Is church really important for kids?

Hello Everyone:

I was hoping to get some good perspectives and advice on this issue. I'm going to be giving some leadership to our church's Sunday School program for the fall. It's been a little lackluster with poor attendance for a few years. Considering over the churches I've visited or attended over the last 10 years or so, I realized that one big difference is that our SS is held before the morning service (9:30-10:30 or there abouts). All the other churches I've experienced do SS DURING the morning service. I think this would really help the attendance problem, as I see ALOT of kids in the church service that haven't just been to SS.
I think I might encounter some resistance to this idea though, especially from the pastors. I think they feel that kids should be in the adult service (until they are dismissed for a brief program during the sermon, as they are now) likely for reasons of family unity or perhaps they feel that kids get something out of it? Not sure.
As the mother of 4 young ones (7 and under) I would LOVE it if my kids had a program to go to during the whole service. I spend all the time they are with me in the service trying desperately to keep them quiet and occupied and usually I miss much of what's going on. I can't focus during the P&W time because of this. I don't see that they are getting ANY benefit from being in the service with my husband and I. The last church we attended that had the SS during the service, allowed my husband and I a precious hour of time together enjoying the P&W and really focusing on the sermon. It was great and I looked forward to it every week. Now, not so much.

So, I'd like to know others' opinions. What does your church do? I'd really love to hear some perspectives from an educational/developmental point of view---do kids really benefit from staying in an adult service? About what age DO they start benefiting?

Thanks,

Les

My husband & I are in charge of children's church at our church. Our website is www (dot) childrens-church-ministry (dot) com. Our church doesn't have children under 7th grade in the main service (unless their parents want them in there).

Our's has all ages,and we welcome those with any type of disability also.

I am sorry, but I disagree with teaching any religion, or lack of it, from an early age. I am not racist as i feel all religions to be equally valid points of view, as well as rejecting all of them. I feel that it is moraly wrong to teach a child a viewpoint of life in religious terms as a religion is something sacred and dear, is it not? It is something to be chosen, admired and followed, not forced on. I doubt any person would want themselves to be put in a religious place that they do not believe in, and told it all to be fact.


I am sure you believe it to be fact and believe that you are doing the right thing by it, but that is not the point. I will not teach any children of mine my belief that there is no God or otherwise because it is fair to them that they choose their own religion when they want to and I will support them wholey in that, albeit Muslim, Christian, Jew, Sikh or Athiest.


Whether, then, these things in any religion are fact or not, it is unfair to tell them and teach them as fact untill they are old enough to have a discerning and un-naive concious.




These are my views and I would be honoured to any reply in a constructive manner

My church has Sunday School from 9:00 to 10:20. Church doesn't start till 10:30. Adult Bible Study runs at the same time as Sunday School. So, everyone gets their own study time, and they all get to be together in church.

In reality, none of the kids in Sunday School have parents/families in church.

We have Sunday School (different classes for all ages through adult) before church and then Children's Church during the sermon. The kids stay with their parents during the song time and then go to Children's Church when the sermon starts. We have a class for K-1st and one for 2nd-4th. 5th and up stay in the service.

Leskent, I think you hit the nail on the head with your experience as a parent. Children's Church is as much a ministry to the parents as it is to the kids. Adult church sermons are not child friendly. When we have a chance to share the gospel with kids in a way that they will understand, we absolutely should! Families can have "family time" in the afternoon or during the week.

All kids must be welcomed at all cost.

Proverbs 22:6 (New International Version)


6 Train a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not turn from it.

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In my church there's sunday school for children grom 3rd - 7th grade during the regular sermon. When the regular sermon is a youth sermon (which is once every 3 months I think) there's sunday school for 3rd - 5th grade.

I think it's important children go to their own sunday school, because regular sermon is not aimed at them. They don't understand, get bored... I think it's a good thing if children make friends in church, and enjoy going to their ss. That way it will be easier for them to continue going to church.

Children can become restless and unfocused in church, I personally think they should only go if they can appreciate the service fully.
And I am yet to meet a child who can.

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