Awana Forums

Okay, I know it is very early and probably very few people have even begun to minister with the new Puggles materials yet.  However, I would be interested in reading your thoughts about what you have seen so far.

So if you have at least ordered and received a "sample pack" or more of the materials....

What are your initial impressions of the materials?

Do you think implementing the program will be fairly simple or fairly difficult?

Overall, are you pleased with the program or were you expecting/hoping for something different?

Just curious!

WW2'er

---

"You say you're the blacksheep, I say you're still family!"

I'm in love with the program. I just received the full Leader's Guide, Teaching Cards, Take Home Cards and Coloring Pages.

The program seems to be well thought through. Here are two of my observations that lead me to making that statement:

- The Take Home Cards give great suggestions for parents on how to incorporate that weeks topic into daily activities in the home. This is probably my favorite part of the program, how it is intentional and purposeful in how it engages the parents to be active in the discipling of their child.

- The Leader's Guide is very complete down to snack suggestions that go along with that weeks theme. Example: Week One - God Made Light. Use regular and golden oreo's as snacks and discuss how the golden oreo's look like the sun that God made to give us light. I thought this was very clever.

Now if I can just find leaders to run the program!

-David

Great thoughts, David!  Thanks!

Others?

WW2'er

---

"You say you're the blacksheep, I say you're still family!"

I think that it will a great start for the awana program to start kids out early and getting them ready to cubbies

I am so excited and honored to be a part of Puggles! I think we have a great opportunity with these younger kids. I was a leader last year with the 1st year cubbies and it was awesome! Just to watch those little ones take it in and work hard to learn and to see the understanding click in. I think to be able to be there and start this new age group off is a blessing to everyone!

Thanks for your thoughts, hlh and Wilroy Awana.  Welcome to the Awana Forums too!

 

WW2'er

---

"You say you're the blacksheep, I say you're still family!"

I, too, am excited about Puggles and the format that I have seen.  We will probably have about 4-7 little ones in that age group if all the children from Vacation Bible School come back for Awana ( I believe they will). 

I also have a brand new LIT and a "seasoned" veteran wanting to "tackle" that program.  I must say Im blessed because they BOTH came to me and asked if they could do the program.   It makes me feel good that they WANT to do the program....they will put their "hearts" into it.

Ill keep you posted WW2'er of how the Puggles is progressing throughout the year

Mike

---

Pals (now T&T) leader for 5 1/2 years. Director for 2 years. Commander for the last 2 1/2 years. Firm believer in being faithful to the local Church.

You are really blessed, Commander Mikey! I wanted to start the Puggles program at our church, but our problem is that we don't have any two year olds that attend! I couldn't believe it. Right now we have no two year olds in Sunday School, and there were none at VBS! So, we can't start a program with no children! I'm keeping it in mind for next year, though, because we have a one year old that will be moving up next year!

---

Mother of a Cubbie and a T&Ter

Matthew 12:34b "... for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh."

Mellisa,

I only have one 2 year old & am going to do Puggles during SS time. Some don't think one child is worth the time, money & effort. I know someone who does, God.

From the sample pack I got, is there really enough fillers to fill 1.5 hours worth of time for these kids? The lesson looks like it is about 10 minutes long? What to do the rest of the time? We can't let them out early.

I have parents who want to have their kids in it. I have one person who said they will lead it, but they and a few of the other leaders feel it's too late in the night for that young of an age group, that Cubbies get out of control because they are so tired.

I don't know what to do. I feel God wants us to have this program...but I'm getting resistance on it.

---

Pressing on in Christ,
Audrey

There are activity ideas for each lesson located in the Leader Guidebook.  The lesson that is on the back on the lesson card is just the Bible lesson itself.

As for being too late at night for the age group, what are the parents of the children you will probably have doing with their toddlers during Awana right now?  I would imagine that the majority of the Puggles you will have are the younger siblings of current clubbers.  They are going to be at church for some length of time while the parents pick up the older kids anyway.  One idea might be to have check-out time for Puggles (at this age you definitely want the parents coming directly to the room to pick up their kids) 5-10 minutes prior to your other clubs letting out so that parents can take the time they need to get the little ones with their belongings and get back to your designated pick-up area to get the older kids.  That would slightly lessen the amount of time that the little ones are in a formal setting.

jodi:

I only have one 2 year old & am going to do Puggles during SS time. Some don't think one child is worth the time, money & effort. I know someone who does, God.

I totally agree - one child is definately worth teaching. With our current attendance, we will have one two-year old a year from now... and I will look into Puggles at that time. Right now, though - none! I couldn't believe it, since we average about 450-500 total attendance for Sunday School each week (that's birth through senior adult)

---

Mother of a Cubbie and a T&Ter

Matthew 12:34b "... for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh."

Commander Auds,

I am doing Puggles on Sun during SS time. Our Cubbies do well on club night. Am doing Puggles on Sun due to lack of leaders on Wed night

I was so excited about Puggles that I was chomping at the bit waiting for the information to become available!  I've only seen the starter pack but I really liked what I saw.  When I talked to our commander about it she was more scared than excited so I don't know if she will okay doing it or not.  As with most clubs we are bursting at the seams and are real short on leaders so I understand her apprehension about expanding but I really think that it is a great idea.  I am the Cubbies director and I know that if we do decide to have Puggles club that I will be in charge of that one as well.  I would start with only AWANA workers kids.  I think that it will be easier to establish the club and work out the kinks with a smaller group and parents that I know are supportive at home. 

We have our first planning meeting next week so I will find out then.  I'm praying I get the green light!

MelissaG:

You are really blessed, Commander Mikey! I wanted to start the Puggles program at our church, but our problem is that we don't have any two year olds that attend! I couldn't believe it. Right now we have no two year olds in Sunday School, and there were none at VBS! So, we can't start a program with no children! I'm keeping it in mind for next year, though, because we have a one year old that will be moving up next year!

We had a class last year of Puggles-age children, about 3-5 kids per night.  We also had a class during the Sunday School hour for this age group.  But this year we won't have anyone in that age group!  :-(  We only have 2 that are anywhere close, but just developmentally too young.  One is my youngest daughter, 21 months old, and another boy who is younger than she is.  After looking at the material (and considering the material we used last year), I agree with Awana that it's best for children who are older 2's and younger 3's.  Our kids just don't fit in that category this year.

---

________________________________
'86-'88 JV Awana clubber; Helper/LIT--1 year; Leader--3 yrs; Chums/T&T Director--4 yrs; Commander--3rd year; This year: Commander & Sparks Director, Silver Certified Commander
Oldest daughter is in Cubbies this year!