Parent and toddler groups: you know what I’m talking about. Depending on your view, they’re either a fabulous place of play, friendship and community or (if you’re like me) a room full of incomprehensible noise and plastic fire engines. Thankfully, not everyone is as blinkered as I am when it comes to under-3s, and there is some fabulous work going on with toddlers and their families across the Diocese.
Jubilee+ are an organisation that aims to equip churches of all denominations to engage more effectively with their communities. They do this through training leaders, providing resources, bringing encouragement, establishing networks, doing research, developing relationships with partner organizations and running conferences. They have recently carried out some research into the impact parent/carer and toddler groups can have on families, churches and the community, and their findings make interesting reading.
Parent/carer and toddler groups are a widespread ministry (Jubilee+ found that over 27,000 churches across the country are running such a group), but are often ignored or undervalued by the rest of the church. However, the research reveals that the effects of being part of a group are far reaching and significant.
Simply enjoying being part of a group was something that the research revealed was an important outcome. Building on that, Jubilee+ also found that two thirds of group members felt their personal well-being had been improved by attending a parent/carer and toddler group. This simple act of community building is important in a society that can feel fragmented.
The research provides further evidence of this, with parents/carers and their children gaining friendships that they wouldn’t otherwise have made. These friendships (with other parents and with members of the host church) can provide a support network for those who have sporadic contact with other supportive relationships, such as wider family or friends. Child development is also helped by these friendships – playing together helps children develop skills such as sharing and socialising.
And faith is also important in parent/carer and toddler groups. A majority of churches reported that their congregations had grown at least a little because they were running a group. The relationships, community and help provided by groups sow the seeds of faith in parents’ and carers’ lives, particularly if groups are attended by parents/carers from church congregations as well as from the wider community.
The research identifies some ways forward for churches that are currently running, or looking to set up a parent/carer and toddler group. These are well-worth exploring to make the most of your group’s potential.
Parent/carer and toddler groups are amazing places for friendships, parental development, child development and fun. Make sure you support the groups in your church and, if you don’t have one and would like to start, get in touch and we can help you out!
The impact of church-based parent and toddler groups | Jubilee+
Alex Taylor is Children’s Ministry Trainer for the Diocese of London, but he can’t speak ‘Toddler’.