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River Kids - Connecting Kids to Christ

River Kids - Connecting Kids to Christ

Welcome to River Run’s River Kids Ministry! Our goal is to help each and every child develop a loving and lasting relationship with Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior! We do so by using the three R’s—being Relevant, Real and Relational, meeting a child where he or she may be, and encouraging them to seek Jesus for themselves.

One way we work towards meeting that goal is by making learning fun! We use songs, dramas, videos, media and other child-centered activities. The lessons are age-appropriate, interactive and relevant for a child in today’s society.

We also encourage families to spend time together during the week reviewing the lessons learned in church, as part of a commitment to laying a spiritual foundation upon which your children can build their lives.

Our key verse is Psalm 78:6,7:

“So the next generation would know, and all the generations to come-- Know the truth and tell stories so your children can trust God.”

Our volunteers have taken this verse to heart, and are constantly challenging themselves to present the Bible’s stories and lessons in ways that each child can understand.

River Kids also believes that providing a safe environment in which to learn is important and we have taken several measures to insure that the River Kids area is a safe and healthy place to be.



We are getting ready to get busy in River Kids! Here’s a list of some of our upcoming events!

(Mid-April)—There will be a Father/Daughter dinner at Pannuzzo’s. Date is still up in the air, but basically it will be a pre-ordered dinner with dads and their girls (all ages) complete with flowers/photos and activities.) I hope to hammer out the date with Juan today.

June 21-25- VBS! This year’s theme is High Seas Expedition and it will be another great Vacation Bible School here at River Run. This year’s mission focus will be Operation Christmas Child. The first meeting for VBS will be March 24th at 7pm. We need lots of helpers this year, everything from Teen Guides to Creative Directors. If you are interested in being a part of it, please come to our planning meeting or email Cindy DeKeyrel at cdekeyrel@riverruncc.org

More Information About River Kids

Check-In / In-Service Contact

We use the Parent Pager Check-In system. It is a computer-based program. When you come to River Run for the first time, please stop by the Children’s Welcome Center to check in your children. There is a short form we will need for you to fill out, and then we will take pictures of everyone in your family. We do this as a security measure. If you decide that River Run is going to be your church home, we then ask you to fill out a longer form. Then you will be issued a Proximity Card, or prox card, which you use like an ID card. It will enable you to swipe your card over the self check-in device, so that you will not need to go to the Welcome Center each week to check in.

If for any reason we need for you to come to the Children’s area during service, we will utilize the big screens in the Worship Center to contact you. For children in the Nursery through Preschool, we use the number that was given to you when you brought your child into the classroom. It will be located in a red box in the corner of the screen. For children in Kindergarten through 5th Grade, we will flash their name in the corner of the screen

Classrooms

Once you have checked in, a volunteer will escort you to our classrooms. We believe that children learn best in developmentally appropriate learning environments, and our classroom ages reflect this philosophy.


Nursery: Birth through 1 year
Our River Kids Nursery provides a nurturing and secure environment for our babies. As they make their ‘splash’ into life they begin their journey on the river of life by tenderly being introduced to Jesus through songs and stories.

Toddlers—(walking to 2 years old)
The children advance to the Toddler program as they become more active. The curriculum changes to meet the developmental needs of the children. They will begin to explore the world around them, using all of their senses to begin to experience the wonder of God’s love.

Preschool: 2 and 3 year olds
As our River Kids Toddlers ‘flow’ into the 2’s and 3’s Classroom, the children experience a more active learning environment through interactive centers, music and crafts. Story Time brings the people and stories of the Bible to life, and active play allows for budding relationships to begin to occur.

Preschool: 4 and 5 year olds
By age 4, our children are ready to ‘jump’ into the Bible, to get to know some of the main people and events in the Bible, and to begin to open their hearts and choose to follow Jesus. The children are actively involved in learning these stories through drama, games, music and crafts.

Kindergarten-2nd Grade
Our primary grade children are ready to ‘dive’ into the Bible, to learn about the stories and people in the Bible, and how they can relate to these stories in their own lives. The atmosphere is exciting and fun as they worship God “kids-style”, through relevant worship music. Bible lessons are presented in a variety of ways, so that all children can truly being to see and know God for themselves. Lessons are taught as building blocks in our walk with God, and every child can come in, no matter what their Bible background may be, and learn and enjoy the experience. During our Good Book Look, our K2 kids learn how the Bible is organized and actually begin looking up verses for themselves. They get to know God through His Word, and also through prayer and fellowship.

3rd-5th Grade
All 3rd-5th Graders are invited to ‘ride the rapids’ in the 3rd-5th Grade Clubhouse. This fast-paced, multi-media driven format appeals to their lifestyles and interest levels. Worship is again presented “kids-style” and children are encouraged to take a leadership role during Worship time. The 3rd-5th Grade room builds on their knowledge of the Bible stories and helps our kids see how these Bible stories are relevant to their lives today. After your children experience our River Kids Clubhouses, they will be bringing YOU to church each week!


Current Curriculum

Current Memory Verses for River Kids Children’s Ministry:

Most verses are from the New International Reader’s Version. Please help your child memorize these verses. Children who successfully memorize all eight verses will receive a special award.

1. Psalm 119:105
"Your Word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path."

2. Psalm 119:11
"I have hidden your word in my heart so that I won't sin against you."

3. John 3:16
"God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son. Anyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life."

4. Proverbs 3:5, 6
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Do not depend on your own understanding. In all your ways remember him. Then he will make your paths smooth and straight."

5. Jeremiah 31:33
"This is the covenant I will make with Israel after that time," announces the Lord. "I will put my law in their minds. I will write it on their hearts. I will be their God. And they will be my people."

6. Psalm 100:5
“The LORD is good. His faithful love continues forever. It will last for all time to come.”

7. Deuteronomy 5:16
"Honor your father and mother, just as the Lord your God commanded you. Then you will live a long time in the land he is giving you. And things will go well with you there."

8. Matthew 22:37-39
"Jesus replied, " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Love him with all your mind.'—(Deuteronomy 6:5) This is the first and most important commandment. And the second is like it. 'Love your neighbor as you love yourself.'—(Leviticus 19:18)"


Wellness Policy

Our wellness policy helps to ensure that, while at River Run, our children feeling their best so that they can learn and have a great time!

Because we are staffed and equipped to care for well children only, we ask the parent to keep their child home if he or she is sick, particularly is he or she exhibits the following symptoms:

• Has a fever above 100 degrees. The child should be fever-free for 12 hours before being in our care.
• Has a yellow/green nasal discharge, drainage from the eyes, conjunctivitis (pink eye), a questionable rash, a contagious cough, is vomiting or has diarrhea. The child should be symptom-free for 24 hours before being in our care.
• Has been prescribed an antibiotic. Your child may be in our care 24 hours after the first dose.
• Has chicken pox. Your child may be in our care when the pox are 14 days old and have scabbed over.
• Has a communicable disease such as hepatitis, measles, mumps, salmonella or giardia. Parents should report these illnesses to the Children’s Director.


What happens if my child starts to feel sick at church?

If a child has a runny nose, persistent cough, fever, rash or any other signs of illness we will ask the parent to keep the child with them. If a River Kids leader notices any of these symptoms during the service time, we will page you, so that you can come and pick up your child.

***Please Note: Medication cannot be administered by anyone other than the child’s parent or legal guardian.


How do I become a volunteer?

We love our River Kids volunteers! They are what make River Kids the success it is! If you enjoy working with children, we would love to have you join our ministry!

We are always looking for extra volunteers and we have several ways in which you can use your God-given talents to help share God’s love.

Here are some of the volunteering opportunities we have in River Kids.

Teachers
Worship Leaders
Helpers
Nursery workers
Greeting
Technical Team
Special Events

For more information, please contact Cindy DeKeyrel at 407-977-5433 or at cdekeyrel@riverruncc.org

Downloads

Parent_Pager_non-Guardian_pickup_p3.pdf - To authorize a child to be released to a non guardian, a parent or guardian may download, print and return this form to the River Kids Desk.

Parent_Pager_Registration__form2.pdf - Parents and Guardians: to register your children for River Kids - download, print and return this form and form # 1 to the River Kids Desk.

Parent_Page_registration__form1.pdf - Parents and Guardians: to register your children for River Kids - download, print and return this form and form # 2 to the River Kids Desk

RK-BaptismCard.pdf - About Baptism

RK-SalvationCard.pdf - About Salvation

Volunteer_background_check.pdf - If you would like to Volunteer at River Kids, please download, print, fill out and return this form to the River Kids Desk for a back ground check.

websitevolunteerinterestsurvey.pdf - Interested in Volunteering at River Kids? Download, print and return this survey to the River Kids desk on Sunday.