OUR PHILOSOPHY

Spirit Play is based in story and ritual, play and creativity. It gives children the tools to make meaning of their lives and questions such as Who am I, Where did I come from, and What is my purpose, within the container of Unitarian Universalism. We use the Montessori approach with key elements of a prepared classroom environment, child-directed activities, and trained guides. These elements free the children to choose their own focus after an initial lesson or story within a safe and sacred structure shepherded by two adults.

This style of learning environment encourages independent thinking through wondering questions, offers children real choice within a structure, creates a mixed age community, and develops an underlying sense of spirituality and mystery. Children who participate in Spirit Play will learn to trust their inner authority and ask for help when they need it.

Check out what to expect in Spirit Play below!

Registering for Spirit Play

Before the service, we ask that parents register their children for Spirit Play. You can do this by scanning the QR code that is on the bulletin board outside of the classroom and at the Greeters’ Desk, OR by using this link. Registering helps us create the safest possible learning experience for your child!

Please do not allow your children to be unsupervised in any of our classroom areas, and please make sure you check out with one of our classroom volunteers before leaving with your child. When a child is not properly checked out, it initiates an emergency protocol and creates panic. We also ask that you pick up your child before attending coffee hour so that our volunteers may have plenty of time to engage with their spiritual community as well. If this becomes difficult, check in with Skyla for help coordinating a pickup plan.

Where To Go, And When

Children should obtain a nametag, just like their parents, either at the welcome desk or from the nametag racks, depending on how long they’ve been attending.

Children begin with their families in the sanctuary for shared worship. It is important to us that our children experience being part of our larger congregation. We want them to know and be known by all the members of the Fellowship, and understand their importance to our community.

After the time for all ages, one of our Junior Worship Associates will light the lantern to carry the light of community to the classroom wing. As the congregation sings Go Now Children, and all of the children and youth will follow the lantern to their classrooms.

The Guides

Spirit Play is staffed with enthusiastic and knowledgeable guides who have been trained in the Montessori approach to classroom management. This means they allow the children to make choices and even struggle a bit, only offering help when it is requested or safety is a concern.

Our guides model the values of curiosity and joy as they share stories and answer questions. They seek to create a calm and engaging environment that is conducive to exploration and community building.

The Experience

The Spirit Play classroom is a highly prepared environment. Children arrive and sit on the rug for a check-in and shared activity like a story or craft. After a discussion about the communal activity, which is designed to highlight one of our UU values, the children are invited into “work time.”

During work time, children can select their own activity from the prepared trays and activity spaces around the room. They may choose to work alone or form a collaborative group to build, paint, write stories, read books, or investigate our natural world with science trays. It is not uncommon to find the whole room silent, as children are deeply invested in their chosen project. On other days, though, you’ll find a raucous explosion of enthusiastic sharing.

We may have playground time, even in wet weather, so we encourage your child to arrive in appropriate clothing for the season. When we do, you’ll find the sign on the door of the Spirit Play classroom. To check your child out from the playground, please pass through the classroom, and find the two exit doors. The door on the left of this pair will take you to the playground. The door to the right will take you to the parking lot. Again, please make sure that a Guide knows you are taking your child.

Please send any questions about our children’s and youth programs to the Director of Religious Exploration, Skyla King-Christison at dre@uucorvallis.org

OUR PHILOSOPHY

The Rainbow Room, our space for toddlers and preschoolers, is located in room 4 of the classroom wing. This is a space where our youngest members can build the foundational trust and sense of community necessary to flourish as spiritual and emotional beings at UUFC and beyond. At this age, we want our littles to experience feeling loved, being comfortable with our building and the people in it, and feeling like they are a part of something larger than themselves. Our care providers offer a light lesson followed by free play, encourage sharing and good citizenship, and prioritize having fun!

We know that attachment styles vary widely from family to family and child to child, so parents are always welcome to stay in the Rainbow Room to help their child become acclimated. We encourage parents to share their own preferences around things like how long to let their child cry for them before calling them out of the sanctuary and the best methods of soothing during those initial trust-building days. We’re here to make this as comfortable and positive a transition as possible for our tiny friends!

Below is a little look at what you can expect in the Rainbow Room at UUFC!

REGISTERING FOR the RAINBOW ROOM

Children in this space are welcome to be dropped off up to ten minutes prior to the start of the service. Before dropping your child off for the first time, we ask that you register them. You can do this by scanning the QR code on the bulletin board outside the room OR you can register them in advance with this link. This allows us to provide the safest possible experience and to contact you if you are needed during the service. Once registered, our care team will be able to check your child in whenever you drop off.

Infants may be cared for in this space when the adult-to-child ratio allows. If, however, enough older children check in that it becomes unsafe for our tiniest humans, infants will be returned to their parents in the sanctuary.

Please do not leave your child unattended in the Rainbow Room when no childcare provider is present, or take them without checking out with a care provider. We also ask that you pick up your child before attending coffee hour in the social hall so that our caregivers can have time with their spiritual community as well.

THE NURSERY TEAM

The nursery is staffed with a combination of paid childcare providers and volunteers who are eager to provide a caring and uplifting environment for our smallest members. All caregivers are hand-selected for qualities of warmth, patience, and genuine delight in children, and all undergo a criminal background check before they may serve. Additionally, in accordance with our safe congregation policy, adults always serve in teams of two to ensure that no child is ever one-on-one with a non-parental adult.

THE PHYSICAL SPACE

From building to cooking, driving to climbing, there’s something to spark any imagination in our nursery! Our space is thoughtfully prepared with diverse, non-biased books, toys, and puzzles that encourage creativity, curiosity, and self-exploration. There is always water available in the nursery, but because allergies are still being identified at this age, we do not provide snacks or allow snack sharing in the nursery.

For everyone’s safety, we ask that parents take care of their child’s diapering and potty training needs. A changing station and diaper pail are provided in the bathroom beside our classroom.

Grandfolks Squad for Event Childcare

When parents of young children wish to attend UUFC events other than the Sunday service, they can request childcare from the Grandfolks Squad by filling out this request form. Every effort will be made to arrange for a team of Grandfolks to care for your child, free of charge, while you attend a UUFC sponsored event. Please note, Grandfolks are not available for non-Fellowship gatherings.