MOre than Childcare
Each Sunday, your child will learn the Bible and how it relates to Jesus in an age-appropriate way. The lessons are fun and approachable and taught by committed volunteers and staff who serve Jesus by serving you and your kids.
We also seek to help equip parents to train their children in the gospel through resources like family guides for our lessons, weekly activities, and resources for home.
Ultimately, the goal of Missio Kids is to get kids excited about Jesus and to get families talking about Jesus together throughout the week. Formal Missio Kids Discipleship takes place each Sunday during the 10:00 AM Gathering in our safe Missio Kids space inside of Essex Studios for all ages!
We also have a separate sensory space that is available during our gatherings each Sunday.
Age Groups
Infants
We want parents to be able to enjoy our gathering comfortably knowing that their baby is well taken care of and prayed over while in our classrooms. Our hope is to start the "it takes a village mindset" and come alongside parents as they begin to disciple their children! This class is for infants from 6 weeks old to 1 year of age and walking!
TODDLERS
Our toddler classrooms are split up by age group. Little Tots is a classroom for 1 year olds (12 months & walking - 24 months). Big Tots in a classroom for 2 year olds (24 months - 36 months). When children turn 3 and are fully potty trained, they will move up to our preschool class. In our toddlers classrooms, the goal is to begin teaching the story of the Gospel to our little ones through stories, songs, circle time, and age-appropriate play! This classroom serves a snack each week (Cheerios & water).
PRESCHOOL
Our preschool classroom is for children who are potty trained and 3 years old until they enter Kindergarten. We utilize the Gospel Project for our preschool curriculum, which follows the story of the Bible in age-appropriate and fun ways. Each week our preschoolers will have time for free play, engage in circle time, hear a Bible story, work on a memory verse for the unit, play games, sing worship songs, and do an activity that goes along with the lesson. This classroom serves a snack each week (Cheerios & water).
GRADE SCHOOL
Our grade school classes are for children in Kindergarten through 6th grade. After they finish their 6th grade year, they are promoted out of Missio Kids, hopefully with amazing memories and a foundational understanding of the Gospel. Grade school kids come together for Large Group Worship time, which includes a group game, learning about this week’s Bible story, memory verse practice, and worship.
Grade school is also split into two small groups. We have a Younger grade school small group (Kindergarten - 2nd grade) and an Older grade school small group (3rd - 6th grade). During small group time, kids and their leaders will engage with discussion questions to better understand the story and how it applies to their life. They will also do movement activities, have purposeful play time, and complete an activity related to the lesson. This classroom serves a snack each week (popcorn & water).
Our goal for the grade school classroom is to teach the story of the Gospel in a way that kids can understand it and relate it to their own need for Jesus. Through fun, hands-on lessons & play, we hope our kids will develop healthy relationships with themselves, God, the church, their peers, and their leaders.
YOUR FIRST VISIT
Your first stop when you arrive is the check in area. We want to serve you and your child well, so we’ll take some time to get to know you. We’ll ask about your child’s allergies, make sure we know what your child likes to be called, and collect your contact information.
Then, you and your child will both get a sticker with a matching code. This sticker is also what you’ll use to pick-up your child after gathering. If for any reason we need to reach you during the gathering, we will use the contact information we collected to send you a text message.
Values we are built upon
Gospel
Teaching God's word in ways we can understand.
Family
Continuing the story at home with loved ones.
Friends
Expressing the love of Jesus to those around us.
Parents Lead the Way Toward Jesus
Our goal is to inspire, encourage, and equip you as a parent to be that spiritual leader in your child’s life, knowing if we work together that bond will be even greater. We hope you enjoy our services knowing your child is in a safe and welcoming environment with qualified, consistent, and background-checked leaders and volunteers.
You can find some recommended family discipleship resources here.
Olivia payne
Family Ministry Director
My husband, Kyle, and I joined Missio Dei in 2019. I have served in Missio Kids since then, and Kyle now serves Missio as the Director of Hospitality. We live on the east side of Cincinnati, and are part of the Walnut Hills Community Group. I attended Miami University and have a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, as well as a Master’s degree in Educational Technology. Likewise, I taught 3rd grade for 5 years in Milford, Ohio. Outside of work, I love to be in nature, especially with our Golden Retriever, Brody. We go hiking and camping, and enjoy traveling to new places. I also love reading, painting, working out, and cooking.
My hope is to create a safe, welcoming, and gospel-focused environment where all of God’s children will know they are loved and that they belong. I look forward to meeting and serving you and your family!