Have you ever been distracted from the Sermon on Sunday morning because you’re not sure if your child is safe or being well-attended to? When you’re looking for a church home with children, there is no higher concern than whether or not your children are safe and enjoying themselves. That’s why Gateway Community Church makes our Children’s Ministry a top priority.
Each of our teachers is trained at the level in which they teach and matched to their age preference. Some have a gift for teaching grade-schoolers and others a gift for quieting babies while snuggling them in their arms. And still others have a passion for acting out scenes from the Bible so our visual and active preschoolers have something to talk about when you pick them up.
Relax, Mom and Dad. We’ve got you covered.
As kids grow, they must negotiate peer interactions, make decisions, and learn new skills. Here are age-appropriate insights about problem-solving:
Ages Birth to 2: Young children are sensory-oriented and learn by imitating. Offer choices and model problem-solving techniques, such as different ways of stacking blocks or holding a cup.
Ages 3 to 5: Preschoolers are multi-sensory, solving as they touch and do. Allow time and space for problem-solving. Praise kids’ efforts.
Ages 6 to 8: By this age, kids begin to learn in specific ways (auditory, visual, spatial, etc.), which will affect how they tackle problems. Encourage kids to employ these different approaches as they problem-solve, too.
Ages 9 to 12: Preteens observe how peers solve problems. Although they want to be independent, they often lack confidence. Tell kids you trust their abilities. Let them know failure is okay. Be available to discuss problems. Download May’s Edition of Parentlink for more.
Children are drawn to Easter, with the holiday’s emphasis on candy and bunnies. What a privilege to help them realize it’s about so much more! For Christians, Easter is a day of victory. Because Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, we have forgiveness, hope, and eternal life.
Looking for new ideas to celebrate Holy Week and Easter with your kids? Sometimes the most meaningful activities are the easiest. For example… Download April’s Edition of Parentlink for more.
Registration is OPEN NOW for your preteens to attend CAMP GAP at Mt. Lebanon. A non-refundable $50 deposit is due with your registration forms.
This year’s theme is “Get in the Game” and is sports centered. This camp is for all kids who will have completed 3rd – 6th grade in May 2012. Download and print a registration form. For more information about the facilities, visit www.mtlebanoncamp.com/
Payment plans, fundraisers, and scholarships are all available. We want to make sure we do everything we can to see all our kids go. Stop by and see Cassey Chapman for $5 Sonic gift cards that campers can sell to help raise money for camp!
This year, parents may pay online by filling out the information here. PAYMENT IS SEPARATE FROM REGISTRATION. Please make sure that you alsodownload and print a registration form..
Gateway Church Camp Gap Summer Camp
Christian stewardship is about more than just pledging donations or placing money in an offering plate. A steward manages resources, including time, talent, and money. Because God has given us so many blessings, we respond by using them wisely and also sharing them with others.
Children observe their parents’ financial habits and learn about the role of money at a young age. So it’s important to model appropriate attitudes about saving, spending, and giving. When we’re honest about everything from our daily transactions to our yearly taxes, we demonstrate how to be trustworthy. And when we contribute to church, charities, and neighbors in need, we teach the joy of being generous while assisting other people.
Experts recommend using an allowance system that works for your family so children can save for the future, spend money on desired items, and donate a portion of their earnings. Such habits can set the foundation for a lifetime of financial stability as well as God-honoring stewardship.
DOWNLOAD THE FULL MARCH PARENTLINK
The topic of body image is usually associated with teenagers, but it’s becoming an issue for younger children now, too. Media and advertising, toys, and peer pressure are among the many factors that make kids question their appearance and build.
But what’s said and seen at home matters, too. Often parents inadvertently contribute to their child’s body-image issues with their comments or through their own weight issues. A parent’s focus on body image can make a child think his or her value is based solely on appearance. Here are tips for promoting healthy body image in your children:
• Emphasize that God created our bodies, which he calls “the temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:19).
• Model healthy eating. Show children how to make wise food choices, and don’t require them to always clean their plates.
• Accept yourself. Resist an obsession with calories and pounds.
DOWNLOAD THE FULL PARENTLINK ISSUE
Join Us! Wednesday Nights beginning January 11th, 2012 for…
6:30 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. For kids who currently attend K-6th grades.
$20 Registration fee for books and supplies (max. $60 per family)
Kids will enjoy “TeamKID” – an interactive Bible Study, Crazy skills and Bible drills , fun and games , small groups , snack cafe’ and other off the wall CrAzY Hype!!
Please contact the Children’s Ministry office at 972-429-0400 ext. 4020 or email cassey@gatewayonline.org if you have any questions or would LOVE to volunteer to help with this AMAZING Ministry to Kids !!!!
” Elijah’s Place”
Special Friends Ministry
A Christ-centered environment especially for our friends with “different abilities” rather than disabilities.
A class built on a foundation of trust that will help Parents and children learn to trust others and trust in Christ, as heart-to-heart relationships are formed.
If you have a family member or friend with special needs , invite them to join us in this rewarding and FUN Ministry!
Starting Sunday, December 4th from 9:15-10:30 am in Room # 120a In the Children’s area.
“But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” Mark 10:31
Contact Dan Chapman @ 214-801-7967 or dan.chapman @sunnyvaleisd. com for more information or to volunteer.
Be Grateful for God-Given Gifts
God has blessed each of us with traits, talents, and spiritual gifts that make us special. Just as we thank God for our material and physical blessings, we should also offer gratitude for our unique gifts and abilities.
As Thanksgiving approaches, take time to consider which spiritual gifts God has given each of your family members. Observe them as they interact with others and perform tasks. What excites and satisfies your kids? What challenges them or makes them proud? Offer choices and don’t compare children’s strengths or interests to other people’s. Finally, provide varied opportunities for kids to use their gifts and to grow passionate about serving. Evaluate what they like best about each experience and why.
For a biblical primer on spiritual gifts, read passages such as Romans 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31; and Ephesians 4:11-16. Share some of these verses with your children and get their opinions about which gifts they think they have—or would like to develop. – Read more of the November Edition of Parentlink
Try New Christmas Faith-Boosters
The most wonderful time of the year is a wonderful time to share Jesus—and why he came to earth—with your children. Instead of getting caught up in the holiday rush, focus on what Christmas truly means. Use the Advent season (the weeks of preparation before Christmas) to engage in old and new traditions, make simple crafts, have discussions, and worship Jesus, our newborn King.
Faith-boosters needn’t be elaborate or time-consuming. Instead, use materials you already have to reinforce the good news that the angels shared on the first Christmas Eve: Jesus, our Savior, is born! – Read more of the December Edition of Parentlink for Gateway Community Church.
