Making the most of your church’s toddler group

Richard Hardy explains why every church should regard their toddler group as a great way to engage with families in their community...

Many church leaders find it hard to engage with their toddler group, perhaps partly because church leaders are often male, and feel ill at ease attending a group of mostly women and small children. Also there can be an incorrect perception that toddler groups exist mainly for the benefit of the children, when in fact, often the people who get the most from it are the parents.

When I was a church leader, I found there were great benefits in being involved in our toddler group. Here are my suggestions for why every church leader should go along to support it. And if you’re a toddler group leader, perhaps you could use these points to persuade your leaders to come along!

1. I think the main reason toddler groups are such a good vehicle to engage with is simply the number of families who regularly attend, particularly those with no other connections to ‘church’. Most church leaders long for opportunities to reach people in their community, but somehow miss the potential of toddler groups as a great ‘introducer’.
2. Getting involved with toddler group events enables the church leader to be recognised and seen as approachable. It always surprised me how little input it took for me to be regarded in this way. Just turning up and welcoming people with a smile helped break down many people’s preconceptions of what a ‘vicar’ is like.
3. It’s also a great place as a church leader to use your gifts and skills as a communicator. How do you help people connect with the true meaning of Easter, if they have hardly any church background? I found talking to under-5s helped me in my preaching – if I could win them over and keep their attention, the adult congregation suddenly felt a lot less daunting.
4. One thing the toddler group leaders told me is that when I went along to the group they always found they had more meaningful conversations with the parents after I’d visited. Parents would feel freer to comment and talk about their situations, hopes, dreams and faith.

Of course, going along to toddler group might not be every leader’s cup of tea. If your church has a person responsible for children’s work, then they may be more gifted and able in this area and parents might find them easier to relate to. But even so, I would suggest leaders summon up their courage and go along – it might be the easiest way you can engage with your community this week!

‘Teddy’s Adventure’ and much, much more

Richard Hardy is now Care for the Family’s Head of Church Relations, but for many years was a church leader involved with his church’s toddler group. He has written ‘Teddy’s Adventure’ – a special service to run in toddler groups introducing young children, and their parents, to the key themes of Easter.

You can download 'Teddy’s Adventure' ('Run an Easter event') and a host of other useful material, including Building Blocks – a ‘how to’ guide to church toddler groups, produced by several organisations working together – at www.engagetoday.org.uk/playtime - click on 'Resources' in the green column on the top left of the web page. And did you know, at one time Richard Hardy was a toddler group leader himself. Find out more here.

‘Playtime’ aims to give toddler group leaders everything they need to know about running a successful toddler group and engaging with the parents and toddlers who come along. Visit www.engagetoday.org.uk/playtime to find out more.

Do your toddler group leaders get the Playtime email newsletter? You can download the latest issue here.

Last Updated 14 January 2010