Helping Your Children During the Sunday Worship Service

I was recently asked by a young married couple how they can help their children to behave during the Sunday worship Service.

To get young children through our relatively lengthly service can be difficult.. A typical sermon may last up to an hour. This does present parents of young children with some challenges. That being said here are a few ideas:

1. Rest. Young and old alike will be able to participate in the worship services with more vigor if they come rested. If your church meets on Sunday mornings then go to bed earlier on Saturday night and get a full night of sleep. Our congregation meets on Sunday evenings. Therefore we encourage Sunday afternoon naps.
2. Routine: I think that it is important to lead your family regularly in family worship. That means that on most days you find some time to sit down with your family and read the Bible and pray together. You might also consider singing Christian songs. In family worship the objective is "time exposure to God." We want our family to know who God is and to respond biblically to Him. Family worship also helps to cultivate congregational worship. From a week of worshiping God your family will be more prepared to worship Him with the congregation on Sunday. Family worship times also helps to prepare your children to sit through the Sunday worship service. A lady in our church suggested placing a blanket on the floor for family worship times. Allow your young children to have the space of the blanket to sit and move around on during family worship times. Take the blanket to church on Sunday and place it near your feet in front of your pew (chair). Allow your child that space but no more. They will grow accustomed to their boundaries during worship time. Eventually your goal is to have them sit with you.
3. Rely. Rely upon the help of other parents who have brought their children up in the worship services of the church. They will often have good counsel to offer you and can give you assistance during the service itself. Rely on God to help you. Pray for your church, your children and for God's help in leading your family to worship God.
4. Relax. Though we should not let our children disrupt the worship services we should also not get all uptight if they make a few noises. Be sensitive to those around you but do not allow yourself to be filled with anxiety. That being said it is important to be sensitive to other people during the worship services. I remember preaching for a Bible conference at a church a few years ago. A visitor to the church allowed their baby to scream for extended periods during each service. Afterwards they would apologize but they "knew I understood because they were trying to teach their baby to sit through worship services." Well, I do appreciate the desire to have one's child sit through the service but I did not appreciate 15 minutes of screaming during each service. It was very difficult for folks to hear and for me to preach. So relax but be sensitive.

Those are just a few initial thoughts. Please feel free to add your suggestions.