Full Stomach, Full Spirit, or Full Mind? How do we choose?

Recently I have received numerous calls of concern of declining enrollment in weekday preschool ministries in United Methodist Preschools.  In light of the economy, there seem to be two situations fueling this decline.

• Parents, in hopes of trimming their spending are caught between the choice of feeding their children or educating their children
• Parents are losing their jobs and homes due to the extraordinary economic crisis and no longer have the resources to keep children in preschool ministries

What is the church to do?  What is the preschool to do?  What are parents to do?

Scripture tells us that we are to serve the “least of these”.  At this point in history, the least of these is rapidly growing.  The least of these include our children, the poor, the lonely, and more and more the shrinking middle class who in the past we have relied on to send their children to weekday preschool ministries.  Now we must find ways to serve them as we find our numbers in decline. 

When a family leaves, directors and teachers are torn.  If families continue to leave, will there be enough money to keep the ministry afloat?  What happens to the children developmentally?  There is also an emotional loss for all of those impacted by the withdrawal of a child from the weekday ministry.

What does our heritage tell us?

Some of us are called to ordained ministry in the UMC and asked two questions that specifically refer to the care of children, “Will you diligently instruct children in every place?” and “Will you visit from house to house?” Although most preschool directors and teachers are not ordained, they are in ministry with children.  John Wesley frequently challenged pastors in the spirit of caring for the “least of these”, do all that you can to care for our children. 

So what can we do to care for these children and these families when we no longer see them everyday?  Home Visits!  Go!  Teach!  It is a concept that has been around for centuries, and one that we have fallen away from in recent years.  The weekday preschool ministry can survive this worldwide economic crisis by finding creative ways to support families who can no longer afford to keep their children in preschool.

Where do we start? 

In my days as an EvenStart Coordinator, our staff did home visits almost daily.  A simple and economic home visit pack delivered to the family wherever they may be is a good start.  Include in your pack:

• A parenting magazine – call or visit the US Postal Service for discarded magazines which are always abundant
• A children’s book – collect new books from dollar stores, request new or gently used books from parishioners, find gently used books at public library book sales
• Go to Zero-to-Three free Parent Handouts for developmentally appropriate activities and support
• Direct parents who continue to have Internet access to First Steps PRAYERGROUND for spiritual activities for children of all ages
• A monthly calendar that includes simple age-appropriate activities – Unplugged Play by Bobbi Conner
• A small “cuddly”
• A list of local support services which can be found by entering your zip code on the United Way site - remember to include your church community and upcoming activities
• A copy of Prayers for Hard Times: Words of Faith in a Financial Crisis through Upper Room Books – reasonably priced at fifty cents each
• FYI – large ziplock bags are the perfect size

During your visit, read the book with the child, offer words of support to the parent or guardian, offer a prayer and blessing.

Visit the families every month, every week, or choose a schedule that works for you.  Through this ministry you stay connected with these families, offering spiritual, emotional, and developmental support.  And as the economy stabilizes you offer them a trusted place to return.

PEACE

RESOURCES:

The Children’s Minister by Rita B. Hays
Zero-to-Three Website
FOCUS 2009 workshop offerings

This entry was posted on Sunday, March 22nd, 2009 at 10:04 am and is filed under Christian identity, Uncategorized, coping strategies, financial crisis, least of these, love. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.