This post was contributed by Jenni Langston, Children’s Minister, Memorial Church of Christ, Houston, TX.
It is hard to get our smaller learners to sit through “church” even when it is on TV. Please remember that this is not forever and that at some point we will return to worship. Here are a couple of tips and tricks to help younger learners understand that we are worshipping God, even though we are in the living room.
Bring your learners to church with you.
Don’t worship without them.
Go handheld tech free.
Make church time a “tech-free” zone. That means you, too, mom and dad. No cell phones. No iPads. No video games. Print Bibles still exist. Model for your learners the importance of the time we spend worshipping God each week. Your kids rarely see you without your gadgets. Committing to putting the gadgets down during church will drive home how important God is in your life.
Set up some cues to let your learners know that it is time for church.
For example — Have everyone grab their Bibles and march around the living room, or couch, and then take their seats for worship. Have another march around the room when church is over. Leave the house like you are going to church. Then come back inside like you are entering the church building. Be sure to “leave” the church and re-enter the house when worship is over.
Expect your learners to participate.
Anything part of worship that calls for community participation your learner should participate in. When the community is singing they should sing (as best they can). It’s a time to teach singing. When the community is praying teach your children to pray. When we take communion it is a great time to talk to your learner about the sacrifice of Christ for our sins, in a way that they can understand. Ask your learner to explain communion to you. You will be surprised at what they know. You will have a chance to re-teach what they missed.
Be prepared for the wiggles.
Sitting still through worship is a challenge for most grown-ups. Know upfront that it is going to be even harder for our younger learners. Have handy coloring books, Bible storybooks, picture Bibles, fine motor activities like stringing beads, or lacing paper cutouts. These activities are quiet, entertaining, and still allow our learners and families the chance to listen to the sermon. Kids pick up more than we give them credit for.
Bring joy to your worship.
If worship is a bother to you, that is what your children will learn. If you are like the Psalmist in Psalm 122:1 “I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go up to the house of the Lord,” your children will learn that, too.
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