What Parents Want

Illuminate 2013 What Parents Want Fun - What is the first question that parents ask when they pick their child up?

- Why do you think this is the most important thing?

- What is the fun factor of your ministry? Safe - Parents want to know their child will be there in one piece when they come back.
- What are some specific safety concerns that parents might have?
- Be proactive, React well. Clean - A mama is very afraid of germs. Very afraid.
- Name some of the greatest potential for germs.
- Perception of clean is multi-sensory. Valuable Spiritual Experience - What is the second question parents ask?
- Parents aren't interested in babysitting.
- This is the age of the the Baby Einstein parent.
- This should be an easy win.
- Simple sticks best. Happy People - Parents notice when volunteers are just filling an obligation.
- What do parents see when...
- you've had a tough morning?
- your room was not set up right?
- babies are crying?
- things are tough at home?
- things are weird at church? Communication - Parents want their child to feel comfortable and welcomed.
- Parents don't want to be embarrassed, but don't want to be treated like a stranger.
Community Easy A Realistic Picture 1.Manufactured fun vs. organic fun
2.Laughter – grown ups and kids
3.Experience they want to retell
4.Interaction
5.Creativity
6.Games
7.Limited behavior issues Be proactive...
1. Have policies in place.
2. Have policies available
3. Don’t let policies just exist on paper.
4. Take regular walk throughs with fresh eyes.
5.Remember how important first impressions are.
6. Share with new parents about policies as appropriate. React well...
1. Be calm.
2. Apologize.
3. Don't make excuses, but assure this isn't the norm.
4. Follow up later in the week.
5. Fix it! Multi-sensory clean:
- Sight: Mamas equate cluttered, outdated, unkept as unclean.
- Smell: Do you pass the sniff test?
- Touch: Do things feel clean? Sticky? Hand sanitizer close by?
- Taste: When my kid licks a toy, how many others have already licked it? Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Eph. 5:15-16 Thou shalt not...
- growl at a parent
- ignore a child coming in
- be sarcastic to a parent
- complain to a parent
- complain in front of the children
- complain to someone else in front of a parent Thou shall...
- Greet families warmly, kid first.
- Smile.
- Interact with the children.
- Genuinely be happy to be there. How to...
- Learn names... cheat if you have to.
- Connect with parents as you can.
- Connect during the week.
- Try to remember something unique to ask about.
- Welcome every single child and tell every single child goodbye. - Parents feel they are to their limit on hassle.
- What are some ways we unintentionally make it harder to get kids to church? - Parents want their kids to know Jesus.
- Parents know they should be doing more.
- Our unrealistic expectations set them up for failure. What do we do?
- encourage, encourage, encourage
- set them up for easy wins
- low guilt
- meet parents where they are and help them take a next step Jenny Funderburke
jennyfunderburke.com
@jen_funderburke