Research shows the first three years of life are critical for brain development. Every sound, motion, and interaction helps shape a child’s view of the world and understanding of God. First Steps Nursery Program harnesses this season with purposeful repetition, music, movement, and simple Bible truths that introduce babies to God and His love for them.
With easy-to-follow weekly guides, Scriptures, Bible stories, songs, and movement ideas, your volunteers are trained and ready, not just to care for children, but to spiritually engage them. Clear structure reduces stress and increases confidence for your team.
Every lesson includes take-home tools for parents: simple faith prompts, song lyrics, and memory verses that help reinforce the message at home. Parents feel supported. The church-home partnership grows stronger.
What’s Included?
All-in-One Nursery Plan
A complete, year-long curriculum designed to establish and maintain a teaching nursery with ease and confidence.
Engaging Activities for Little Hearts
Songs, puppets, fingerplays, and hands-on activities that teach simple, memorable, biblical truths.
Volunteer Recruitment & Training Plans
Practical resources to help your church recruit, equip, and encourage nursery team members.
Intentional Discipleship Pathway
A carefully crafted plan for infants and toddlers that nurtures faith from the very beginning.
Prayer Tools for Parents & Volunteers
Monthly prayer emphases to guide nursery team members and parents in praying Scripture over their little ones.
Church + Home Partnership
Resources to align your nursery experience with discipleship at home, so the youngest generation learns about God’s love in both places.
Try a FREE Sample Today!
Get the support you need to start strong in nursery ministry. This free sample gives you step-by-step guidance, practical tools, and Christ-centered care for little ones. Whether you’re starting from scratch or building on what you have, you will feel equipped and encouraged every step of the way.
Parent Resources
Cuddle Cards
Cuddle Cards provide a weekly tool for parents to continue the biblical emphasis from the Sunday lesson and capture teachable moments throughout the week. Suggestions are provided for scriptural prayers as well as interaction with older babies to reinforce the monthly Heartprint. These tools, provided by the church, serve to encourage and train parents as they establish a foundation of spiritual education at home. A set of Cuddle Cards should be purchased for each child in the classroom. They are printed on durable cardstock and perforated for easy separation.
Cuddle Time Bible Storybook
Turns everyday moments into faith-building opportunities. With vibrant illustrations, interactive storytelling, and preschool-friendly truths, each Cuddle Time Bible Storybook features two intentional lessons built around “Heartprints,” core biblical concepts designed to imprint truth on a child’s heart through repetition and connection. These moments may seem simple, but they shape a child’s earliest view of God. Whether it’s a bedtime story, a quiet moment on the couch, or a Sunday morning read-aloud, this storybook turns ordinary cuddles into foundational faith conversations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to buy a new kit every year?
No, the kit is a one-time purchase. It remains the same. You are welcome to add your own twists, such as additional songs, different activities, new toys, or whatever works for your group. You’ll inevitably need some new Bibles and toys along the way because of wear and tear.
How long does Table Time take?
Our curriculum is designed to be flexible so you can tailor it to your group. Children who are accustomed to Table Time will stay for 30 minutes without tiring, but younger babies or those who are new may need to relocate when they lose attention. Because the program changes activities every few minutes, toddlers usually continue to pay attention as they anticipate the Cheerios at the end!
Is there time for everything, including prayer, Table Time, and the centers described in the Teacher Pages?
That depends on the length of your church service. Babies usually need a few minutes to settle into the nursery before starting Table Time, which makes that a perfect window for the center activities described in the Teacher Pages. Infants who are held provide the best opportunity for prayer, but you can also use everyday moments like diaper changes and rocking with toddlers for meaningful interaction. The important thing is that every baby in your church can take part in learning about God and His Word.
What do I do with babies who don’t want to participate in Table Time?
Some children may feel a little unsure at first. They might prefer being held instead of sitting at the table, and that is perfectly okay. An assistant can pull up a chair nearby so the little ones can watch and feel comfortable until they are ready. Once they become familiar with the routine, they usually join in happily. And of course, ending with Cheerios always helps!
Do we have to buy a teaching table?
Nope! A teaching table certainly helps, but you can use highchairs in a circle, a blanket or a rug, or simply gather however your nursery feels most comfortable and engaged. If every child can see you and you have some surface space to place your Bible and materials, you are ready to teach.
I feel awkward about singing for Table Time. Do I have to sing?
Even if you are not a great singer, babies love the changing melodies and rhymes and are drawn to music, so just jump right in! There are no music critics at the table. You can quote some of the songs as “poetry,” but it is more fun if you sing them!
How do you keep up with your toys and puppets?
It often works best to keep your Table Time toys separate from the nursery toybox so they stay special for this activity. After Table Time each week, it is recommended that you spray the toys with a child-safe sanitizer and return them to their bins. Many leaders find it helpful to keep several small bins for Bibles, the bird and eggs, musical instruments, and flowers and butterflies. You could also store the bins, water bowl, and Cheerios in a baby-locked cabinet so they are safely out of reach but ready for the next group.
Have More Questions?
Our friendly staff is here to help!