout the year may walk over together so that Mom or Dad can fill out the appropriate guest forms.  Then the adults can return to the Service. 

 

If you have become a "regular" guest  visitor, you are expected to fill out the full Childcare During Worship forms. 

 

 

If you are interested in helping out in the Childcare During Worship program in a larger scope, please see Abbie Potter, our Director of Religious Education, who can also be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it