Parent-and-toddler groups: ‘Seeds of faith are being sown’

Outreach Mission Partner Rachel Gotobed (Family Ministries) shares about the ministry of parent-and-toddler groups.

Why are parent-and-toddler groups important?

The beauty of parent-and-toddler groups is that they can be whatever you need them to be, and you can adapt to best suit your setting. They’re a way of engaging with families that suits your community’s needs and your physical environment. Parent-and-toddler groups have a huge engagement: Talking Toddlers research commissioned by Hope Together, the Church of England and the Evangelical Alliance shows that 76 per cent of families with under-fives have a connection with a local church at some point, predominantly through parent and-toddler groups. The Salvation Army’s data shows that, after Sunday worship, people link up with The Salvation Army through attending parent-and-toddler groups more than any other activity.

How are parent-and-toddler groups adapting to families’ needs?

Parent-and-toddler groups today are adapting to the changing nature of government provision around early years education – for some families, provision is from two years old and onwards. Corps recognise that they’ve got a shorter time to build relationships with these young families. People who have been on a journey and run successful parent-and-toddler groups for many years are looking at other ways they can engage with families. Our recently relaunched Baby Song resource enables corps to build rich relationships because it usually involves a smaller group. Craft-based sessions and messy play are some of the other options corps are also using, along with Jump IN!, our Bible-based curriculum resource.

How do you help corps continue those relationships once a child starts nursery?

When I talk to corps who are looking to start a parent-and-toddler group, I talk to them about progression. For example, have they already got a Messy Church? Seeds of faith are being sown in the lives of the children and adults in the parent-and-toddler groups, but we also need to look at ways of enabling those families to keep in touch – we need to be intentional about that.

How do you equip and support parent-and-toddler group leaders and teams?

We have a territorial network for parent-and-toddler groups and each division has nominated one or two people to be representatives on it. We meet three times a year and we share information with them, but it’s also important for us to hear from them what we can do to help groups.

Another way we hope to equip parent-and-toddler groups is through our new Get Set! conferences. The first will take place on Saturday 5 September at William Booth College – a mirror conference is planned for 17 April 2027 at Sale Corps. We really want to celebrate the leaders, volunteers, helpers, everybody who is part of parent-and-toddler groups. Historically it’s not always been seen as the integral piece of missional work that it is. Hopefully, we’ll gather those faithful champions of parent-and-toddler groups together and show them how much they are valued and appreciated.

We also want to help and encourage those people to think about how we build deeper relationships with the families. How do we keep in touch with them? How do we make sure that parent-and-toddler groups aren’t standalone activities, but very much embedded into the whole church?

What will happen at the conference?

It’s a one-day conference. We recognise that for some people travel is limited and expensive. We’re asking people to save the date and keep an eye out for further details. We’re organising a keynote speaker and several workshops. We’ll also be launching a new resource called Get Set!, a set of good practice guidelines for parent-and-toddler groups that goes back to basics, but also includes the foundations: why you are doing it; how it fits in with the mission of your corps; the practical stuff of how you do it, including safeguarding, safe mission and other necessary things; and keeping in touch. Like all our resources, it will be free to download.

People from across the United Kingdom and Ireland Territory share what is happening at their parent-and-toddler groups.

Londonderry

Our parent-and-toddler group is a lovely community that has grown over the past few years. The people we see coming include parents and grandparents, but mainly childminders. Our group is constantly working at providing a safe place for children to play and develop. It is also a place for people in and around the community to build friendships, support each other and share the love of Jesus. We hope and pray that, by providing this safe place, it will not only impact our church's mission and ministry, but also that we will see God’s Kingdom being built right here in our community!

Captain Sharon Stevens

Keighley

Having been part of a parent-and-toddler group when my children were young, I know how valuable these spaces can be. Our Hope parent-and-toddler group offers a warm, welcoming environment where families can find friendship, support and a sense of belonging. We seek to share God’s love through conversation, practical help, working with other agencies, creative activities and singing. Our group brings together families from a range of backgrounds, including people seeking asylum, creating a safe community where relationships can grow. At Christmas, several families joined us for our Countdown to Christmas service, and we hope to welcome them again this year.

Children and Family Worker Esther Moore

Southampton Sholing

Our parent-and-toddler group started last November and grew from families engaging in Baby Sensory sessions and a pop-up pantry that we host, as well as new families regularly attending gathered worship. We have seen lots of families in the first couple of terms, but have now settled into an established group we are getting to know well. As we grow in relational community, opportunities to share our faith and invitations to other activities are becoming regular and we’ve been encouraged by some of the parents sharing that they have joined our online worship.

Lieutenant Matthew Stone

Peterborough Citadel

Tiddleypeeps was launched after the Covid-19 pandemic, recognising that many young children had missed vital opportunities for social interaction during periods of isolation. Our group has gone from strength to strength and has been a wonderful way of sharing God’s love in a practical way – welcoming families, building friendships and strengthening our connection with the community.

Community Services Coordinator Beverley Marston

Abertillery

Allsorts is a vibrant part of our church activities and a well-established part of the community. We have so many children that we have a waiting list for places, which is fabulous! The team are dedicated to their mission with the children and parents, and are actively involved with organising events that bring them into the church.

Major Ann Pugh
 

Cowdenbeath

We recommenced Sally-Ann Tots on Wednesdays two years ago, after feedback from the community. We have just added a further parent-and-toddler group to our programme on Tuesdays as our group was growing. We have also registered to be part of the Cowdenbeath community gala parade this year. We are so thankful to God for his many blessings to us through our parent-and-toddler groups and are excited to see where he leads us.

Lieutenant Isabel Flanagan

Swindon Gorse Hill

Our parent-and-toddler group has been running since 1991 and provides a warm, safe space for children to develop essential social, emotional and cognitive skills through play with other children. The sessions allow us opportunities to connect with parents and carers in a relaxed atmosphere, enabling us to provide invaluable parental support, reduce isolation and offer a time to chat with other members who may be facing similar challenges.

Parent-and-Toddler Leader Jackie Holmes

Leigh-on-Sea

The parent-and-toddler group was founded after talking to some of our preschool families about what they would like to see at the corps. The families told us that when they dropped their children off for preschool, younger siblings wanted to stay and play. Since its first week, the group has become an important part of our programme: we regularly see between 20 and 30 families come into our building to share together with other parents. For many this group provides important socialisation for children and parents. One parent told us that coming to the group had been good for her wellbeing but also that her daughter’s confidence has improved.

Captain Clare Davis

Merthyr Tydfil

Our Little Lambs group plays a meaningful role in both our corps and the community. It helps build strong connections with young families, creating a welcoming environment where parents feel supported and children begin to form positive early associations with church life. The group offers a safe and friendly space for toddlers to learn, play and socialise, while also providing parents and caregivers with valuable support networks. It often serves as a first point of contact, opening doors for deeper relationships and ongoing engagement. Overall, it nurtures a sense of belonging that benefits everyone involved.

Parent-and-Toddler Leader Beci Brill