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Why Using Nursery Curriculum Matters

July 1, 2025 jill Blog

 

In many churches, the nursery is viewed as little more than a quiet corner of the building. It’s a room designed to keep the youngest children safe and entertained while their parents attend worship or small group. It’s functional, clean, and stocked with toys. But here’s the question church leaders must ask:

Is Your Nursery a Room or a Ministry?

That single question reframes everything. If the nursery is just a room, then staffing it with kind volunteers and maintaining a safe environment might seem sufficient.

But if it’s a ministry, an opportunity for intentional spiritual formation in the lives of babies and toddlers, then our approach needs to shift. Dramatically.

A Biblical Example Worth Emulating

Mark 10:13–16 gives us a compelling glimpse into how Jesus viewed children. In this scene, families were bringing their little ones to Jesus, hoping He would bless them. The disciples, perhaps trying to protect Jesus’ time or maintain order, tried to turn them away.

But Jesus stopped everything.

He not only allowed the children to come to Him—He insisted on it. He welcomed them, embraced them, and blessed them. And then, with the watching crowd as His audience, He declared that the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

Jesus didn’t see children as a distraction from ministry. He saw them as a vital part of it.

What Does That Mean for the Local Church Nursery?

It means our nursery isn’t just a service for parents. It’s not just a holding space or a noise-reduction strategy for the sanctuary. It’s a mission field. A discipleship space. A place where young lives begin their journey of knowing God.

That’s where curriculum comes in.

A nursery curriculum isn’t about overwhelming babies with structured lessons. It’s about meeting them where they are developmentally and intentionally weaving biblical truth into the rhythms of their early life.

Babies Are Always Learning

Science tells us that the first three years of a child’s life are critical for development. The brain is forming rapidly. Neural pathways are being shaped by every sound, image, and interaction. Babies are absorbing information constantly, even if they can’t yet express it.

So, what are we giving them to absorb?

A nursery curriculum offers structure, repetition, and biblical focus. Through songs, motions, simple stories, and even the tone of a volunteer’s voice, children begin to form early spiritual impressions: God is loving, church is safe, and Jesus is good.

It may be simple, but it’s not insignificant.

From Babysitting to Discipleship

Too often, nursery volunteers are recruited as babysitters. But what if we trained and empowered them as early childhood disciplers?

With a curriculum in place, volunteers are equipped to do more than change diapers and soothe tears (as important as those things are). They’re invited into the sacred work of spiritual formation. They become the first church leaders to speak God’s love into a child’s life.

A good curriculum makes that process simple, consistent, and meaningful. It gives volunteers confidence and clarity, and it elevates the role from duty to ministry.

Partnering with Parents

Another key benefit of using nursery curriculum is how it supports and encourages parents. Most parents of infants and toddlers are exhausted and often unsure of how to begin discipling their little ones at home.

When the church provides consistent spiritual content in the nursery, it opens the door to effective partnership with families. A simple take-home card with a Bible phrase, a prayer idea, or a song used in class gives parents something concrete to reinforce at home.

It communicates, “You’re not alone. We’re in this with you.”

And that kind of encouragement can go a long way in building trust between the church and young families.

More Than Safety—A Strategic Vision

Yes, a clean and safe environment is essential. Parents need to know their children are secure. But safety is only the foundation.

When we elevate the nursery from a logistical necessity to a strategic ministry, we begin to see its potential more clearly. The nursery becomes a gateway for church engagement, a discipleship hub for young families, and an investment in the future of the church.

Church leaders, we’re often focused on big-picture discipleship: leadership pipelines, small groups, teaching series, outreach strategies. But discipleship starts small. Literally.

Ask Yourself: Is Your Nursery a Room or a Ministry?

The way we answer this question will shape how we allocate our resources, how we train our volunteers, and how we communicate our values to the next generation.

If it’s just a room, we’ll keep managing it with minimal effort.

But if it’s a ministry, we’ll treat it with the prayer, purpose, and intentionality it deserves.

Getting Started

If your church hasn’t yet adopted a nursery curriculum, it’s not hard to begin. Many excellent, biblically grounded programs are available.

Start by evaluating what happens now in your nursery. Ask your volunteers what support they need. Talk with parents about their hopes and concerns. Then begin exploring curriculum options that align with your church’s values and families.

It doesn’t have to be complicated. It just needs to be intentional.

A Small Beginning, An Eternal Impact

Jesus didn’t overlook children. He made space for them, prioritized them, and held them close.

So, let’s follow His lead.

Let’s make the nursery more than a room. Let’s make it a ministry—one that reflects the heart of Jesus, supports families, and begins the beautiful work of shaping young hearts toward the gospel.

Katie Greenwood is the curriculum director of D6 Family Ministry, www.d6family.com. Rooted in Deuteronomy 6:5-7, their approach empowers every generation to grow together in faith, weaving biblical principles into daily living so kids are equipped to face the challenges of life while living for Christ. 

Big ministry impact starts with the littlest ones. Preview the free sample or get started here to begin shaping hearts from the very beginning.  

 

 

 

 

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