|
| | | Forum Expert
Group: Moderators
Last Login: Today @ 4:48:01 PM
Posts: 387, Visits: 946 |
| How do you handle those parents that want to request their child be with another child(ren) Last year we had parents come in with a ‘list’ of students that were to be put together- we are in a very affluent/cliquish area and parents want their child to be with children that attend the same private/public school. I did not allow that to happen but I am researching what others are doing to handle this type of problem. Blessings, ersonName w:st="on">Cari VegaersonName>
Lisa B from NC |
| |
| | | Forum Expert
Group: Moderators
Last Login: Today @ 4:48:01 PM
Posts: 387, Visits: 946 |
| two observations that pertain to VBS: 1. It's outreach and we often make rules merely "suggestions" that accommodate rather than prescribe. Allowing friends to be with their own kind, while a registration nightmare (unless you use Group's VBS and their FREE online toolbox) it reflects the accommodations most parents expect from stunning customer-friendly opportunities for their children. 2. Using multi-age crews or small groups makes this option a non-issue (kids aren't put into siloed grades but flexible ones like 1st - 3rd grade or 2nd through 5th grade that reflects what is found in most neighborhoods anyway). my thoughts from visiting and doing some VBS programs in somewhat affluent areas where "entitlement" is often a core value/expectation
Keith
Lisa B from NC |
| |
| | | Forum Expert
Group: Moderators
Last Login: Today @ 4:48:01 PM
Posts: 387, Visits: 946 |
| we have the same situation! We specifically state on the registration form  lease choose one child you would like to have in your child's group. It has worked really well. We really try to stick to it too!!!
Bonnie
Lisa B from NC |
| |
| | | Forum Expert
Group: Moderators
Last Login: Today @ 4:48:01 PM
Posts: 387, Visits: 946 |
| Lisab (3/6/2008)
two observations that pertain to VBS: 1. It's outreach and we often make rules merely "suggestions" that accommodate rather than prescribe. Allowing friends to be with their own kind, while a registration nightmare (unless you use Group's VBS and their FREE online toolbox) it reflects the accommodations most parents expect from stunning customer-friendly opportunities for their children. 2. Using multi-age crews or small groups makes this option a non-issue (kids aren't put into siloed grades but flexible ones like 1st - 3rd grade or 2nd through 5th grade that reflects what is found in most neighborhoods anyway). my thoughts from visiting and doing some VBS programs in somewhat affluent areas where "entitlement" is often a core value/expectation
Keith
to Keith's point. Last year we grouped by grades and mixed kids up. That really helped!
Bonnie
Lisa B from NC |
| |
| | | Forum Expert
Group: Moderators
Last Login: Today @ 4:48:01 PM
Posts: 387, Visits: 946 |
| I usually run VBS programs as a community outreach and really encourage children to bring their unchurched friends. So, I have always done my very best to find non-chaotic ways to allow children to be with a friend that they have brought. As you can imagine, an unchurched friend will not be coming back if they are placed without their friend. I have placed friends 2 ways:
- Returning forms of friends together – we made parents of friends staple both registration forms together and return them together so that we knew both sets of parents were okay with the children being placed together.
- Friend Request Form – this form must be filled out and signed by a parent of both children. This is only good for 2 children though...you cannot group 3 or more friends together.
I’ll be honest, the Friend Request Form works the best (we abandoned the first method for the Friend Request Form). There is extra time needed for assigning crews if you do this but it is worth it for the lack of blowback afterwards.
We placed all the children into their smaller CREWS and then put 3 Crews together in a GROUP. This way, if you do multi-aged Crews, the friends will still be in the same Group that moves together all the time but they will be on different Crews (which is just semantics...parents just care that their kids are in eyesight of each other the whole day).
Hope that is helpful!
H 
Lisa B from NC |
| |
| | | Forum Expert
Group: Moderators
Last Login: Today @ 4:48:01 PM
Posts: 387, Visits: 946 |
| We let them choose ONE friend – and we stick to it. - D
Lisa B from NC |
| |
| | | Forum Expert
Group: Moderators
Last Login: Today @ 4:48:01 PM
Posts: 387, Visits: 946 |
| My first time to chime in. Yes, meeting everyone need is impossible. We have found though with KidsGames the amount if unreached kids has grown to such a large percent of the program, our goal is relationship so they will come back.
Of course that happens between kid and coach, kid to kid and of course kid to Christ. If it takes us making sure they are with a group of kids that know one another, we will do what it takes.
So it is high priority to make this happen. Sometimes it is impossible, but we are made aware of this and make sure there is a connection.
As our program has exploded, we have to get much help to do this. But it is worth it.
Debbie
Lisa B from NC |
| |
| | | Forum Expert
Group: Moderators
Last Login: Today @ 4:48:01 PM
Posts: 387, Visits: 946 |
| I don't know if Nancy has responded, but here's what we work toward every year and it's a "change of mindset" for parents. As long as you have leaders which follow your guidelines, the parents will come around in a few years! 1. We encourage kids to bring a friend/relative (not from our church), and the "guest" is always in the same crew as church kid. "Guest" is on our registration form. 2. (Not a guideline) Last year we had a situation where a whole neighborhood was invited to be "guest" of one of our kids, we strongly requested the mother of the church kid be the Crew Leader since she knew all the kids. It worked out very well. 3. Many parents make requests for their kids to be w/certain kids or even Crew Leaders, we do not encourage or honor these unless there is good reason. 4. You will have a few parents try whatever means they can to get what they want - I tell them that my job as Crew Coordinator is to make sure the crews are a good mix of boys and girls and that the Crew Leader & Assistant are not overwhelmed with their crew. 5. Stick to your own guidelines and make sure your leaders know and desire to follow your guidelines as well; whatever guidelines work best at your church. The Crew Leaders should not to permit any child to be moved to another crew by a parent, this is not safe (we have 400+ kids) or cooperative. I tell the Crew Leaders to respond to the parent by saying, "I need your child in my crew this week." We also tell any parents which are struggling that this is 3 hours a day for one week, and the whole reason for VBS is to share Christ with children, have fun and make new friends. If they keep fussing, I encourage them (parents), to make a play date after VBS with their child's friend. There are so many opportunities to "encourage" parents to allow their child to be used by God in the life of another child, maybe a younger child, for their child's faith/trust (and their own) to be grown by God, etc....speak the truth in love! Take care, Ann
Lisa B from NC |
| |
| | | |
|