Welcome to KidCity
Children are important in the Kingdom of God and FULLY capable of knowing, loving and serving Him. KidCity exists so that any child might experience and know the love of God and have the opportunity to grow in the knowledge of who He is and in their relationship with Him.
What to Expect
Check-in for KidCity is located downstairs. When you walk in the door, you’ll see stairs directly in front of you leading down. The KidCity check-in is directly at the bottom of the stairs.
Children must be checked-in prior to attending KidCity. This can be done up to 15 minutes prior to service or when the children are released after worship.
At check-in, you will be handed two tags. One with your child’s name and a unique code and the other with a matching code. Hold on to your tag as you will need it for pickup.
Curriculum
Toddler Class [1-4yo]
Our 1-4’s classroom is largely centered around self directed play with teachers and assistants providing a predictable rhythm and short story based lessons and activities as the children are interested.
Grade School Class [5-11yo]
Our grade school classroom participates in topical multi-week curriculums that cover various themes and stories in the bible. An important goal of our ministry is to begin empowering children to engage personally in their relationship with God. This is accomplished through worship, prayer, studying the word, and learning about the character and nature of God while having as much fun as possible.
Middle School & High School [12 + up]
As with our grade school children, we aim to empower our middle school and highschool students to engage personally in their relationship with God. In this class we have the opportunity to dive deeper into biblical truth and lay a foundation of faith that they will have for the rest of their lives. Strong relationships, meaningful discussion, creative object lessons, and fun games all play a part in cultivating the hearts and minds of our children.
Volunteer Opportunities
If you are a member of Grace City Portland and are interested in serving please email: office@gracecityportland.org
FAQ’s
When does KidCity start and end?
KidCity begins after worship with an announcement made by the service host. Parents are asked to pick-up their children within 10 minutes of the end of the service.
Why are children upstairs for worship?
Having our children participate in worship is such a beautiful opportunity to foster a practice of glorifying God through song. We believe it is important for our children to witness worship, participate in worship, and have a sense of belonging to the church family.
Will my child be given a snack?
Yes. At this time, children are given an option of Cheerios, fruit pouches, fruit leathers, or veggie straws along with water.
We work diligently to accommodate most allergies and dietary restrictions. That said, it is the parents responsibility to communicate all special considerations for their children, especially allergies.
What if my child is ill?
If your child has had any of the following symptoms within the past 24 hours, they will not be allowed to participate in KidCity: diarrhea, vomiting, fever greater than 100.5, questionable rash, open sores, eye discharge or excessive coughing.
What if my child is inconsolable or disruptive?
If a child is inconsolable (10 minutes of nonstop crying) the parent will be contacted immediately. Under no circumstances will a child be allowed to “cry her or himself out.” If a child is disruptive and not abiding by the classroom standards, (e.g. hurting other children or unresponsive to volunteer instruction or redirection), the parent will be contacted immediately.
What if my child is ill or gets injured?
If a child is noticeably ill or injured, the parent will be contacted immediately. If ill, the child will be separated from the other children until their parent arrives. Kid City Volunteers are not authorized to administer medication of any kind.
Do you change diapers or take children to the bathroom?
At no point will a volunteer enter a bathroom facility with a child. Potty independent children may be escorted to the bathroom so long as we have sufficient volunteers. If we do not, the parent will be contacted immediately. Similarly, we do not change diapers. If a child needs assistance in the bathroom or needs their diaper changed, the parent will likewise be contacted immediately.
How many volunteers are in each class? How are they qualified?
A minimum of 2 volunteers will be present with any child or children at all times. All volunteers are 18 years or older, have received a background check, are members of Grace City, and have been approved by Grace City’s leadership.