About
A Faith Based Childcare Program Built on Love and Trust
We created Growing Acorns Parent’s Day Out to give families a safe, nurturing, and Christ-centered place where young children can feel loved, valued, and encouraged to grow. Because early childhood is such an important season, we want each child to feel supported from the very beginning. In addition, our program serves children ages 12 months through 5 years old who are not yet in kindergarten as a ministry of Oak Ridge Baptist Church.
Our faith based childcare program gives families part-time care with a warm classroom rhythm, caring teachers, age-appropriate learning, and a strong foundation of trust. Whether your child is taking their first step away from home or preparing for kindergarten, we want Growing Acorns to feel safe, welcoming, and full of grace.
Our Mission
Growing Acorns Parent’s Day Out provides a safe, nurturing, and Christ-centered environment where teachers love, value, and encourage young children as they grow spiritually, socially, emotionally, and academically. In addition, we partner with families to help lay a strong foundation rooted in God’s truth, love, and grace.
At the heart of our faith based childcare program is a simple belief: every child is a gift from God. For this reason, each child deserves care filled with patience, kindness, respect, and joy.
Our Philosophy
We believe early childhood is a meaningful season of growth, discovery, and connection. Because children learn best when they feel safe, known, and supported, we focus on relationships first.
At Growing Acorns, we use developmentally appropriate learning experiences, consistent routines, play-based exploration, encouragement, and positive reinforcement to help children grow with confidence. Also, teachers weave faith into everyday moments through prayer, Bible stories, songs, and Christ-centered character development.
Our faith based childcare program supports the whole child, including spiritual, social, emotional, physical, and early academic growth.
A Safe Place for Children to Grow
Safety is one of our highest priorities. Because families trust us with their children, we do not take that lightly.
Growing Acorns PDO uses clear safety procedures throughout the day, including:
- Daily sign-in and sign-out procedures
- Locked facility doors during program hours
- Classroom security practices
- Family security cards for pick-up
- Approved child release procedures
- Visitor check-in before entering the program area
Our staff also prepare to care for children with confidence through:
- CPR and First Aid certification
- Background checks
- Emergency procedure training
- Ongoing professional development
- Monthly staff meetings
- Required emergency drills
We want parents to feel confident when they drop off their child. That is why we build our faith based childcare program around peace, trust, and clear communication.
Learning Through Play, Routine, and Faith
To support early learning, Growing Acorns PDO uses Pathways for Preschool from Bob Jones University Press as the foundation for classroom learning. This curriculum introduces early academic skills through songs, crafts, hands-on activities, guided play, and age-appropriate lessons. For example, children ages 3 to 5 work on early skills like letter recognition, colors, shapes, and numbers while building confidence and classroom readiness.
In addition, each day includes Bible time. As a faith based childcare program, children learn simple biblical truths through storytelling, songs, discussion, prayer, and weekly Bible lessons. As a result, children can grow in kindness, confidence, and independence while learning that God loves them.
Partnering With Parents
We believe children thrive when families and teachers work together. In our faith based childcare program, open communication is a key part of the Growing Acorns experience.
Throughout the year, parents receive updates from their child’s teacher through our parent communication system. If questions or concerns come up, we encourage families to reach out so we can work together with care and respect.
Because of this, our faith based childcare program supports both children and parents. As a result, families can feel known, heard, and comfortable from the first day forward.
A Ministry for Oak Ridge Families
Growing Acorns PDO is a ministry of Oak Ridge Baptist Church. Through this ministry, we serve families by providing a loving, dependable, Christ-centered environment where children can grow and parents can feel at peace.
Also, families do not need to attend Oak Ridge Baptist Church to apply. However, we welcome families looking for safe, part-time care in a setting shaped by faith, kindness, and meaningful connection.
If you are looking for a faith based childcare program that values safety, play, early learning, and Christ-centered care, we would love to help you learn more about Growing Acorns PDO.
Explore Our Age Groups
Oak Ridge Baptist Church
1451 Bethel Valley Rd, Oak Ridge, TN 37830