VBS - Vacation Bible School

[hwichlaz]

That stinks you didn't have a good experience with Awana, so many I know speak so highly of it. My son loves it, but we do go deeper then just memorizing for the sake of memorizing. I will definitely check out that program though! It sounds great!

I oversimplified when describing our AWANA program....but it's still certainly run like a conversion program once you get past the cubbies in to sparks.

[Blackcat31]

Regardless of what this religious organization teaches/believes I am still wondering if the parents of these daycare kids are aware their children are participating in a VBS program via their daycare.
That is odd to me.

I know child cares that are religious based but a child care (center or family) that utilizes a religious program as an activity? :confused:

If parents gave permission then it isn't an issue.
They gave permission.
But you said "if a parent finds out what's going on?"

Did the parents give permission for their child to participate in this VBS program?

[hwichlaz]

Regardless of what this religious organization teaches/believes I am still wondering if the parents of these daycare kids are aware their children are participating in a VBS program via their daycare.
That is odd to me.

I know child cares that are religious based but a child care (center or family) that utilizes a religious program as an activity? :confused:

If parents gave permission then it isn't an issue.
They gave permission.
But you said "if a parent finds out what's going on?"

Did the parents give permission for their child to participate in this VBS program?

I useed to take my daycare kids to VBS, because I was one of the people running it. But the parents all signed permission slips. I doubt any of the parents in this situation expected conversion tactics.

[finsup]

I oversimplified when describing our AWANA program....but it's still certainly run like a conversion program once you get past the cubbies in to sparks.

We started at sparks. I had no idea it was available to kids younger. The program isn't run by our home Church. But we were already Christians when we started it, and my son loves Jesus so they aren't really converting him to anything Now if you were a non-Christian and sent your child to it i could see how someone would feel like that. But I'd be surprised if any non Christian sent their child to Awana. That's a big commitment unlike VBS that's only one week out of the year.

[Blackcat31]

I useed to take my daycare kids to VBS, because I was one of the people running it. But the parents all signed permission slips. I doubt any of the parents in this situation expected conversion tactics.

That's assumptive, which is why I am asking.

I am not dissing or supporting any ONE religion or tactic.
(that's a personal topic) so what any of these parents expected or didn't expect is moot....IF they gave permission for their child to attend this program.

I won't take responsibility for a parent's lack of research for something they gave permission for. That's on the parent.

My concern here isn't what is or isn't being taught at this program but the fact that this daycare is taking kids to participate and it sounds like the parents aren't aware of it.

I'd be livid if I were one of these parents.....and from the way the OP worded her question/post it sounds like she is afraid the parents are going to find out.....

There wouldn't be anything to 'find out' about IF they knew and approved of their child participating.

Parent permission alleviates the liability of the daycare.

[midaycare]

It's VBS...the entire purpose is conversion. The way that church is doing it sounds less than desirable, but...kind of to be expected, although maybe not that way.

As to AWANA, we have had wonderful experiences here. We don't currently use it because our church has it's own outstanding program that my son begs to go to.

[LysesKids]

I work in a dc and every year, we take the kids to vbs at a local church, over the past year or two I've heard the other teachers talk about how at the end of the week, they will ask the kids if they've been saved and if they say no, they keep the kids and let them ask Jesus into their hearts while the others attend the party. Usually it involves some if our dc kids as well. Here's my question, if a parent finds out about what's going on and comes back and says my child said x. What do you say?

I personally would have a huge problem with a daycare provider taking my kid to VBS because of how I taught religion to my kids; had it come up when my youngest was in childcare in the 90's... I was asked & said no and was told to find other care for a week - I found other childcare permanently because they broke their contract & were refusing me care

FYI, I was not told this was part of the program when I signed the contract so essentially the provider was planning on doing it regardless. I also had never signed the transport forms because she never took the kids anywhere before it had come up

[Unregistered]

We have ALL school age parents to sign permission forms for these outings. We use to go to 2 VBS at one time I personally like the other church better than this one BUT the reason that we send our kids to this particular church as opposed to the other church is because they both fall on the same week plus thus particular church accepts children that are 4 years old to 6th grade and the other church only accepts children that are going into the 1st grade to 6th grade. The church that I attend DOES NOT do what this church has done as far as reference. If they are saved great if not they can choose whether or not to get saved but we don't force them by no means

[LysesKids]

We have ALL school age parents to sign permission forms for these outings. We use to go to 2 VBS at one time I personally like the other church better than this one BUT the reason that we send our kids to this particular church as opposed to the other church is because they both fall on the same week plus thus particular church accepts children that are 4 years old to 6th grade and the other church only accepts children that are going into the 1st grade to 6th grade. The church that I attend DOES NOT do what this church has done as far as reference. If they are saved great if not they can choose whether or not to get saved but we don't force them by no means

My child was not school age when it happened to me, she was barely 4 & the provider was working a different room than where my child would have been... I have issues with that. I was paying her to care for my dd, not have her in someone else care 3 hrs day... someone I had no clue who they were, much less how the church ran. I also wouldn't want someone asking if my kid is saved when she was baptized in a totally different religion. Just my point of view

[Blackcat31]

We have ALL school age parents to sign permission forms for these outings. We use to go to 2 VBS at one time I personally like the other church better than this one BUT the reason that we send our kids to this particular church as opposed to the other church is because they both fall on the same week plus thus particular church accepts children that are 4 years old to 6th grade and the other church only accepts children that are going into the 1st grade to 6th grade. The church that I attend DOES NOT do what this church has done as far as reference. If they are saved great if not they can choose whether or not to get saved but we don't force them by no means

Okay I am confused, why is this daycare bringing the kids to a VBS program anyways?

Unless the daycare is a religious based program, it seems like you (not you directly OP but the daycare) are simply using the VBS program as a free activity so to speak and unless your program and/or your parents ARE seeking a religious activity or a religious lesson WHY go/participate?

I don't know but to me it just seems wrong if there is no purpose to going other than using it as a time filler or an activity that you (the daycare itself) doesn't have to coordinate, host or put together.

[midaycare]

Okay I am confused, why is this daycare bringing the kids to a VBS program anyways?

Unless the daycare is a religious based program, it seems like you (not you directly OP but the daycare) are simply using the VBS program as a free activity so to speak and unless your program and/or your parents ARE seeking a religious activity or a religious lesson WHY go/participate?

I don't know but to me it just seems wrong if there is no purpose to going other than using it as a time filler or an activity that you (the daycare itself) doesn't have to coordinate, host or put together.

I agree with this.

Many churches need volunteers so badly that they will use anyone. Middle schoolers, teens, parents without background checks. Yikes.

[hwichlaz]

I oversimplified when describing our AWANA program....but it's still certainly run like a conversion program once you get past the cubbies in to sparks.

Our local group specifical asks children if they are saved, and the ones that are, are given incentives and prizes for it. They are taught to try to convert non believing parents as well...which is a quick way to cause custody problems for single parents.