Welcome to STF Kids!
Let us introduce ourselves.
STF Kids is a ministry at South Tampa Fellowship for birth through 5th graders. Our goal is to help families find and follow Jesus. That’s why we work with parents to prepare kids for a lifetime of following Jesus.
Milestones
We aim to assist your family during important occasions such as Child Dedication and Baptism. Our goal is to empower parents to guide their children through these milestones when the time is right.
Connect with us!
We want to connect with you and your family. Check out our social media pages for upcoming events, helpful tips / articles relating to parenting, and more. If you have any questions about our programming or other ministry opportunities, or if you would like to drop in and get acquainted, please reach out to us.
PreSchool Ministry
During our services, we offer classes for children from birth to pre-K4 at our Ballast Point and Davis Islands campuses during all services. Children will learn foundational truths about God through worship, crafts, games, and outdoor play.
Elementary Ministry
Join our special worship services for children (Kindergarten through 5th grade) during all services at our Ballast Point and Davis Islands campuses.
Ballast Point Campus: Kids Small Group and Large Group at both the 9:00 service and the 11:00 service
Davis Islands Campus: Kids Large Group Worship at 11:00 AM (Elementary-aged kids sit with parents during worship and then are dismissed to their classes.)
Awana
Our Awana program at STF meets on Wednesday nights during the school year at our Ballast Point Campus and is open to children from age 3 through 5th grade. At Awana, children engage in fun, exciting games and small-group, discussion-based teaching time. Our faithful volunteer leaders present the Gospel of Christ in an age-appropriate way each week and help children grow in their knowledge of God’s Word.
for more information.
We prioritize the safety of our children and students at South Tampa Fellowship. Our team undergoes thorough screening and training, and all volunteers who work with kids and students are known members of the church who have completed a criminal background check, child abuse awareness training, and a personal safety screening. Furthermore, no adult is allowed to work alone with a minor in any setting.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
New Here?
We’re so excited to welcome you and your child to STF! We recommend arriving 10 minutes before the service starts so you have plenty of time to check in and get settled.
When you arrive, head to the First Time Guest Tent outside or the Welcome Desk in the STF Kids Lobby. A team member will guide you through a brief registration form, then personally escort you and your child to the appropriate classroom. Please label all of your child’s belongings before arriving. Also, please inform our STF Kids Team of any allergies or health concerns your child may have so we can provide proper care.
We use a secure sticker system to keep children safe. You’ll place the sticker with your child’s name and info on their back, and you’ll keep the matching numbered sticker. You’ll need this number to pick your child up after class. If there’s ever a need to contact you during the service, you’ll be notified and asked to report immediately to the STF Kids area.
Well Child Policy
At STFa, we love and care deeply for your child. To keep all children safe and healthy, we ask that any child showing signs of illness stay home. Children should not attend if they have had a fever over 99.7°F, vomiting, or diarrhea within the last 24 hours. Similarly, a runny nose with yellow or green drainage is a reason to stay home unless a doctor clears it.
Children with skin rashes or conditions such as impetigo, chicken pox, hand-foot-mouth disease, or other contagious issues must remain at home, and we ask that you notify our church office if your child is diagnosed. Any rashes of unknown origin will require medical clearance before returning. If your child has strep throat, they need to have been on antibiotics for at least 24 hours before returning to class. Persistent coughs, sore throats, or signs of respiratory infections may also require a doctor’s note.
We also cannot accept children with conjunctivitis (pink eye), lice, ringworm, or other parasites until they’ve been properly treated. Our kids ministry staff has the final say in determining whether a child is well enough to stay. Thank you for partnering with us to keep our STF Kids healthy and happy!
Will My Child Get a Snack?
For infants and toddlers in our nursery classroom, we offer puffs and teething wafers unless we have received parental notice against them. We will give your baby the juice or formula you provide during class, but due to allergy concerns, outside food is not allowed. Bottles need to be premade for the safety of our STF Kids and teachers. If your child has a food allergy, please place a yellow “allergy alert” sticker on the front of their shirt and alert your child’s classroom teacher.
For children ages 2 through pre-K, we serve veggie straws. Occasionally, your child may prepare a special snack during class that ties into the day’s Bible lesson. We will post a snack notice at the classroom door if there is a special snack for that day. If your child has food allergies, please ensure they wear a yellow allergy alert sticker and alert your child’s classroom teacher.
For children in Kindergarten – 5th grade, we do not provide snacks, but we will occasionally have special snacks on the 5th Sunday of the month or if there is a special service. We occasionally have candy during services. If your child has food allergies, please ensure they wear a yellow allergy alert sticker and alert your child’s classroom teacher.
What if My Child Has An Allergy?
We do our best to keep our environments allergy-friendly. If your child has any allergies, please fill out an allergy information form and bring it to the Welcome Desk on Sunday. This helps us update our records and prepare for a medical emergency.
How Do I Pick Up My Child?
Pre-School (Birth – PreK)
At pickup, please wait at the door for a teacher to bring your child to you. We ask that parents and siblings do not enter the classroom. You’ll need to show the teacher the guardian tag that matches your child’s security tag. Before leaving the church, please double-check that you’ve collected all of your child’s belongings. Note that siblings under age 16 are not permitted to pick up younger siblings from class.
Kindergarten – 5th Graders
You must have the matching guardian tag to pick up your child – either the physical sticker or one sent to you via text or photo from the person who checked your child in. Your 4th -5th grade child will be in their drop-off room. For 1st-3rd grade, present your security sticker to the staff or director at the large group door.
If you misplace your guardian tag, please visit our Welcome Desk with your driver’s license, and a STFKids staff member will walk you through our process for a missing tag!