There is a growing number of programs designed to assist you in signing-in your families and children for your Sunday morning and midweek programs. They have a tremendous list of helpful features: intuitive interface that enables your volunteers to quickly learn how to operate the program, web-based format so that the program can be accessed from anywhere with an internet/wifi connection and so that  families can check-in at home and update their details if necessary, barcode scanning to speed up the process, extensive reporting facilities, speedy printing of labels and much more. However, it does come at a price and unfortunately, there are many smaller children's ministries that just cannot afford these systems, outstanding though they are.
So, I've been checking out Venuwize which is described as a wireless events dashboard letting event organizers collaborate, check in guests with iPads and iPhones, access live guest information, build a guest database and stay green. Sounds impressive, but let me just highlight some features. First, it's free if you have less than 100 guests for an event. The iPad or iPhone app required to check-in your kids is also free. It's free to sign up to trial the program, too. And it's pretty simple to set up. All you need to do, once you've signed up, is set up an event (and you can make it a recurring event) and then add your guest list. That is easily done by uploading an Excel file of the kids in your program. Extra children can be added individually, too, and you can add important information such as allergies or medication info as notes for particular children.

Once it's set up online, you can easily check-in the children using the app- just put in the code for your event and click on your guest list (list of children) and you're ready to check them in.

The only drawback that I can see at the moment, is that there are not extensive reports available about your events. But.. as a basic check-in system, it's worth taking a look.

Security in our children's programs, means protected children, screened volunteers, secure environments and safety procedures, all of which contribute to peace of mind for parents and carers and safeguard your ministry and leaders, too. Often, leaders are loath to introduce anything beyond a sign-in sheet for parents and children since many of these procedures are expensive and daunting to implement.  But there are some simple procedures that can be put in place to increase the security of children that are relatively inexpensive and easy for volunteers and parents to use. Check out www.churchnursery.com   You'll find here security labels and wristbands. They can be printed with your church details and entail a numbered sticker (or wristband) and stub for parents. Parents simply sign-in their children, attach a label or wristband to their child and retain the matching stub. Following the program, volunteers will release children to parents/carers only on presentation of the appropriate stub. (We found it easier to adhere the stickers to each child's back. The kids don't notice it or pull it off and volunteers can easily read them.) Church Nursery also produce Medical/ Allergy alert stickers- bright stickers to be used when a child has an allergic reaction to any foods or substances. These are really helpful and easily communicate such important information to volunteers without having to individually inform them. There are other products on their site that you may wish to investigate- paging systems, bag tags and.. classroom signal light. How great would that be? The signal light is used to let children's workers know when the worship service is finished and parents are on  the way. (No, we don't have one is place but I really do like the concept.)