- Oct 31, 2021
- 3
- 2
- Country
- United States
- Faith
- Baptist
- Marital Status
- Married
I am an American church childcare worker. Prior to my work at the church, I worked primarily as a pre-school teacher. I am trained in both Montessori and Reggio Emilia learning philosophies. (My formal education is in Law)
I lost my faith long ago but resumed attending church after the birth of my son. I want my son to have the gift of religion & spirituality. I was raised Baptist. I have studied the worlds religions but have a respect for Christianity and Christians. I want my son to be raised in the Baptist church.
I volunteered to work in the Baptist church child & youths program because I genuinely love children and wanted to be involved in my community. And though I am not a “true believer”, I keep that entirely to myself. ((I ask that you don’t fixate too much on this point for the sake of this particular post.))
Unfortunately, I had an “epiphany” while working in the program that has left me disenchanted with the Church. It’s something I’ve observed in every church I’ve attended.
Amongst the plastic, mismatched toys, the cartoonish coloring pages, and singing Christian vegetables, I suddenly felt very alienated and alone. I felt like stepping into the standard American Sunday School room was a lot like stepping into a Chuck E. Cheese - albeit a bit more boring. The cartoon coloring pages and Biblical puppets, especially, seemed almost insulting. It seemed not only disrespectful to the Christian tradition but to the spiritual life of the children. Are we as Christian educators, and at least partially responsible for the religious and spiritual development of children in our care, supposed to be focused solely on hollow, flashy entertainment? Is Sunday School supposed to be an endless stream of bright colored, Cartoon “fun”? How is my child supposed to feel universally connected, theologically and morally challenged, or reflectively still in an environment that is only conducive to singing vegetables, cartoon depictions of Jesus, and plastic chunks masquerading as playthings.
This has unsettled me more than I would like to admit.
As a pre-school teacher, I was trained that the environment is the third teacher. That the child can learn from their environment almost as much as they learn from the educator herself. What are the plastic, chaotic, caricature centered Church environments teaching children about Christianity? And, alternatively, is there a way to design the Sunday school environment itself that will teach the Christian religion and invoke Christian religious spirituality?
Additionally, the gift of oral storytelling has decayed tremendously. I believe that traditional oral storytelling is a more engaging, intimate, respectful medium than any cartoon or questionably illustrated children’s book - specifically in regards to religious stories.
I can’t help but feel as though I am a part of a corporation skin walking as a church. Are we pushing consumerism disguised as holiness? Entertainment pretending to be a theological education? I have respect and love for all my coworkers and church leaders, of course. I do think they are doing everything with the best intentions.
I have tried to explain these thoughts to others and have been shut down every time. “The kids like the cartoons, it’s always been that way, stop worrying about it.” And, besides that, who am I to try to change things or believe I know better anyway? I’m an atheist who hasn’t set foot in a church in over a decade until last year. I’m at the very bottom of the church hierarchy and so have very little say in any sort of decision making.
However, I feel compelled to seek something different. If my son is anything like me, the puppets and caricatures won’t inspire him for very long. I want him to have a more nourishing experience within the church.
Here are a few ideas. Trade out plastic, mismatched toys for a complete set of toys made from natural materials. I believe that creation is God’s artwork and should be celebrated. Incorporating natural materials introduces creation & ensuring the toys are complete (not missing a piece or broken) celebrates orderliness and respect for the environment. Instead of using playdoh, for instance, we could make real bread dough to bake later for communion or use modeling beeswax.
The walls should not be sterile white, overly bright, or too busy. They should be a gentle color, like a calming green, or even use a lazure paint technique. I believe the classroom should exemplify beauty and order.
Instead of illustrated children’s books that depict Christian figures as funny looking cartoon characters, engaging oral story telling with props should be used. Additionally, one shelf could be dedicated to a biblical story or theme. For Noah’s Ark, leave out realistic animal figurines, blue and green felt patches, a toy boat, an olive branch, and a few building blocks. This way children can engage with the story independently.
Lastly, classroom management should be a top priority. I do not like chaos. While I always engage children through movement - I believe there is a time and place where that play style is appropriate. Throwing toys, jumping on one another, and running in the classroom is disrespectful of the environment, the children’s peers, and the child him/herself. Dancing, low to the floor movements (crab crawling), and organized games (tip toe red light green light, musical chairs) are a better way to “get the energy out” without relying on a pure chaotic free for all. A peaceful classroom is the most welcoming environment for children - including sensory sensitive and young children.
I’m wondering if you have any thoughts or resources on this subject. Or if you can point me to different Christian traditions that have not adopted the “McDonalds” approach to children’s theological education. I am not only interested in ways Christians impart religious teachings but on how other religions approach this as well. ((For instance, I doubt Muslim children are learning their religion from coloring pages or Jewish children learning theirs from puppets- though I could be wrong. I think we can learn from different religions teaching methods.)) I am willing to explore and attend different denominations in search for a children’s program that fits my standards.
Note: I understand many do not agree with me and are quite fond of their puppets, coloring pages, etc. I respect that; however, it just isn’t what I want for my family. No hard feelings
Thanks, all!
I lost my faith long ago but resumed attending church after the birth of my son. I want my son to have the gift of religion & spirituality. I was raised Baptist. I have studied the worlds religions but have a respect for Christianity and Christians. I want my son to be raised in the Baptist church.
I volunteered to work in the Baptist church child & youths program because I genuinely love children and wanted to be involved in my community. And though I am not a “true believer”, I keep that entirely to myself. ((I ask that you don’t fixate too much on this point for the sake of this particular post.))
Unfortunately, I had an “epiphany” while working in the program that has left me disenchanted with the Church. It’s something I’ve observed in every church I’ve attended.
Amongst the plastic, mismatched toys, the cartoonish coloring pages, and singing Christian vegetables, I suddenly felt very alienated and alone. I felt like stepping into the standard American Sunday School room was a lot like stepping into a Chuck E. Cheese - albeit a bit more boring. The cartoon coloring pages and Biblical puppets, especially, seemed almost insulting. It seemed not only disrespectful to the Christian tradition but to the spiritual life of the children. Are we as Christian educators, and at least partially responsible for the religious and spiritual development of children in our care, supposed to be focused solely on hollow, flashy entertainment? Is Sunday School supposed to be an endless stream of bright colored, Cartoon “fun”? How is my child supposed to feel universally connected, theologically and morally challenged, or reflectively still in an environment that is only conducive to singing vegetables, cartoon depictions of Jesus, and plastic chunks masquerading as playthings.
This has unsettled me more than I would like to admit.
As a pre-school teacher, I was trained that the environment is the third teacher. That the child can learn from their environment almost as much as they learn from the educator herself. What are the plastic, chaotic, caricature centered Church environments teaching children about Christianity? And, alternatively, is there a way to design the Sunday school environment itself that will teach the Christian religion and invoke Christian religious spirituality?
Additionally, the gift of oral storytelling has decayed tremendously. I believe that traditional oral storytelling is a more engaging, intimate, respectful medium than any cartoon or questionably illustrated children’s book - specifically in regards to religious stories.
I can’t help but feel as though I am a part of a corporation skin walking as a church. Are we pushing consumerism disguised as holiness? Entertainment pretending to be a theological education? I have respect and love for all my coworkers and church leaders, of course. I do think they are doing everything with the best intentions.
I have tried to explain these thoughts to others and have been shut down every time. “The kids like the cartoons, it’s always been that way, stop worrying about it.” And, besides that, who am I to try to change things or believe I know better anyway? I’m an atheist who hasn’t set foot in a church in over a decade until last year. I’m at the very bottom of the church hierarchy and so have very little say in any sort of decision making.
However, I feel compelled to seek something different. If my son is anything like me, the puppets and caricatures won’t inspire him for very long. I want him to have a more nourishing experience within the church.
Here are a few ideas. Trade out plastic, mismatched toys for a complete set of toys made from natural materials. I believe that creation is God’s artwork and should be celebrated. Incorporating natural materials introduces creation & ensuring the toys are complete (not missing a piece or broken) celebrates orderliness and respect for the environment. Instead of using playdoh, for instance, we could make real bread dough to bake later for communion or use modeling beeswax.
The walls should not be sterile white, overly bright, or too busy. They should be a gentle color, like a calming green, or even use a lazure paint technique. I believe the classroom should exemplify beauty and order.
Instead of illustrated children’s books that depict Christian figures as funny looking cartoon characters, engaging oral story telling with props should be used. Additionally, one shelf could be dedicated to a biblical story or theme. For Noah’s Ark, leave out realistic animal figurines, blue and green felt patches, a toy boat, an olive branch, and a few building blocks. This way children can engage with the story independently.
Lastly, classroom management should be a top priority. I do not like chaos. While I always engage children through movement - I believe there is a time and place where that play style is appropriate. Throwing toys, jumping on one another, and running in the classroom is disrespectful of the environment, the children’s peers, and the child him/herself. Dancing, low to the floor movements (crab crawling), and organized games (tip toe red light green light, musical chairs) are a better way to “get the energy out” without relying on a pure chaotic free for all. A peaceful classroom is the most welcoming environment for children - including sensory sensitive and young children.
I’m wondering if you have any thoughts or resources on this subject. Or if you can point me to different Christian traditions that have not adopted the “McDonalds” approach to children’s theological education. I am not only interested in ways Christians impart religious teachings but on how other religions approach this as well. ((For instance, I doubt Muslim children are learning their religion from coloring pages or Jewish children learning theirs from puppets- though I could be wrong. I think we can learn from different religions teaching methods.)) I am willing to explore and attend different denominations in search for a children’s program that fits my standards.
Note: I understand many do not agree with me and are quite fond of their puppets, coloring pages, etc. I respect that; however, it just isn’t what I want for my family. No hard feelings
Thanks, all!
