Is church really important for kids?

Leskent

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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
 

Jamesca

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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
 
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GlassSunrise

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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.
 
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twiggysara

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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.
 
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Beminde

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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.
 
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the_box_of_giggles

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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.


I can't fully appreciate a service many times. I get restless and unfocused....and I'm 19.
 
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rivulet

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Its good for kids to have a place where they can learn about the LORD in their own way. However, I also feel that it is somtimes important for kids to see their parents worshipping the LORD and how they react to their pastor's teaching. "Do mom and dad listen to what the pastor has to say?" "How should I worship God?" Your kids will follow you as you follow Christ. It is HARD for kids to be in service because they get bored or distracted. But if that is how your church does things, it might be wise to set up a reward/consequence system for your children. It is also good for kids to know that THEY can worship in the service too. They are apart of the church and they should feel like part of the family.
 
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DRK

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As far as general worship goes I don't think it's useful for children under 14. Even children up to 18 unless they're dedicated to it are probably not going to enjoy it.

I always found youth groups with certain age ranges to be the best from my experience as a former youth. Children see the world through different eyes and much less experience and can't relate to how adults see things.
 
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heron

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I get restless and unfocused....and I'm 19.
Me too... teaching SS helps!

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.
Children's Church is as much a ministry to the parents as it is to the kids.
That way it will be easier for them to continue going to church.
something to be chosen, admired and followed

Young kids are also too restless to make it through a few hours being away from home. There is sometimes an assumption that every family has one child. Families can have babies who need feeding, mixed with teens who have extra activities.

The reality is each family scrambles to get there in one piece, on time. It is a stretch to ask that everyone pack up their kids early for SS.

It is important for the church to be considerate of such a high proportion of its members. At the same time, it is also important to give parishioners some freedom of choice.

In contrast...
We visited a church that didn't allow our kids to sit with us in church. We didn't know anything about the church and didn't want to leave our kids with strangers.
 
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adwayk

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My church makes it optional. It allows those parents who have children to drop them off at the beginning of service and they can stay during the whole service and have a worship experience that caters to their level and age group. The same thing with the teenagers as well. The thing I really love about my church is that it isn't just one of those thrown together children's ministries. They really cater to teaching your child how to love God, themselves, and the Bible. Hearing your story makes me appreciate the opportunity that my church provides for not only the children but the parents as well who deserve to be able to experience God's word without distraction. We discuss the importance of issues such as this in the Christian church on an alternate website as well called gracefriends.com.
 
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crazyeddie

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I believe that secular schools can never be tolerated because such schools have no religious instruction, and a general moral instruction without religious foundation is built on air; consequently all character training and religion must be derived from faith.

This means that we need child services, and the younger, the better!
 
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MLEN

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Our church has a children's SS class and adults SS class running simultaneously (of course in separate rooms) from 9:30-10:30.

During the 11:00am sermon the children's SS class is then used as a room where parents can stay with restless children while listening to the sermon via a speaker that's in the room for that purpose. In there are kept various puzzles, coloring handouts, a white board & markers, some toys and books that the children can occupy themselves with while the parents in the room listen to the sermon. We try to keep the activities/toys in the room as Bible-centered as possible.

Hope this helps.
 
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MLEN

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...having said the above. From around the age of 5 years old, the children in our church generally do sit in on the sermon with the parents. Most parents bring activity books, drawing pads, reading books or other quiet activities to keep their children relatively still in church. We also try to include our children in the main service by having a 7-10 minute children story time within it. Or we may have a special song sung by the children to the congregation. And of course, a snack break helps stave off hunger complaints.

If there are enough adults to take turns conducting a children's church during sermon time, then at least one person is not going to get burned out doing so every week. But still I personally believe children should gradually be moved into the adult sermon when possible, so they can learn how to conduct themselves and to see the various roles they may one day be called to do as future leaders in the church.
 
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visionary

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Parent can choose to allow the children to go to children's church or to come by their side for the main service. Children's church can address a lot of things directly related to a child's needs more than just the bible classes. Each have their benefits, as long as they are not just a glorified babysitting class.
 
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