The Nursery—a Time to Learn

The nursery program under the consolidated meeting schedule can be a learning experience for both parents and children—certainly not just a “baby-tending” time.

But it will be up to nursery leaders, parents, and local leaders to bring the nursery to its potential use, says Sister Naomi B. Shumway, general president of the Primary.

“With all the new resource material available for the nursery, it can be a beautiful program that children a positive, happy, successful Church experience. And it can teach great parenting skills to the adults who work in the nursery,” she says.

The resource materials are the Nursery Guidebook, Nursery Workbook, Nursery Resource Book, and the filmstrip To Touch a Child’s Life. In these materials are basic instructions and guidelines for operating the nursery, self-training for nursery leaders, and ideas for stories, music, art, toys, and other materials.

Both men and women can serve in the nursery, Sister Shumway says. In fact, this is an excellent opportunity for young children to learn from the particular insights and approaches of men. The number of adults in the nursery will depend on the size of the nursery and the number of children.