Your Kids Will Love It Here
Every Sunday, while you’re in the main service, your kids are having the time of their lives – in a space built just for them. It’s how we help the next generation connect to Jesus.
We Know What This Decision Feels Like
Handing your child off to people you just met, in a building you’ve never been in, at a church you’re still figuring out – that takes trust.
We don’t take that lightly.
Every adult in the RVC Kids space is background-checked and trained. Your child’s room has a consistent ratio of volunteers so no one gets lost in the crowd. You get a matching tag for pickup. If your child needs you during service, your number flashes on the worship screen and you get a text – before you even know something happened.
And beyond all the systems? Your kid will be known by name. That’s what matters most to us.
Every Volunteer Background-Checked
No exceptions. Every adult working with your kids has passed a background check and completed our training before they step into a room.
Dedicated Security On-Site
A police officer is assigned specifically to the children’s building during every single service – not shared with the main building. Your kids have their own security presence.
You’re Never Out of the Loop
If your child needs you, their number flashes on the main worship screen and you get a text to your phone. You’re always connected.
The Right Environment for Your Child
From the day they’re born to the day they graduate out of kids ministry, we have a space that meets your child right where they are.
Nursery
6 Weeks – 2 YearsThey’re held, loved, and looked after.
The nursery is a calm, caring space for your youngest. Your baby will be held, sung to, and cared for by our trained nursery team – so you can worship without watching the door.
What to expect:
- Age-appropriate activities and sensory play
- Diaper changing facilities on-site
- Allergy-aware snack practices
- Secure check-in with matching parent tag
- Staff-to-infant ratio that allows individual attention
Preschool
3 Years – KindergartenBig truths, little hearts, a whole lot of fun.
Preschoolers learn best through movement, music, and story – and our preschool environment is built for exactly that. Every Sunday, your 3-to-5-year-old gets interactive Bible stories, songs they’ll sing all the way home, crafts, and a room full of friends.
The big idea they walk away with every week: God made me, God loves me, and God wants to be my friend.
What to expect:
- Age-appropriate Bible teaching they can actually understand
- Music and movement worship
- Arts and crafts every week
- Consistent teachers who know your child by name
- Secure check-in with matching parent tag
Elementary
1st – 6th GradeHigh-energy worship. Real Bible teaching. Friendships that last.
Elementary is where kids start owning their faith – not just learning their parents’ faith. Our elementary program walks kids through the entire Bible chronologically, helping them understand God as creator and author of the whole story, not just a collection of feel-good Sunday school moments.
Every Sunday includes high-energy worship built for kids, a Bible lesson that connects to real life, and small group time where they’re known, heard, and challenged.
This is where kids decide they actually like church – because church becomes their people.
What to expect:
- Chronological Bible curriculum – the full story of God
- Small group time with consistent adult leaders
- Age-appropriate worship and high-energy activities
- Leadership opportunities as kids get older
- Pathway toward student ministry when they’re ready
Every Layer of Protection, So You Can Relax
We think about safety obsessively – so you don’t have to. Here’s exactly what’s in place every Sunday.
Background-Checked Volunteers
Every adult in every room has passed a background check and completed training before working with kids. No exceptions, no shortcuts.
Secure Digital Check-In
Kids are checked in digitally and given a matching tag with their parent or guardian. At pickup, tags must match – every time, no exceptions.
Dedicated Police Officer
A police officer is assigned specifically to the children’s building throughout every service. Not shared with the main building – dedicated to your kids.
Text-to-Parent Notification
If your child needs you, their number is flashed on the main worship center screen and a text goes to your phone. You’re never out of the loop.
Consistent Ratios
We never overcrowd a room. Ratios are set per age group and held firm so every child gets personal attention.
Allergy-Aware Environments
Allergy information is captured at check-in and communicated to room volunteers. If your child has a food allergy or sensitivity, we know before you walk in.
First-Time Family Walk-Through
Your first Sunday, someone walks you through the entire check-in process personally. No figuring it out alone. No awkward guessing.
Volunteer Training
Our volunteers don’t just show up – they’re trained on child safety, response protocols, and how to build trust with kids and parents before they ever step into a room.
Here’s What Happens When You Drop Them Off
You Arrive Together
Pull into the parking lot and a golf cart will take you to the door. First-time families are met at the entrance and walked straight to kids check-in – no hunting for signs.
Check-In Takes Two Minutes
We scan your child in digitally. You get a matching tag. Their name, age, and any allergies go into the system. For return families, it’s even faster.
They Walk Into Their Room
A familiar face from their class will greet them. The room is already active – worship, games, or a story already happening. Most kids forget to look back.
You Go Enjoy Service
Their number is on file. You’re a text away. Go sit down, get some coffee, and actually be present for the service.
Pickup Is Smooth
Tags are matched at pickup. No tag, no child. That’s the system – always, no exceptions.
Camp and the Moments They Remember for Years
Sunday mornings are where it starts. But the moments kids talk about most happen in the summer.
Every year, RVC runs Day Camp, Overnight Camp, and Student Camp – experiences designed to go deeper than a Sunday morning can. These are the weeks that shape friendships, build confidence, and give kids a faith they can call their own.
Day Camp
June 2026
Full days of outdoor adventure, team challenges, and Christ-centered teaching. Drop off in the morning, pick up a changed kid.
Learn More →Overnight Camp
July 2026
A week away from screens and into creation. Cabin life, campfires, worship under the stars, and friendships that last.
Learn More →Student Camp
Summer 2026
For middle and high schoolers ready to go deeper. Worship, small groups, and real conversations about faith and life.
Learn More →Questions From Parents Like You
We hear these a lot – especially from families who are visiting for the first time or just checking us out.
Do I have to be a member of the church for my kids to participate?
No. Your kids are welcome whether you’re a first-time visitor, you attend occasionally, or you’ve been coming for years. Bring them.
What if my child has never been to church before?
That’s exactly who this is built for. Our volunteers are experienced with kids of all backgrounds – including kids who don’t know any Bible stories and kids who’ve never been in a church setting. Your child will not be behind or out of place.
Is kids ministry available during all three services?
Yes. The same program runs at all three Sunday services – 8:15, 9:45, and 11:11 AM. Your kids get the full experience regardless of which service you attend.
What’s the curriculum? Who decides what they’re being taught?
Our elementary program walks kids through the entire Bible chronologically – the full story, not just the highlights. Preschool and nursery use age-appropriate material focused on foundational truths: God made them, God loves them, and God wants to be their friend. Our teaching team selects and reviews all curriculum. If you ever want to know what your child is learning on a given Sunday, just ask Lauren.
What do I do if my child has anxiety about being dropped off?
Tell us. Seriously – if your child struggles with separation, let a team member know before check-in. Our volunteers are trained to work with kids who need extra time to transition. We won’t rush you, and we won’t let your child feel alone. Some kids need a few Sundays. That’s okay.
My child has a food allergy. How do you handle that?
Allergy information is captured at check-in and shared directly with the volunteers in your child’s room. We ask that you communicate any allergies every visit and put them in the pre-registration form if you fill one out ahead of time. If there’s a severe allergy, talk to Lauren personally before your first visit so we can make sure the room is prepared.
What is the volunteer-to-child ratio in each room?
Ratios vary by age group – younger rooms have more adults per child. We hold ratios firm and do not let rooms get overcrowded. If you want specifics for your child’s age group, reach out to our Children’s Pastor.
Can my child go to the bathroom or get water during the program?
Yes. Volunteers escort kids to the restroom and back – children are never unaccompanied in hallways. Bathroom breaks are handled individually, not as a group, so your child is supervised the entire time.
What if I need to pull my child out of the room mid-service?
Text back the number that texted you, or stop by the children’s building directly. A team member at the door will help you. You don’t have to wait until the service ends.
What if my child gets hurt?
Our volunteers are trained in basic first aid and know our response protocols. If anything happens, you’re notified immediately. A dedicated police officer is in the children’s building throughout every service. We take safety seriously enough that the answer to “what if” is already planned before you ever walk through the door.
How do I pre-register my kids before we visit?
Fill out the form below. It takes two minutes and means your child is already in the system before you arrive Sunday. You’ll go straight through check-in without filling out anything on-site.
What’s the best way to ask the Children’s Pastor a question directly?
Email is best: lauren@myrivervalley.church. You’ll hear back quickly.
Make Sunday Morning Easier
Pre-register your kids and we’ll have everything ready when you arrive. Your first Sunday check-in will take two minutes instead of ten – and your kids will walk straight into their room feeling expected and welcomed.
Takes two minutes. No commitment required. Just a head start on your first Sunday.
Questions first? email our Children’s Pastor at lauren@myrivervalley.church or call 512.308.2570.
What’s Next for Your Family
Plan Your Visit
New to River Valley? Here’s everything you need to know before your first Sunday.
Plan Your Visit →Summer Camps
Day Camp, Overnight Camp, and Student Camp. The weeks your kids will talk about all year.
See Camps →RVC Students
When they’re ready for middle and high school ministry, we’ve got that too.
RVC Students →
