Feast of Tabernacles 2013 . . .
Wednesday Evening, September 18 - Thursday, September 26
Season of Our Joy does not
have a "nursery", nor does it provide child care
service. Yet we do understand the challenges parents of
young children might have when it comes to a child being restless
while a parent is wanting to listen to a speaker. Therefore,
SOOJ has provided a place where you may take your young child and
still be able to listen to the speaking session. This place is
our "Child Care Room".
The following are frequently asked questions about
the Child Care Room that may assist you in your understanding of this
service. Please download the
Child Care Room form for full rules.
You may sign and return this form to the Coordinator
or to the registration table at the feast.
Parents with young children struggle with wanting to listen to speakers and yet, still try to keep their young children occupied and quiet during a session. It is very stressful and frustrating when parents have no other options but to return to a hotel room/cabin or wander around the halls when their children will not sit quietly. The purpose of a childcare room is to provide a clean, safe, play area for children ages 5 and under, close to the teaching sessions held in the conference center, where the adults in the room can hear and see the presentation being given in the main hall.
The room will be set up behind the stage of the main hall in the utility room. It will be open as long as there is a teaching session in the main hall.
NO - the Child Care Room will not be staffed with care providers. SOOJ will provide a volunteer to make sure the sound/video equipment is working correctly and to make sure there are no un-authorized parents or children in the room. Parents may not drop their children off and leave. Parents must watch their children or have a responsible person watch them. If two parents are at the conference and they would like to “tag team” some babysitting, this would be where they could do that. One parent could sit in a session while another parent watches the child/children in the childcare room. Later, the parents could trade places allowing both parents have the opportunity to listen to speakers. Also, if a mom has a friend whom she trusts with her children, she can agree to have that friend watch her children while she listens to the speakers. SOOJ volunteers may not watch your children - - even for a minute!
The agreementt to watch a child is either between the two parents OR between another parent/grandparent/babysitter. An older sibling may watch a child however he/she must be at least 13 years old and responsible enough to watch over the younger sibling.
Bottom line . . . you or a responsible teen or adult whom you designate must be with your child while your child is in the Child Care Room. SOOJ staff members will not watch your children!
Each user of the room will be required to sign a copy of the rules. Once they turn in their signed copy we will give them a sticker for their name badge signifying they can use this room. If someone is using the room that doesn't have a sticker then Coordinator will be notified and will ask them to sign a set of the rules or not use the facility.
The Child Care Room is the Storage Room to the right of the stage. SOOJ will set up chairs and have a TV monitor tuned to the current teaching session. The Storage Room has a concrete floor, thus parents will want to bring an appropriate pad or blanket.
No - Breastfeeding is not allowed in the Child Care Room. Breastfeeding or pumping may be done in the "Mother's Room" - the room behind the stage. This room has a changing table and a bathroom. Food, diapers, and wipes will not be provided. You will be able to watch the speaking session from this room.
The Coordinator will set up the room with chairs, TV monitor, and a PA system. Trustworthy persons will be scheduled to monitor the room, check that a parent is authorized to use the room, and monitor general rule compliance. Parents will be responsible for providing toys, mats, etc. for their children, and for cleaning up after them. SOOJ will not provide toys, mats, diapers, wipes, or anything other than the equipment to watch the presentation. Parents who do not clean up after themselves and their children will not be allowed to use the Child Care Room in the future.
Yes! You must bring your own toys and play mats. You should also bring sanitary wipes to clean your toys in the event they are used by another child. Please make an extra effort to be sure that ALL the toys are safe for young children. Often the toys a 3 year old plays with are not safe for a 1 year old. It is the responsibility of the caregiver to police what toys their children are using.
All questions can be directed to the Coordinator via e-mail. It would be VERY helpful if families who plan to use the childcare room would e-mail the Coordinator with the child(ren)’s names and ages prior to Sukkot to better plan for the amount of kids, their ages and gender for choosing toys to bring to SOOJ. The Coordinator is yet to be determined.
Click Here for a copy of the Child Care Room Agreement