Churches keep children safe, attract families with soft play areas

The young married adult Sunday School class at First Baptist Church, Trussville, in Birmingham Baptist Association may hold every one of its social events in the church gym from now on, thanks to the recently installed indoor soft play area.
 
“They had a lunch and baby shower in the gym, and their little children could safely play,” said Sherrie Forehand, director of recreation ministries and event coordinator at First, Trussville. “It was such a hit that now they want to have all of their lunches there.”
  
This is only one example of the many ways church members have utilized the indoor play area since it was installed at the beginning of February.
  
“It’s been such an asset to Sunday School, extended session, our weekday program and Wednesday nights,” Forehand said. “All ages and sizes can use it — the only time we put a restriction on age is on Wednesday night because it’s so crowded. Already it is in constant use.”
  
The play area was originally the stage at the end of the gym. It had been glassed in to make a game room and later was used as storage. 
  
First, Trussville, hired a construction company to make an entrance to the space from the gym, and then after a thorough cleaning, painting and updating the lights and ceiling tiles, the space was made ready for the new equipment. Actual installation of the play area took less than three days. 
  
The area includes a slide, swing, things to climb on and things to crawl through. 
  
The various elements, called “events,” are steel-framed and covered in padding.
  
“You would have to work hard to get hurt in it,” Forehand said of the flexible webbing materials.
  
Forehand said she and other church staff discussed how the indoor playgrounds at McDonald’s and Chick-fil-A draw children and their parents.
  
“So we thought, ‘… If people are drawn to a place because of a play area, then let’s draw them here,’” she said. “It’s all about drawing people to Jesus.” 
  
Otis Corbitt, who works with the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions’ (SBOM) Church Building Services, noted that installing soft play areas is becoming a trend among large churches. “They want to make their church facilities as inviting as possible for all parents — both members and prospects. I know it’s also a real concern among parents to make sure their children are kept healthy and safe.”
  
“It’s important to think this way from a church growth and health standpoint,” Corbitt added.
  
Mike Breland, director of facilities at Cottage Hill Baptist Church, Mobile, in Mobile Baptist Association, said his church recently installed two soft play areas as part of its construction project to add a family life center and additional areas for preschool, children and students. 
  
One soft play area is for preschoolers up to age 4, and the other is for children up to fifth grade. The equipment includes a four-level, curvy slide; 48-inch balls; and tubes in the older kids’ area.
  
“We have outdoor play areas, but in Mobile, it can be very hot and rainy. So it’s great to have another constant option for a place for the kids to play,” Breland said. 
  
Churches are also using the “soft” concept for more than play areas.
  
Steve Layton, associate pastor of teaching and discipleship at NorthPark Baptist Church, Trussville, in Birmingham Association, said having Birmingham-based Acton Flooring install two soft floors for children was key when his church designed its expansion for the children’s ministry.
  
“[T]his is another way we could reach out to the parents and let them know we’ve made an effort to take better care of their kids,” he said. A wall of windows in this area also lets parents monitor their children. 
  
While the room is used for playtime, “we also have preschool worship and choir in this area,” he said.
  
Jim Acton, president of Acton Flooring, said the flooring keeps falls from being as traumatic and allows for easy cleanup, too. “It’s an eco-friendly, recycled rubber and a very, very rugged product. It should give churches very easily at least 15 years of good use.”
  
A PowerPoint presentation is available from the SBOM for churches interested in installing a soft play area. For more information, call Tommy Haralson at 205-868-6921 or 205-790-5727 or Corbitt at 1-800-264-1225, Ext. 244.