Preschool

Who is a Preschooler?
A Preschooler is a child who is in the age group birth to five or six years old. First Baptist divides the children into the following developmental age groups for Sunday School and for events which need child care available:

  Bed Babies - birth to crawling
     Crawlers - crawling to steady on their feet
                     and walking
     Walkers - a. walking well to almost two year
                    year old "Runners" b. those who
                    are almost 2 or turned 2 late in
                    the Sunday School year

Two Year Olds - those who turn 2 before
September of the current Sunday School year

Three Year Olds - those who turn 3 before
September of the current Sunday School year

Four Year Olds - those who turn 4 before
September of the current Sunday School year

Kindergarten - those who are currently attending Kindergarten

Our Sunday School program and child care events is flexible and we desire happy children and families!

Our Sunday School year runs from mid-August to mid-August--with the school year. We try to place the children with other children with whom they will attend school or are attending school. This seems to work best, however, placement in our Sunday School program and child care events is flexible and we desire happy children and families!

What do we do in Preschool Sunday School?
     Our Sunday School classes may look like child's play to you. In fact, you may have said that exact thing to yourself! But take another look at child's play. What shapes the way a child relates to others? What sets the course for their learning and expresses their giftedness? What allows children to find their place in God's plan for their lives? The answer to each question? Child's play!
     Play is God's gift to children. The best learning and teaching with a Preschooler must incorporate play. So that is what we do in Sunday School! We provide intentional teaching experiences in the following play areas: blocks, puzzles, nature, home living, and art. It happens every Sunday morning at 9:30 with each age group through developmentally appropriate concepts and teaching techniques.
     We believe that for a child to make meaningful steps toward faith, all of our teachers in the preschool division must use the Bible as an integral part of all activities. The children are taught Bible phrases and concepts straight from the Word of God. The children experience the teachers telling them Bible stories with the Bible laying open in their laps. Small steps like these lay solid foundations under our children which can lead to a big decision to follow Jesus Christ as Lord later in life. We consider this our greatest partnership with the home.

When is child care provided?
We provide care for our youngest and our best during every service and event which is sponsored by our church. It is helpful if you will call the church office to make a reservation for your child so that we can have the nursery properly staffed. Some of the times you can count on chid care are:

     >Sunday Mornings during Worship - Extended Session
          Staffed by volunteers
          Each Preschool Parent "volunteers" 6 times a year
     >Sunday Evenings during Worship
     >During the week for various Bible Studies
     >Wednesday Evenings during AWANA and Worship On Wednesday (WOW)
     >First Fridays of the month which is the night for Sunday School Class Parties

Are there other programs available for Preschoolers?
Yes, in addition to Sunday School curriculum with its intentional Bible Story teaching, we have AWANA for children ages three and up. AWANA is a fun filled time of learning Bible verses and Bible stories. The AWANA club for this age group is called Cubbies and meets on Wednesday nights at 6:00. Another program provided for our preschoolers is our graded choirs. We have a Music Maker Choir for children who are four and five years old and in PreKindergarten or Kindergarten. It meets on Sundays at 5:15 p.m.

Do you want more information?
Please feel free to contact the church through our website, our phone 580-765-4427 or by mail, First Baptist Church, 218 South Sixth Street, Ponca City, OK 74601. We are here to serve you as we serve your children.