Toddler-Time with Pastor Scott is an outreach of Lathrop First Christian Church. Each Wednesday that school is in session, children who are not yet in school and their parents/grandparents come to the church at 10am. They sing songs, read a story, play a game, do a craft, and have a snack. In many ways, this is a Sunday School class for these children, just not on Sunday mornings! It also allows some of the church volunteers to interact with the parents, and gives parents time to talk with one another. Each session runs about 45 minutes to an hour.

Toddler-Time with Pastor Scott began in the fall of 2021 as a way to reach out to the community. Lathrop does not have a public library, but often public libraries have “story times” and other things for children to do. So, on a trial basis, Pastor Scott reached out to the local Parents-As-Teachers organization and told them his idea. Initially, they met in the local coffee shop (Gentry’s) and used a small room. It was initially just for the month of September, but then quickly expanded to include special holiday times as well. In the fall of 2022 it expanded even more, now having a Toddler-Time weekly as long as the school is in session (we did take January off). Because of the amount of interest, it had to be moved to the church’s fellowship hall. By moving it to the church building it has also allowed more room to do an activity and more space for craft time. It has been wonderful to see the congregation get involved in Toddler-Time by volunteering to help put craft packets together and come to talk with the parents and help children do their crafts.

Thank you to FCC Pastor Scott Archdekin for this story and photo.