Embers
Like a warm ember that leads to a flame, our infant and baby ministry is open to women of God who want to nurture our youngest family members into a loving knowledge of Christ Jesus through salvation. This is the threshold ministry of the church. Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.” From nursery services to toddler and pre-school education, this ministry needs workers just like you.
Children learn through play. They’re naturals. It’s us adults that sometimes need help! We’ve forgotten how. Plus it’s difficult to know how much babies and toddlers understand anyway.
Next time you serve with Embers at Cross Pointe, play with your own little tikes, or take care of children this age, use these developmental ages and stages as a guide to know how to play with them.
0-6 months: Sensory Learners
Infants absorb the world around them. Their visual and auditory skills are developing quickly. They love black and white contrasts, their parents’ voices, and reaching and grasping items. Tummy time is beneficial, as is flashlight or mirror play, and singing favorite nursery and church songs.
6-10 months: Little Explorers
Babies this age learn to impact their environment. They develop an understanding of cause and effect. “If I shake this rattle, it will make noise.” They also begin to understand object permanence: the realization that just because the ball is under the blanket doesn’t mean that it ceases to exist. Peek-a-boo games, texture exploration, ball play, and singing are some of their favorite activities.
10-16 months: Budding Communicators
Children this age are mobile. They crawl, stand, cruise, and walk. They learn to communicate with hand movements, sounds, and words. Baby signs are helpful at this age to reduce frustration levels. You can also support growing language development with songs. Favorite toys may include jack-in-the boxes, instruments, and push and pull toys.
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