Parenting in the Pew


		Tips for Parenting in the Pew Parents are given the great opportunity to have a great impact on how their children view worship in the future! Nurturing a child during worship is one of the most important God-given parental responsibilities. Gentle, constant reminders along with positive examples will guide worship experiences that will impact children throughout their lives. Here are tips for you to help your children in worship: Throughout the week: talk about what happens at church and during worship with preschoolers. Explain who the "church helpers" are and what the various parts of worship mean. Let your children know that you are excited about them being in worship with you. Tell your children how worship makes your feel and why it's important for you On Saturday Night: pray with your child for the worship service and for your pastor. Pack their cloth worship bags that include several quiet activities. On Sundays: try to get up early enough so that you do not have to rush. Have your children bring their Bibles to church. Before worship take your children to the restroom and make sure they get a drink of water. Make sure they get to walk a bit and stretch. Remember to give them money for an offering. Our church provides worship guides for the children (one for younger children and one for older children). Make sure your child gets one! During Worship: get a good seat, close to the front and on the aisle. You want your child to be able to see and hear everything that goes on. Provide enough room so that your child doesn't get boxed in...give them room to move a little. Don't worry if your young child falls asleep during the sermon. They are still benefiting from being near you. Encourage and assist your children's participation in the worship service: greeting people, sitting and standing at appropriate times, singing, giving offering, helping to pass the offering plate, etc. Let children ask you questions about worship in a whisper voice and then answer their meaningful questions. Provide quiet activities in a special cloth bag for your children (silly putty...won't crumble or stick to clothes and pews, pipe cleaners, paper and colors or colored pencils, etc.) We provide cloth worship bags for older preschoolers, but if your child does not have one, please ask us for one. Set good examples for your children by not talking to adults around you during quiet or contemplative times of worship. Remember, your child will disturb your ten times more than they disturb anyone else around you. Check out how much adults around you move during worship! Hug, smile, and pat your children often during worship. If you must take your child our for discipline worship, bring them promptly back in during that service to avoid them misbehaving in order to be able to roam around in the halls, etc. Say what you mean and mean what you say to your children! Empty threats are just that. Be consistent with your children. Set appropriate boundaries and they will learn to work within them and with you. After Worship: Praise your children for the good things about their behavior in church. Always be positive and encouraging. Make going to worship a happy experience and a good memory. Talk about the worship service and explain anything that they might not have understood. Re-emphasize throughout the week things they learned in worship. Normal Behavior for Children During a Worship Service: It is normal for children to move around a bit, forget to use a soft whisper voice, stare at people, fall asleep, and want to use the bathroom. Be prepared for these behaviors! "The restless world in which we live and move calls us to seek places and occasions to find and respond to God. In a society fragmented by work schedules, broken relationships, and distance from family members, the intergenerational worshiping congregation gives assurance that God loves everyone, whether that one possesses a job, family, an education, a home, or health." Hazel Morris Associate Professor of Childhood Education Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary "The lives of children are affected by moments that hardly get our attention. Given an adults confidence and familiarity with the world, it is easy to overlook the often poignant perspectives of children. training your children to worship is one way to pay attention the the truly important and life-changing moments of life." Robbie Castleman author of Parenting in the Pew: Guiding Your Children Into the Joy of Worship "We dare not neglect the nurture of young children as participants in the community of worshipers. God will bless you in this task and will nurture you in the process." Kay Henry author of When I Go to Church: An Introduction to Congregational Worship for Preschoolers