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With so many choices in church furnishings, the who, what, and where (not to mention the how much) can bring stress to anyone asked to create kid-friendly environments for Sunday schools, toddler rooms, and nurseries. For many young families visiting your church, these areas are the first to be evaluated when selecting a church. Before you create your shopping list of furnishings to buy, here are some pointers to help along the way.

Whether you are furnishing your Sunday school classrooms for the first time or expanding your children's areas, the first step is to develop a plan. "Assess the equipment and supplies you currently have and what your future needs will be," advises Darrell Myers, director of marketing at National Church Purchasing Group (NCPG). "Then, based on your projected growth, determine exactly what additional or new items/supplies you will need. In most cases, this will allow time to raise funds and identify the specific items you'll need."

Dan Berg, manager of the church product division at ChurchPlaza, recommends that churches estimate the population in each age category to determine the number of classrooms needed. He also suggests that each teacher create a product wish list for their classroom so the head of the children's ministry can create an overall budget.

Clifford Thiesen, owner of Nursery Maid, a manufacturer of daycare furniture and nursery equipment, counsels churches before they purchase any equipment to consider whether they will ever become a licensed childcare provide. If it is a future possibility, church administrators should first speak with their local licensing authority, as this could affect their purchases. For instance, certain states don't allow stackable cribs in licensed facilities.

Some of the "must have" products for a Sunday school classroom are tables and chairs, which come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors. Berg suggests using a lot of color to create an inviting space for the children and to outfit each room with the right-sized furnishings.

ChurchPlaza offers a variety of chairs from budget models to designer styles. Their best-selling Classic Series model 9000 stack chair features a heavy-gauge tubular frame and a molded high-density polyethylene seat. Other choices include a sled base stackable chair for use on carpeted surfaces only, or a v-back chair that promotes correct sitting posture. Or if safety is a main concern, Prima chairs, which come in a variety of shell colors and heights, are metal-free with their lightweight, durable, plastic construction.

Berg recommends tables with adjustable-height legs and color-coded tops for different age groups. ChurchPlaza offers the Prima preschool tables, which are available in multiple shapes and sizes to best suit individual classroom layouts. The Prima color-banded tables include a durable 1-inch laminated top in pebble grey and with a band of color around it.

The Child Care Depot offers a variety of tables, including the Prima tables from Royal Seating, through their online catalog. They have adjustable tables in many shapes, including horseshoe, flower, square, round, rectangular, clover, octagonal, trapezoid, and kidney. For toddlers, they offer tables with seats attached in 4-, 6-, and 8-seat configurations.

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