The United Church of Christ was the recipient of a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. that will go toward the exploration and expansion of children’s ministry in the denomination. Over the next 4 years we will offer a multifaceted program that centers children in the life of the church. One such place we want to begin to make that introduction is during General Synod through a Prayground/Family Space. This is not a new concept, and instead we are drawing from the wisdom of congregations who have engaged in this work already. Research suggests:

• Children are more attentive and active in the service when they are near the front of the worship area/have clear sight lines.
• When children who are separated out of the worshiping community get to an age to decide for themselves if they want to be a part of worship, they often decide not to be part of worship because it hasn’t been part of their life.
• Offering a Pray Ground is a statement to the entire congregation that we are making physical and spiritual space for families.
• Pray Grounds offer an opportunity for spiritual formation to begin at an early age.

The PrayGround is in the same area of the Indiana Convention Center where worship and plenary sessions will take place. This child-friendly space has been specifically set aside for young children (birth through preschool) during General Synod. It consists of rugs, small tables with child-sized chairs and stools, coloring sheets, crayons, blocks, books, and soft toys. There are also bouncy seats (for smaller infants), sitting chairs (for babies who can hold their heads up but can’t yet sit up on their own), and baby gyms/floor mats.

It is our hope to model what it means to be a family friendly church because of our commitment to the love of children.

While it may be new for us, these family and child spaces continue to become popular and centerpieces for faith formation. If you are worried about noise, no that children will make some kind of noise wherever they are seated. It is developmentally appropriate and is usually done without meaning harm to anyone else. The planners took great care in selecting play items that would keep the noise to a minimum: the blocks are made of foam, the books are all made of fabric, the toys are plush, and even the baskets where we keep the crayons are made of fabric.

The only items that could really be used to make noise would be if a child were to bang a crayon over and over on the plastic tables or dumps out the entire container, but if/when this happens, we hope a parent or caregiver steps in quickly to help redirect their child. Remember, children learn through play and we want to encourage them that the Church is a place for play, imagination, creativity and fun.

For this General Synod the Prayground is intended for children birth through preschool age. This space is not the same as the childcare program that is being offered through the Local Arrangements Committee (for more information about the childcare program, please visit https://generalsynod.org/). While the Prayground is a permanent structure for our time in Indianapolis, we anticipate it will be most used during worship and plenary sessions which will take place in Exhibit Hall. This space will allow parents and caregivers a dedicated space where they can be both attentive to their child(ren) and the happenings of General Synod. It is our hope that this space will be greatly used, but also want to encourage parents to find space wherever is comfortable for them and their family. General Synod has an open seating policy, with the exception of the bar of the house for delegate seating. If you need assistance finding seating, there will be ushers who can assist you. Additionally, there will be a nursery should that option better fit you and your child’s needs.

This space has been created for a maximum of 15 children and one caregiver for each child. If the area is at capacity, we encourage you to check back later in the day or use the open seating to find a place that is comfortable. To maintain a safe and family friendly environment, below you will find some basic rules.

1. Parents/caregivers are responsible for their children at all times. This is not a drop off service. Instead, you should remain close to your child to assist them should they become distressed, overly excited, or just need your calming presence. While we have been intentional in creating a safe space with carpeting, soft toys, etc., accidents occasionally happen. If this happens, please calmly gather your child, and provide whatever care is needed.
2. Parents/caregivers should clean up after their children. If a toy or item is placed in your child’s mouth, please place it in the appropriate bin so it can be cleaned before being returned to the play area. 
3. This space is for families with young children. If you do not have a child that falls into the age range of 0-4 years of age, please do not use seating in this area.

Tables, chairs and hard surfaces will be sprayed/wiped down after each plenary and worship service during General Synod using Lysol and Clorox cleaning products. For toys and materials that end up in a child’s mouth, there will be special bags/bins available in the prayground area where parents should place those items so they can be removed until they are properly cleaned or discarded. We will also have hand sanitizer available in the area for parents and children who wish to utilize it.

Every item was carefully chosen for the prayground. We have done our best to avoid items with small pieces that may be a choking hazard for young children, bought quality brands with commitments to child safety and marked off space for the area. However, we also know that children are still developing coordination and will test boundaries. Therefore, we rely on our parents/caregivers to enforce safe practices for their children. If an accident should happen, please remove your child from the area and attend to their needs. 

Since we do not want to create sight barriers for our children, we have chosen to use low boundary markers to designate the area for the Prayground/Family Space. For children who are just learning to walk this may be a tripping hazard, so parents/caregivers will need to closely monitor their child’s entrance and exit of the space.

There are many opportunities for congregations to engage in the work of Love of Children (the Lilly grant program). For more information, please check the children’s and youth page on ucc.org in the fall or stop by the Faith INFO table in the exhibit hall for an information card and to sign up for regular updates. You may also reach out to Rev. Trayce Potter at pottert@ucc.org for more information.