A Child Will Lead Us
A New Faith Based Community Initiative for Watertown Area Children and their Families.
Our Vision
Our Vision is to serve the community as we support parents in their joyful and challenging pursuit of raising their children. We do so by affording opportunities for families to play, serve and worship together in a Child Centered Faith Community of loving adults. Think of us, as the:"Kids Are Us Faith Community." Most of the adults on our Advisory Team, our Grandmas and Grandpas, retired educators, who love children, and want to enrich their lives. We understand firsthand how difficult it is to raise children. Our goal is to lighten the load of parental responsibility, by caring for the needs of the young family.
About Us
OUR Upcoming Fall Ministry provides childcare for children 10 and under on Wednesdays from 3:00-6:00 pm, and the first Saturday of the month beginning in October from 4:30-7:30 pm. No Religious instruction is given we model the Golden Rule. Meals, snacks, outdoor and indoor recreation, arts and crafts, tutoring from NYS certified teachers. Drama Club for kids led by certified NYS educator.
We will be having different A Little Child Will Lead Us Ministries in the Summer: Tuesday Nights Kids dine in or Grab and Go's Dinners. Recreation and supervision provided from 5:30 to 7 pm. Wednesday - A Little Child Will Lead Us Child Care Ministry from 4-7 pm.
PARENTS/KIDS NIGHTS out the First Saturday of the Month from 4:00- 7:00 pm. For Kids ten and younger/ Dinner Snacks are provided.
Diapers/Formula/Special Diet Foods must be provided by the Parents. No Religious Instruction Given. Seasonal Crafts/Games/Activities provided by caring Staff.
We will be having different A Little Child Will Lead Us Ministries in the Summer: Tuesday Nights Kids dine in or Grab and Go's Dinners. Recreation and supervision provided from 5:30 to 7 pm. Wednesday - A Little Child Will Lead Us Child Care Ministry from 4-7 pm.
PARENTS/KIDS NIGHTS out the First Saturday of the Month from 4:00- 7:00 pm. For Kids ten and younger/ Dinner Snacks are provided.
Diapers/Formula/Special Diet Foods must be provided by the Parents. No Religious Instruction Given. Seasonal Crafts/Games/Activities provided by caring Staff.
What to Expect
Every Child Will be treated with respect and loving kindness. Children will be given responsible supervision in a safe and child centered environment. Parents are encouraged to stay with their children as long/often as necessary, to help their children feel safe and secure. Once parents leave, if children remain upset more than 15 minutes you will be contacted that your child needs you to come back for them. We Never use Corporal Punishment or verbal Shaming. We work as a team to redirect and help children refocus to make better choices for themselves, with positive reinforcement.. If behavioral issues persist we will ask you to come get your child and discuss if our Child Care Ministry is a good fit for your child/children.
Additional Notes
All children and families MUST not be showing any symptoms of Covid-19 before arriving. Children will have their temperatures taken upon arrival and must wear masks, with the exception of when eating.
Good hand hygiene and social distancing will be modeled by staff and expected of children. Children will never be in groups of more than ten and will stay in their small groups throughout the evening.
All Staff Members/Volunteers have Safe Sanctuary/Background Clearances.
NO child may walk home alone or be picked up by an unauthorized person.
NO child may carry their own or siblings medicine.
Emergency Contact Information/Parental Permission Sheet, and Health Information, Student Information Sheet - including Food Allergies/Medical/Behavioral Concerns, MUST BE ON FILE.
**We regret that we may Not be able to serve your child in our ministry, if we are unable to meet your child's needs due to staffing/safety/health concerns..
For more information about Enrollment - please contact Pastor Anne Canfield at
annebcanfield@gmail.com call or text at 607-765-6731.
Thank you for your interest in our Children's Ministries!!
Good hand hygiene and social distancing will be modeled by staff and expected of children. Children will never be in groups of more than ten and will stay in their small groups throughout the evening.
All Staff Members/Volunteers have Safe Sanctuary/Background Clearances.
NO child may walk home alone or be picked up by an unauthorized person.
NO child may carry their own or siblings medicine.
Emergency Contact Information/Parental Permission Sheet, and Health Information, Student Information Sheet - including Food Allergies/Medical/Behavioral Concerns, MUST BE ON FILE.
**We regret that we may Not be able to serve your child in our ministry, if we are unable to meet your child's needs due to staffing/safety/health concerns..
For more information about Enrollment - please contact Pastor Anne Canfield at
annebcanfield@gmail.com call or text at 607-765-6731.
Thank you for your interest in our Children's Ministries!!
Testimonies
The Little Child Will Lead Us Ministry and Pastor Anne has been a huge asset for my family. The ministry has truly helped my children, Johnny and Nevaeh in many ways, as well as our entire family. If it were not for this program and Pastor Anne, my significant other would not have been able to obtain a full time job. Both him and I have been able to maintain a full time job and provide our children with a better home. We have been able to save up and are now moving to a new home, with a big yard. In addition to the help with child care for us to be able to both work, it has also allowed the children to have somewhere to be when I need to run errands or take care of things that would have made them go out in the public with all of the COVID pandemic going on. This has been very reassuring to not have them as exposed as often.
Also, having the children's ministry has given the children a social experience that they would not have gotten otherwise. They have been able to make new friends and learn new things that they would not have been able to experience without the program. We also found an excellent babysitter that the children adore through the church program that helped us throughout the summer, and will continue to help us with for school breaks. It has helped them both socially and has given them a little extra help with school as well, just simply by allowing them to have someone to help them.
If it were not for the Little Child Will Lead Us Ministry and Pastor Anne, I feel our family would not have excelled and grown so very much over the last year. Thank you so much for all that you have done for us!!
— Kristen Gagnon
My family would like to articulate our deep gratitude for this church; specifically Pastor Anne, Mr. Larry, and the children’s ministry, “A Little Child Will Lead Us.” Our girls Emma and Meredith were welcomed with open arms during the 2021 summer childcare ministry. They were cared for holistically, and quickly became part of the larger church family. While our children were being cared for, my husband and I were able to spend much needed time together and complete practical tasks following our move to Watertown, NY.
As a military family, we are in constant transition, and in search of finding community quickly. We are so pleased to have found a church home that includes and celebrates the contributions of children. Far beyond tolerating children, they are a most valued part of the congregation at First United Methodist Church.
The uncertainty of army life is most definitely a stressor for our family. For other children in the community; financial, relationship, and other instabilities are a daily reality. Regardless of the need, this children’s ministry has provided a safe place for children of all situations to experience God’s love and to know they matter and belong.
It is our deep hope the church will continue to support this ministry and secure adequate funding to grow in the coming year. From background checks, recruiting staff, facility maintenance, supplies, equipment, and meals; there is a lot that Pastor Anne manages as she directs this ministry. We intend to participate and give, and hope that the larger church will partner in doing so as well.year. Thank you so much for all that you have done for us!!
— Stacey Bailey
I'd like to take the time to tell you the difference in my families lives and so many others the programs Pastor Anne offers. I am a single mother of three kiddos; 2/3 special needs. They have grown to love the staff, especially Pastor (Grandma) Anne. Through their programs my children have made friends, learned so much and have a community based "home" that they can feel safe.
Which as a parent I can tell you is priceless.
— Jennifer Felton
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