Wondering how your family will get through a church service…

With summer around the corner, many parents might be wondering how they will ever make it through the summer family services.  Between one child complaining they are hunger while another is bored and trying to keep a baby quiet, church may seem impossible.  Don’t get discouraged, talking with some parents, it does take a child time to adjust to a new routine so be patient those first few weeks. Here are some suggestions to help you out.

Explain to your child the routine of the church service. Usually, we sing songs; pass the offering plate around, special music, main speaker and then closing music.  This may be a good time to walk your child through the sanctuary to explain what a pew is, were the music comes from (instruments, speakers, sound board) , introduce them to main speaker ( usually Russ) and get them familiar with the environment.

Here are some suggestions to keep a child occupied during the service. This is a generalization so some of these may not pertain to particular age groups.

Create a special church bag. This special church bag will have toys only for church, snacks (crackers, fishy crackers, dry cereal or raisins), puzzles, coloring books, picture books and maybe a special candy. Have the child carry the bag so they feel part of the Sunday morning process. One parent suggested having soft caramel just for church service because it takes forever chew and helps keep them quiet.

Engage them in the service. We will try to have appropriate break out times during the service when Russ will ask families to answer questions together. Take advantage of this time to engage your children and ask them what they think. Also, maybe let your children be responsible for passing the offering plate and putting money into it.

This one may sound contradictory but decided to sit closer to the front instead of in the back. Just like adults, sitting in the front help keeps a person attention and the child can also have a better view of what is happening up front.

For parents with small children, make sure diapers are changed and the child is fed. Of course there will be times when you child may be ill or teething and they will be a little more noisy but that is okay. Don’t feel judged.

Feel free to take the child on a walk outside of the sanctuary half way through the service. It helps break up the time and helps the child to refocus.

There is a nursing room provide in the back of the sanctuary along with a parenting room accessible from just outside the sanctuary doors. There are toys, games, puzzles and washroom provided for your convenience.  Please ask an usher if unsure where the room is located.

These are only suggestions and parents know their child best so please use your own discretion.

I hope these suggestions can be of some help!