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One church records each change to assure everyone is attended at some point throughout the evening. You can record these on your check-in sheet or on a sheet near your changing table. Attention to these practical details assures parents of your conscientious attention to their children. Leaders often wonder what the leader/child ratio should be in Puggles. The Puggles Leader's Guide advises you to consult your state regulations for daycare or preschool facilities. Be sure to follow them to protect yourself, your church and your children.
Later this summer, schedule a time to get together at a relaxed summer cookout. Give all of your returning leaders a copy, too, and go over who does what. These Puggles Teaching Cards have been updated to go along with the updated Puggles program.
Puggles Lesson 3.1 - God Loves Me All The Time
Developmentally, toddlers areegocentric– the world revolves around them and their needs. They assume everyone thinks feels and acts just like they do. They often boss other children around or play alongside them rather thanwiththem. One church sent has columns for parents' names, cell phone numbers and their location in the building. An open column for various notes is included for such things as allergies, other health concerns, who is allowed to pick up the child, etc.
Although the children are the main focus of any Awana ministry, make an effort to encourage parents as they drop off or pick up their Puggle. Tags to attach to the diaper bags the parents drop off with their children. On a small card or piece of paper, add the child's name along with the Puggles logo. Laminate the tag, then punch a hole in it and attach it to the diaper bag with a key chain or electrical tie strap. The tag will last all year, which will save you loads of time each week. Be sure to keep the tags small enough so parents don't mind keeping them on the bags outside of Awana.
Puggles Lesson 1.1 - God Made Light
AWANA Puggles T-shirts, puzzles, and coloring books make every child feel like part of the group. They have the awesome responsibility to guide little minds to big truths. Puggles take-home cards let parents reinforce the week's lesson with Scripture reading, a parent plan and simple activities for five days each week. Toddlers love having their very own Awana club just like their older siblings. Puggles® recognizes the learning ability of 2- and 3-year olds by introducing biblical precepts at church and equipping parents to teach them at home. Then parents—an Awana Puggle’s first and best teacher—can step in to reinforce the lessons with take-home cards that include ideas to point out God’s work each day.
It's never too early to introduce the "Awana Theme Song" to children of all ages! A Puggles director reported that some of the kids' parents were laminating the Puggles Take-Home Cards to use as placemats. They use them to review the lesson after dinner each evening. Many churches also use Puggles as a Sunday school nursery program and with Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS®) groups.
Additional Resources
When determining the number of Puggles leaders, you might also consider whether you have more 2-year-olds or 3-year-olds. It’s never too early to start planning for the fall ministry year, especially if your club starts in early August. As you recruit leaders, be sure to give them a copy of the downloadablePuggles Role Book.
Plan great Puggles moments with detailed material for each lesson. This book also has additional pieces to enhance time with children, including printable craft pages, activities and games. Give kids their own “Handbook” to use at home or during Puggles. Fun pages help children engage artistically and review what they learn in any age-appropriate way. In Puggles, children learn four Big Truths - God Made Everything, God is Great, God Loves Us, and We Give Thanks - and the Bible verses that go with them.
Copy the letters on yellow paper, or some other spring color, so they will be attractive. Hand them to each parent as they pick up their Puggle or put them in the child's bag of stuff. Use this season as an opportunity to invite parents to your church. Write a personal note mentioning how glad you are to have their child in Puggles. Then list information on all the church’s Christmas activities.
It will also encourage them to anticipate the upcoming club ministry season. These bright, engaging cards, with read-aloud text on one side and a captivating picture on the other, are the teaching component of Puggles. All the information Awana Puggles leaders need to teach each lesson is contained in these cards. Children learn foundational truths about God as they go through the year.
And little details like Awana Puggles T-shirts, puzzles and coloring books make every precious child feel like part of the group. The purpose of Puggles is to introduce biblical precepts at church and equipping parents to teach them at home. Then parents-and Awana Puggle’s first and best teacher can step in to reinforce the lessons with take-home cards that include ideas to point out God’s work each day. And little details like Awana Puggle’s T-shirts, puzzles, and coloring books make every precious child feel like part of the group. As you start a new club year, be sure to review the Puggles Leader's Guide with all of your leaders. This is the ideal time to use the "First Quarter" parents' letter.
As you plan ahead for the Christmas season, be sure to use decorations to give a Christmas atmosphere. Play Christmas music and/or use an age-appropriate Christmas video. Frequently mention Christ’s birth, even if the children’s understanding is limited. We all have leftover take-home cards because attendance naturally fluctuates. One club keeps the extras in a 32- or 40-pocket expandable file. When it's time to order supplies for next year, they check inventory first.
Download the free “You Belong” prayer cards and hand them out to all your leaders. Ask them to share their written requests with at least one other leader. This will help Puggles leaders stay connected through the summer.
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