Volunteer Monitor Information

Volunteers are the only human beings on the face of the earth who reflect this nation's compassion, unselfish caring, patience, and just plain love for one another.     Erma Bombeck

Guidelines for Monitors:

• Check in at the sign-in table before service.
• During the “Words for all Ages,” get ready to receive the children in the foyer and distribute clipboards.
• Gatekeeper: Wait just outside foyer as children to leave sanctuary, then leads children en mass to wooden gate walking backwards to watch group. This is a good time to remind children of important rules. At gate, call out names of children who have been signed in. As they pass through gate, place a check to the left of their name. If any children have not been signed in, check to see if their name is on the list. If so, allow them through the gate and mark as NS (Not Signed in). If their name is not on the list, write their name down at the end of the list. Youth (on a separate list from children) must notify the gatekeeper that they are entering and leaving. This gives the gatekeeper a chance to verify that they are not of elementary school age and prevents a free flow of children through the gate. At the end of service, children may leave only with the parent/guardian who signed them in. As they leave, cross off their name on the sign-in list. If anyone is marked as NS, remind parents that their children are last to enter the playground if not signed in. If they are not registered (ie, written in a bottom), the parents must fill out a registration form (hand them a clipboard with a form from the backpack) upon picking up their child. If there is a minor injury fill out an incident form (in backpack). For a serious injury, call 911 and get the parents.
• Playground area: Hold outside foyer door open for children, then walk in grass of courtyard at mid-point of mass of children to keep an eye out for stragglers. At wooden gate stand back from group as they check in to be sure none wander off. On playground float between the play gym and the sports field.
• Jefferson Building: Hold middle sanctuary door open for children, then bring up rear of mass of children as they proceed to wooden gate. Do not allow any children to fall behind you. When half the group has passed through the gate, go down to the Jefferson Building to let children in. In the Jefferson, children are allowed only in the large room and the hallway (unless it is raining and the playground is closed). If A/C or heat are on, the outside door should not be propped open (to save on utility bill).
• Floater: Take gate key to lock both metal gates, check that no one is on playground or in Jefferson building (if anyone is, ask them to wait outside the wooden gate to sign in). Close door to Jefferson. Close wooden gate to infant room. You will be the first monitor on the playground as children arrive. Keep then outside of the Jefferson until the Jefferson monitor arrives. You are the only playground monitor until all children have passed through the gate. Once all children are checked in, float around the entire monitored area periodically checking that each area is okay (ie, gate, play gym, sports field, Jefferson, around again) spending more time in areas that have more children. As you float, check for hazards and take care of them immediately if possible or report to gatekeeper.

Priorities

• Safety is the top priority. The worst things that could happen would be to lose a child or a serious injury. The transition from the sanctuary through the wooden gates is a time for critical observation. Think of yourself as a sheepdog ensuring that the entire group stays together and no one wanders off. The gatekeeper will be focused on getting children checked in. The floater will be on the playground, receiving children. It is important that the playground monitory and the Jefferson monitor closely watch the group as they wait to check in. The entire 40-minute monitoring period is a time of vigilance. It is not a good time to socialize or relax.
• Respect and fairness is second priority. Time on the playground is an opportunity for children to practice UU principles. Bullying, rough play, mean words and trait-discrimination are not appropriate on our playground.
• Entertainment is a lower priority. It is important that the first two priorities be met first. Then some energy can be devoted to ensuring that the children are entertained. Parents on the playground who are not monitors can make entertainment their top priority.

Active Adult Supervision:

• Walk through your area frequently and check blind spots (playhouse, inside bushes).
• If children ask you to play with them explain to them that you wouldn’t be able to because you must make sure everyone else is safe.
• Sports involving friendly competition are acceptable, but matches should not be allowed to escalate into a contact sport. Games that might injure other children should be modified (eg, a baseball game played with a hardball could be changed to a softer ball) before the injury occurs.
• If a ball goes over the fence, one child may retrieve it after getting permission from a monitor and that monitor should follow the child’s progress.
• Follow the Discipline Guidelines for rules (see back of the page).
• When service is over, have the children put things away and clean up. It does not matter if they did not bring out or play with a particular an item—we are all working together.