This document provides advice for parents on helping young children participate appropriately in church services across different age groups from ages 4-8. For 4-6 year olds, the document acknowledges they may struggle to sit still and provides suggestions for parents. For 7 year olds, it notes they can generally sit through services but may drop their bulletins. For 8 year olds, it says they can follow along better but may still fidget. The overall message is that children are welcome in church and bringing them helps them learn and feel part of the faith community.

1. AGE 4-6 AGE 7 AGE 8 & UP SO!
T his age child spends considerable time
climbing off and on the pew; may get T he seven year old generally sits in
place unless there is an acceptable
reason for moving - the best one being a
T his age child can handle the bulletin
with more agility - in fact, has learned B ringing your primary child to church
can be a real exercise in aggravation.
fingers stuck in a hole; may wander down to fold it into an airplane; has also learned But then again, so are many other facets
the aisle if allowed to sit on the end seat; dropped bulletin. More than once during not to sail said airplane over the heads of of parenting and we manage our way
insists on a personal bulletin, keeps it in the service, the seven year old’s bulletin the congregation, but enjoys threatening through them. Of course, we do not want
constant noisy motion, and clings to it flutters to the floor, landing well under to do so; fills our friendship pads face- our children to be disruptive or hamper
tenaciously if a parent reaches over to the pew ahead. It is always followed by a tiously - Name: Harry Potter, Address: the church’s worship. But we must
grab it; writes first name on as many of small body that wrigglers under various Hogwarts School; swings feet back and remember that baptized children are
the friendship pad pages as is allowed; feet and returns grinning triumphantly. forth creating a discernable rocking sen- members of Christ’s church, and chil-
fits toes nicely into the hymnbook racks This child writes the whole name plus sation, often hitting legs or bumping pew dren should be among the people who
and finds that more comfortable than let- address and phone number on the friend- ahead; pretends to take money out of the worship God. They may not participate
ting them hang down. ship pad and checks each small box, thus offering plate instead of putting it in; just the way adults do, but they are
inviting the minister to call in the home. licks lips and looks painfully hungry while growing in understanding and learning to
B ut let’s look for a moment at the other While feet are closer to the floor at this waiting for the bread and juice on take their places in the church family.
things that are happening at the same age, the hymnbook rack is still handier, Communion Sunday. Proverbs 22 states that if we teach a
time: This child can be assisted with find- but the increase in shoe size creates a child how to live, that experience will be
B
ing the page numbers of the hymns and risk that feel will get stuck there causing ut there is another story: The eight remembered throughout life. Young chil-
have them ready for singing; may sing a minor panic. year old can read the bulletin and can dren in worship may have bad moments,
along with everybody else, albeit with find the scripture lesson and follow along but it is their birthright as Christians to
unrecognizable words; joins lustily in
singing the Song of Praise, a song every- S top to consider though - this child can
do some new things. The seven year
old knows when to sit and when to stand;
as the minister reads. This child also
knows that we read a hymnbook different-
worship. Our satisfaction comes as we
learn to share and appreciate their wor-
body knows; adds voice to the Lord’s ly from other books and follows the hymns ship, and in later years when we see
Prayer, pleasing both self and parents; bows head during prayers; sings the choral pretty well with a helping finger. There is them stand in the midst of the church
wants to hold the offering plate as it goes responses, particularly if those nearby eagerness to sing in the choir- a real sign with a faith of their own.
by (risky) and adds an envelope to its con- are singing; finds the hymns from the bul- of readiness for fuller participation. This
tents, perhaps sensing that worship letin and is a good hymnbook holder; is child may surprise everyone by asking who
involves giving. excited to discover some readable words Pontius Pilate was, and how Jesus rose
in the prayers or hymns; and is beginning from the dead, fairly good questions for a
to apply reading skill to matters of the young Christian to be asking!
faith.

2. ABC’s for Parents and
Other Adults
ArrivE in time to find a good place to sit.
Make sure your children can see.
BrinG something along for little ones to
hold or look at - something soft and quiet-
Kids
crayons, drawing paper, books [these are
When
also available on the cart at the entrance
to the sanctuary]. children come to church,
CAll
adults sometimes wonder why!
a “practice session” at home. The
in the
Pew
Lord’s Prayer, and the Song of Praise can
be practiced to help children keep up with Let us suggest that bringing children into the sanctuary is
the speed of adults. (Feel free to take a something like including them at the dinner table. Even
copy of “My Worship Booklet” provided though their manners are far from elegant-it’s done in the
with this brochure.) hope that, given time, they’ll begin to feel a part of the fam-
ily. Children giggle, they poke and they swing their legs sim-
ply because they’re children. But they also sing, pray, and give
DECiDE on a clue to let children know
with us. So this little pamphlet is written to suggest that we
they are to settle down.
adults should accept -even value-the children’s restlessness
during worship, trusting that they are also learning:
ExPrESS joy at having children worship
with you. Send an occasional smile in their J it’s important to come to this place each Sunday;
direction.
J they belong to this special company of people;
FrEE yourself of anxieties. Relax!
J the sights and sound and feels of the sanctuary are
good-though not always understandable;
GivE thanks to God for the presence of
children.
J something is expected of them in this place, and they
may respond in song, in prayer, and in offering.
HElP parents of small children by showing
your appreciation and your support of our
children.