WELCOME TO GOOD SHEPHERD KIDS!

The mission of our Good Shepherd Kids program is to help all of our children embody the love of Christ for the good of our neighbors. We work hard to create a loving and safe environment where children can be curious and grow in spiritual understanding and practice rooted in the Christian tradition. Our primary program takes place on Sunday mornings at 11am and is open to all visitors, birth through 5th grade. If you have any questions please reach out to our Kids Director, Gabriela Kropf.

What Can I Expect?

Once you arrive at the 20th St. gate entrance (429 W. 21st St.) simply follow the walking path up to the Chapel. You will be greeted at the door and pointed to the Kids Ministry check-in table just inside the chapel to your left. Here you can fill out a registration form if it is your first visit, or if your children are already in our system, we will check you in and hand your child a name tag. Responsible adults will receive a duplicate which you will present to a Kid’s Ministry team member at pick-up.

For Infants and Toddlers, you can walk them over to the first floor of the Sherrod Building. A Kid’s Ministry Team member will receive them and begin helping them feel comfortable in the space and finding developmentally appropriate activities for them.

For Pre-K through 5th grade children, they will remain in the Chapel with their guardian or responsible adult for approximately the first 20 minutes of our Sunday Service. We believe in integrating our children into the worshipping community at a young age! When it is time to offer Grace + Peace to one another, we dismiss our children to the entrance of the Chapel where our Kid’s Director and Team Members will meet them and then walk them to their classrooms (in the Sherrod Building). Remember children must be checked-in and wear their name tag to be dismissed!

What does Good Shepherd Kids Program include?

Our GSNY Kids Team members create a fun and safe environment for kids to explore faith in developmentally appropriate ways. We adapt a Montessori Kid’s curriculum called Godly Play which includes a Bible story, conversation, and various activities to engage the story expressively. The curriculum is a spiral approach that allows children to cycle through stories several times over the years, growing and deepening in their understanding and experience of the story and characters each cycle.

What precautions does the Good Shepherd Kids Program take in light of the pandemic?

We work hard to create a safe and healthy environment for our children and team members through a similar approach to the NYC public school system. Families are asked to fill out a health screen upon check-in. Children and team members 2 years old and up are required to wear masks indoors the entire time. We are abstaining from snack time during this season. Our toys and activities are sanitized each week. We are proactive in communication with families should exposure through close contact come to our attention.