Childcare Checklist

A common question for many small groups is, “What do we do with the kids?” Some people think that children in the Group are a blessing, for others having kids present can be distracting, so it’s important that every Group member clearly understands the arrangements that their group has made for kids.  There are typically three options for every group that faces this question of kids:

• Include the kids in your Group allowing them to answer questions, read Scripture, and pray.
• Arrange for childcare.
• Drop the kids off at your church. Check with your church to see if group childcare is provided.

The information that follows will help your group jointly determine what steps will be taken to address the question of childcare.  Because the safety of our children is so important, here are two important things to consider when arranging child care for your Small Group:

• When Children are “on site” consider having them supervised in an adjacent room with the door open.
• When Children are “off site” (i.e. another house) consider having them supervised by at least two responsible individuals at least one of whom is an adult.

Keeping these two things in mind, it is also important to plan ahead and make the right childcare choices for your group so that childcare will not become a burden. When deciding what to do for your group childcare, these are seven important questions for each group member to weigh in on:

What is the agreed upon childcare approach for our group? (Possible Answers)

• We hire a babysitter for the whole group
• Group members take turns caring for children
  
• Intergenerational—we include all children
  
• No children are present except for nursing infants
  
• Other options _____________________________​
  

Where should our group childcare be? (Possible Answers)

• In the same house as the Group, but in a separate room
• At another location (a babysitter’s, neighbor’s, Group member’s house, etc.)
• Wherever individual parents can arrange i
  

If applicable, who will pay for childcare? (Possible Answers)

• All of the members who have children
• The whole group passes around a hat
• No one—it’s free

What resources will be provided for childcare providers? (Possible Answers)

• Family friendly videos such as Veggie Tales or Disney
• Books for different age groups
• Games and toys for different age groups
• Coloring/activity books
• Other options _____________________________
  

What groups or individuals are available for childcare? (Possible Answers)

• Teenagers children of Group members
• “Grandparents”—older family or friends who are willing to help
• A rotation of members from our own group
• A rotation of members from other groups that meet on a different night of the week, and then we return the favor
• Other options _____________________________
  

Who is responsible for lining up the childcare? (Possible Answers)

• The Group leader
• A designated person in each group (possibly the apprentice)
• Other options _____________________________
  

What, if anything, would we like our children to be taught? (Possible Answers)

• Childcare provider should just look for “teachable moments”.
• Curriculum or Lessons purchased by the group
• Nothing in particular