Child Safety Rules for Churches

Worker Guidelines

• Most churches require a criminal background check on anyone that has access to children and youths. Training should emphasize the rules that are appropriate for kids and they should be expected to follow those rules to set a positive example. According to Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church in California, the Children's Church Ministry website and the Children's Ministry Archive website, churches should have the following rules: workers should not physically punish a child; all disciplinary actions should include a chat with the child concerning the rules, explanation of the unacceptable behavior, removal to another area and a discussion with the parents about the child's behavior. For the safety of the church worker and children, no adult and child are allowed to be alone together unless the adult and child are visible to all. The best option is that at least three people should be together when adults and kids interact. Physical should be limited to brief side hugs, high-fives, hand shakes, pats on the back or arms, holding hands when walking in a group and limiting children in laps to babies and toddlers.

Pickup and Drop-off Policies

• Many churches require parents to drop off and pick up children in the children̵7;s area to prevent unsupervised children from roaming the campus. Some churches issue parents a numbered card or other form of identification when the child is dropped off and the staff can ask parents to identify where they will be in the event there is a problem. When the numbers on the card are flashed on the video display, it notifies a parent to return to the children̵7;s area. Some churches expect kids who are 5 years old or older to attend church with their parents. The Rev. Claire Maxim suggests that churches that have kids in the sanctuary make allowances for those who talk or fidget. Other churches have a special worship serve geared for kids ages 3 to 10.

General Rules for Kids

• Rules for kids tend to be short and limited so the kids can remember them. Kids can understand ̶0;treat others the way you want to be treated̶1; and ̶0;obey your teachers.̶1; Rules stated in a positive format tell kids what you expect rather than what you don̵7;t want. You can review your simple rules each Sunday and then address undesirable behaviors. Teachers can say, ̶0;We walk together, keeping our hands and other body parts to ourselves̶1; or ̶0;When someone is speaking, we listen.̶1;

Summoning Parents

• When a child won̵7;t follow the rules, children̵7;s workers are forced to summon a parent for the safety of all the children. Sometimes the threat of summoning a parent is enough to quell the undesirable actions. If not, the parent needs to remedy the problem, remove the child or remain in the area to ensure compliance. Throughout the interaction, workers should treat the child, parents and other workers with the love and respect that's due all children of God, according to Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church in California.