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First Steps

The First Steps Ministry is designed to work together with families in their baby’s first steps of faith. Children ages 6 through 30+ months are loved and taught about God’s love.

Ministry Coach

Shirley Banning, sbanning@woodmont.org or (615) 300-6378

First Steps classroom divisions and locations

West Hall

  • 6-12 Months: Room 121, Lesson Theme: Creation
  • 13-18 Months: Room 122, Lesson Theme: Families
  • 19-24 Months: Room 123, Lesson Theme: Baby Jesus
  • 25-30 + Months: Room 126 (127), Lesson Theme: Noah, God Cares for Me

    • Before you bring your child to First Steps…

    Before a child can attend a First Steps Class or Nursery Time you must register at Children/Family Registration in the lobby. Every child 6 months-2nd grade must be issued a 2-part name tag. One tag is for your child and one is for the parent who will be picking up the child. This is the only way your child may be picked up from class…give the matching tag to an adult volunteer in the classroom. A third tag will be given to you as well to put on your child’s diaper bag.

    When dropping off your child…

  • Be sure your child has his/her name tag.
  • Be sure you put the Diaper Bag Tag on the Diaper Bag.
  • Be sure you sign your child in on the Sign-in Sheet provided in your child’s classroom and pick up a Pager. By signing in, this lets us know where you’ll be for the morning or evening. And by taking a Pager, it makes it easier and faster for us to contact you in the event your little one should need you.
  • When applicable, an “Allergy Alert” or "I'm Potty Training" Tag can be issued. This tag will need to be attached to the Tag the Child is wearing.

    • Sundays in First Steps, 9 a.m. -10:15 a.m.

    Each Sunday, volunteers come to care for our children. They arrive ready to welcome little ones for this special time. Class begins at 9:00. Children experience play time and then placed in their seats to enjoy a time of interactive learning through songs and manipulatives that relate to the lesson theme of their room. The table time varies according to age and attention spans. The same lesson is repeated each Sunday. Repetition is so key in the way young children learn it also provides consistency and security for our little ones…they know what to expect.

    Class ends at 10:15. Children can be picked up no later than 10:20 or can stay for the Nursery Care time that follows. Parents wanting their children to remain for 10:30 Nursery need to indicate that when signing their children in to class.

    Some FAQs about First Steps…

  • When do babies promote to their next class in First Steps? Babies promote at 13 months, 19 months and 25 months.
  • When do children promote to Live Wires? Children will remain in the 25-30+ room until they receive a postcard letting them know that it’s time to promote to Live Wires which is the ministry for children 2.5-4.5 years. We promote children to Live Wires 3 times a year: The last Sunday in September, January and May.
  • What does my child need to bring to his/her First Steps Class? Be sure your child has his/her name tag on and that you have the matching tag. If you are visiting, a volunteer at Children/Family Registration in our church lobby, will be able to help you register your child and issue your child’s 2-part nametag and diaper bag tag. We want our babies to be safe. The purpose of a two-part tag is so that a parent or caregiver has one tag and the baby has the other. At pick-up time, only the person showing the matching tag may pick up a child. Also, your child will need a well-stocked diaper bag with all contents labeled. Please be sure your child has a change of clothes, diapers, wipes, any necessary bottles/sippy cups and food items and of course any item that soothes your child. We want to be able to care for your little one with great love and having anything your child may need helps us do just that.
  • May I visit my child’s class? Absolutely! Parents are ALWAYS welcome. We do ask that when you visit with your child that you wear your child’s matching tag. This is for security purposes. It lets our Team of Volunteers as well as other parents know that you are a Parent Visitor. Thank you!

    • Curriculum Outline

    The following units are based on Palma Smiley Curriculum for Babies and Toddlers. Each unit has age-appropriate songs and finger plays. There are “touchables” that relate to the different themes for the children to hold throughout their Bible Time each Sunday morning and Wednesday evening. You may wonder, “Why the same lesson/songs each week?” Good question. Children, especially young children, learn best with repetition. And not only does repetition provide a solid learning environment for them it also provides security for little ones. Babies and Toddlers end up anticipating the songs and manipulatives each week and what a joy it is to hear their happy squeals when they know what’s next.

    On Sundays during the 9 a.m. Hour…

    Room 121: 6-12 months: Creation

    Room 122: 13-18 months: Families

    Room 123: 18-24 months: Baby Jesus

    Room 126: 25-30 months: Noah’s Ark: How God Cares for me.

    Wednesday Evening focuses on Baby Jesus