Group Guidelines

A great MOPS experience begins with a great MOPS Discussion Group! As a member of FPC MOPS, we want you to help make this the best MOPS year for each woman in your group.

Therefore we ask that you:

• Attend faithfully (when your children are healthy).
• Remember that MOPS is a relational group, so come to your table with a heart to share and a desire to encourage one another.
• Respect the other women in your group – their opinions, contributions, child- raising techniques, churches and unique qualities.
• Remember that anything shared as a prayer request or during discussion time is to be kept confidential—within the group. We want everyone to feel that this is a “safe” place to share with one another.
• Listen respectfully when others are talking, whether in your group, or from the stage.
• You don’t have to talk or pray aloud if you don’t want to.
• Participate in group discussions by staying focused on the topic, giving others a chance to share, allowing others to hear what you think, and being accepting and encouraging.
• Use first names when addressing each other. We will all have nametags.
• It’s ok to cry…to laugh…to express emotions.
• Refrain from selling goods and/or services for yourself or someone else. Please do not use the MOPS roster for Pampered Chef Parties, Mary Kay etc.
• Enjoy the women at your table!

Guidelines for Bringing Food

• If bringing a main dish, bring one 13x9” or two smaller dishes (including round dishes). Each main dish should serve 15-20 people. Main dishes do not have to be homemade.
• Bring hot dishes warm and ready to serve. Bring bread and fruit pre-cut and ready to serve. Include necessary serving utensils. Please label your serving dishes and utensils.
• If you are unable to attend the MOPS meeting the morning that your table is scheduled to bring food, please tell your table leader as soon as possible. She will either assign extra food dishes, or arrange for you to deliver/drop-off/pick-up your food prior to the MOPS meeting. We are depending on your contribution.
• After the MOPS meeting is over, please pick up your dishes and serving utensils. All dishes/utensils left behind will be placed in one of the MOPS storage bins.
• Hot food will stay hot wrapped in aluminum foil, then wrapped in a towel. Please place your dish on the table on top of the towel in order to protect the table.

Menu Suggestions

Moppets Guidelines

Dress: Please dress your child in comfortable clothes that are easy to change for children in diapers. Children should wear closed-toe shoes to play on the playground.

Check-In Time: Check-in begins at 8:50 am. Please sign your child in at his/her room and provide any information needed for that day on the sheet provided. Moms are to remain on the premises while your child is in the Moppets program.

Check-Out Time: The teachers would appreciate your consideration when picking up your children after MOPS. Please pick them up immediately after the meeting at 11:30 am. The parent who checked him/her in, unless other arrangements have been made ahead of time, must pick up your child.

Peeking Moms: If you peek in on your child, he/she may become distraught and the teacher will have a difficult time calming him/her down. If this happens, you will need to remain in the room until your child is calm. If you are concerned about your child’s well being, please ask a friend to sneak a peek for you. This will help maintain a calm environment to be enjoyed by all the children.

Labeling: Please label your child’s blankets, bottles, sippy cups, pacifiers, coats, etc. Do not bring any toys from home, as we cannot be responsible if those toys are lost or broken. Unlabeled items will be labeled by the staff with a permanent marker.

Snacks: A morning filled with activity can make a child hungry. For this reason, we provide a snack each morning. Due to several severe peanut allergies, MOPS will purchase and distribute the snacks. Please bring a snack if your child has a special diet or allergies, and indicate this on the sign-in sheet. Occasionally, moms have asked if they can bring in special treats (i.e. birthday) to their child’s classroom. We welcome them for older children, but prior arrangements should be made with the class teacher or the Moppets Director. Note: Please refrain from bringing any snack that contains nuts or peanut butter, as many children are allergic.

Mommy, I need you! If your child needs special attention (i.e. breastfeeding or just needs you) we will notify you to come to your child. You will always be notified if your child has been crying in excess of 5 minutes (unless you indicate otherwise on the sign-in sheet). If your child becomes ill while in Moppets, you will be notified immediately.

Good Health Guidelines: We want to provide a healthy environment in our Moppets program, so we ask you to keep your child at home when you observe any of the following:

• Fever/Vomiting (within the last 24 hours)
• Diarrhea
• Questionable Rash
• Discharge in or around the eyes
• Green or yellow runny nose
• Excessive coughing
• Any communicable disease

Pagers: If your child is in the Nursery or Toddlers, you will be given a pager. Please wear your pager, as they only vibrate. Please also remember to return them when you pick up your child, as we are not the only ministry to use them.

Medications: Medication of any kind will NOT be administered by workers. If a child must have medication, it must be kept by the mom until needed and then administered by the mom.

Biting/Physical Aggression: We realize the biting and other acts of physical aggression are very common among toddlers due to frustration accompanying lack of verbal skills. If your child is involved in an incident, he/she will be separated from the other child involved and you will be notified immediately upon pick-up. If you have any concerns about how the matter was handled, please contact the Moppets Director.

Created by Mary McHugh
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