Early Years
Recently three of our ladies have been involved in the development of a new training pack for Parent & Toddler and Baby Song Leaders entitled ‘Early Years’
The team comprised Major Gill Cotterill (Divisional Director for Womens Ministries), Maureen Hood (Adult and Family Ministries) and Verna Smith (Parent and Toddler Group Leader). Also part of the team were non ‘Chathamites’ Major Karen Ramsay (Sittingbourne) and Lisa Lyne (Croydon).
Today (19 October) saw the first training session using the new material which took place at Croydon Citadel. The session was attended by representatives from seven corps. Maureen introduced the course and outlined its priorities, giving some facts and figures and describing some pressures which exist in families today.
Maureen Hood
Karen dealt with the issues of ‘Mission’ and ‘Reaching Out’ mentioning specifically ways of integrating a Christian influence into a toddler group.
Karen Ramsay
Verna spoke about the issues surrounding ‘getting started’ and highlighted the detailed and numerous considerations involved in both new and existing groups, in particular the many practical matters to be dealt with and the relationships within a corps structure.
Verna Smith
Lisa gave an illuminating demonstration of ‘Baby Song’ and showed how music can stimulate the development of a child and the relationship it has with the parent.
Lisa Lyne and Baby Song
Other issues dealt with were ’stress’, ’self-esteem’ and ’safe and sound (child protection)’.
There will be other training sessions held around the London South East Division in the next few months in order to help develop this form of ministry to the maximum advantage. Anyone interested in attending should contact Maureen Hood or contact us. Anyone requiring more information (whether from within this Division or not) should do the same.