Our mission is “Joining Children on their Spiritual Journey.” The purpose of KidStep is to intentionally focus on ways that we can help children from birth through fifth grade take next steps of faith.

• Each week we livestream our Sunday services at 10:30 AM. You and your family can participate in our worship together.
• We also create age-appropriate weekly videos for your kids. You can find these videos on our church YouTube page.
• And print off the weekly Just for Kids document for your kid(s)!

You already know a thing or two about life, character, faith, and what it takes to be the human you were created to be. If you’re like many parents, you want to pass on that knowledge to your kids. But sometimes the day-to-day pace of parenting crowds out the intentional conversations we want to have with our kids. Where do we start? When do we find the time? How do we know if we’re being successful?

The Parent Cue app is specifically designed to help you raise kids in faith and character by strengthening the relational rhythm of your home, elevating important topics of conversation, and connecting you with our church so we can support your family. The app is free, and we hope everyone in our church who has a child—from a newborn baby to a 5th grader—will download it.

KidStep meets on Sunday mornings at 9 and 10:30 AM. Class sizes are limited. Check-in will happen on a first-come, first-serve basis based on each room’s maximum capacity and the number of volunteers available that Sunday morning. Masks are optional.

Nursery (Birth - 24months) – Our nursery is open at limited capacity during both 9 and 10:30 AM services. Nursery kids will be promoted to preschool when they turn 2 years old.

Preschool (2-Year-Olds – PreK) – Our preschool classrooms are located in the KidStep Tower at the 9 and 10:30 AM services, with two rooms divided by age. We have a 2 & 3-year-old room and a 4 & 5-year-old room. Preschool kids will be promoted to the next room on the Sunday after their birthday. Preschool programming will include worship and Bible time, craft time, snack time, and playtime.

Elementary (Kindergarten – 5th Grade) – Our elementary classrooms are located in the KidStep Tower at the 9 and 10:30 AM services, with three rooms divided by grade. We have a Kindergarten and 1st Grade room, a 2nd & 3rd Grade room, and a 4th & 5th Grade room. Elementary kids will be promoted to the next grade on promotion Sunday in the fall. Elementary programming will include worship and Bible time, group time, and activity time.

KidStep Check In/Check Out Policy

Reminder — all kids in preschool through 3rd grade should not be checking into or leaving class unsupervised. They must be dropped off and picked up by a parent, caregiver, or sibling over the age 13 with a pick-up tag. ONLY children in our 4th and 5th grade class are permitted (with parental approval) to check themselves in and out of class. Those kids need to have half of the pick-up tag with them. Please contact jbennett@hersheyfree.com if you have any questions. 

Preparing for Adolescence | April 23 | 9 & 10:30 AM | Room 403

Preparing for Adolescence focuses on helping 5th graders and parents understand the challenges facing kids as they transition from childhood into adolescence. Key concepts like identity, sexuality, gender and peer relationships will be discussed. Deb Hinkel will teach parents in room 403, and 5th graders will be separated by gender for conversation related to the same topic. 

KREW | June 12-16 | 6 to 8:15 PM

Join us for a week of KREW (KidStep’s Really Exciting Week) We can't wait to see what God has in store for us this year!

Child Dedication

Child Dedication is an integral part of the life of Hershey Free Church. We value our partnership with parents in joining their children on their spiritual journey! We offer 4 dedication ceremonies each year - late winter, Mother's Day, Father's Day, and early fall. Our child dedication process consists of a required class for the parents held prior to the dedication ceremony. Please register for the next available child dedication class.

Nursery Volunteers

Our nursery is growing, and we need more loving arms to hold babies and play with toddlers. Many times the nursery is the first connection new families make in our church and is such an important ministry. An open nursery can provide a much-needed break for parents to worship undistracted. Please help us avoid the dreaded “room full” message at check-in by volunteering with us. Please email Jill Bennett for more information.