Parish School of Religion

Parish Nursery -Sunday Small Talk

Purpose
To provide a safe and developmentally appropriate atmosphere where toddlers can play and grow in social/emotional abilities during the Sunday Masses.

Piecing it Together
Meets: Sundays during 9:30 and 11:30am Masses, year round except holidays
          in Brodnick Hall Nursery.
Children must be walking age through age 3. 

Registration is required. Registration

Nursery Guidelines

St. Timothy Parish offers a nursery in Brodnick Hall for the 9:30 and 11:30 Sunday Masses called Sunday Small Talk. This program has allowed the nursery to take on a more developmental approach to babysitting. This program is offered to children that are walking (around the age of 1) to 3 years of age. Children function best with a routine and structure that fits their developmental needs. This is true especially for 1 to 3 year olds. With a consistent structure and a developmentally appropriate environment, even the most timid child will become more comfortable with separation. Basically, when a child knows what to expect each Sunday morning, the fear of the unknown become less of a challenge as parents drop their little ones off before Mass.

The Sunday Small Talk program is set up to engage the toddlers of our parish in a wide range of developmental experiences within a loosely structured setting. The children are greeted with fine motor experiences of “knobby handled” puzzles and blocks, as well as the option of coloring with large crayons at a pint-sized table. The morning moves on to a circle time filled with songs and finger plays and the “Sign of Peace,” perfect for the Sunday environment. Then it is off to play time. The nursery now has just the right sized kitchen filled with a kitchen table, ironing board, food and even the kitchen sink that provides great opportunities to engage children in appropriate socializing. The sensory table and the vinyl climbing blocks also offer small and large muscle development. As the morning comes to an end, it is time to clean up and settle back into the closing circle time. The children sing goodbye to their friends, as the Catechist help them recall where they played that morning. Where did the hour go?

St. Timothy Parish’s Nursery is a free service provided for our parishioners. Because of this, parents of the children in the nursery will be the primary care givers of this service.  If you child is registered to use the nursery, you will be contacted about volunteering, about once every six weeks. (Due to state regulations, individuals need to be 18 years or older to fill this position.) This waves our need for tuition. Teens are welcome to sign-up for the nursery schedule if they are under the age of 18 to be helpers in the nursery. Any youth using this as a form of service needs to complete the American Red Cross Baby Sitting Course. This will be periodically offered by St.Timothy Parish.

The Nursery schedule will be sent home to all families and will be posted on the St. Timothy web site. Phone numbers or email addresses of all babysitters will be included on the schedule that is sent home. Parents will be obligated to find a substitute for scheduled days that they are unable to be in the Nursery.

The Nursery will open 10 minutes prior to each Mass. Please be prompt in picking up your child after Mass. Be sure to label everything that is brought to the Nursery. Remember to be courteous with children who may have a contagious illness.

Parents can drop a child off twice before deciding to register and become part of the parent schedule. Visitors are also welcome to drop their child off. If you have any questions about this religious education program, contact Deb Thomas by calling 384-1100 ext.18 or by e-mail.