what age do you recommend taking your child to church?

Question

i see a lot of children crying and running, wonder if its best to be in church or not for the parents and the child.

Answer 1

Most churches have a sunday school or children's church for the kids. My church offers classes for infants through teenagers during the regular sunday service. The majority of parents drop the kids off in their respective rooms while they go to regular church service. It is not babysitting, the children are ministered to in an age appropriate manner, and most the kids truly enjoy their class (I'm a teacher) There's no point in having a child sit through a message that doesn't really apply to them or is beyond their understanding. You're right, they will just get restless and start distracting adults. Look for a church that has a good children's program or sunday school.

Answer 2

I was taken from infancy. I was never allowed to cry or run around in church. I was taught to sit still and behave myself like a young gentleman, or else. But that wasn't necessarily a problem for me, because I enjoyed church so much. Some children, for whatever reason, seem unable to handle it. For those children, there are an increasing number of churches that have Children's Chapel or other Sunday School types of activities. If a child is crying, particularly during crucial parts of the service, it's best to take them out so that others are not disturbed. Letting a child cry on and on isn't doing any good for the child, the parents, or the other parishioners. I was taken to church very shortly after birth, but I'd say that it might depend upon the maturity level of the child in question. Some children are more spiritually inclined than others, and I'd think that it would be a disservice not to allow such a child to participate in religious services.

Answer 3

Well, I was in church just shortly after my birth. I know one family at my church who brought their child when she was 6 days old. I believe that a church is the best place for any family- at any time. Crying is going to happen. Kids to cry. Running is going to happen. Kids do run. Running shouldn't be aloud in church but, 2 year olds like to do that type thing. Once it become to be an actual distubance the parent needs to remove the child from the service until he/she calms down. I know many churches who offer a nursery to the infants - like mine does. A lot of churches also have children's church for 3-8 year olds.

Answer 4

Depends on the church .Praise the lord with singing ,dancing raise your 'their spirit .A child's attention span is nominal depending on age, 3/5mins for the small ones .Lets face it sermons are monaloges.
Children understand worship far beyond the confines of a building. The confirmation of god and kin (in the greater sense is what the church affirms).Children are the greatest manifestation of creativity. They dont need to be taken to confirm this .We do.

Answer 5

Our church has a separate room for parents that bring their small children to the service. If people cant control their children, they should probably stay home. Have one parent go to church and the other babysit. Then switch off.

Answer 6

Many churches have programs for children- nursery, sunday schools, or junior churches. As soon as possible I say, It gets them used to church and it introduces them to a steady, structured experience. Children who are introduced to church early are more likely to go later on in life.

Answer 7

From Birth. The Bible says to train up a child in the way they should go and they will never depart from it. You are planting a seed in them and they will forever have a covenant with God. They may stray from the covering but they can never destroy the covenant. As parents we are given the greatest gift from God and we should be obedient to His Word about how His children should be raised.

Answer 8

It really depends on how fast you want your child to be brainwashed, I have been a catholic all my life, and introducing your children to religion at a young age takes away their individuality, many have hated their parents for doing that to them I am one of them, today my children are all atheists and highly intellectuals and you don't want to mention religion to them, there are to many families destroyed by religion today because of parents forcing their children into religion. May God Bless.

Answer 9

Shoot I was there pretty much from birth. But my father is a minister and wouldn't put up with my sibling or myself running around or being a distraction. I feel I am a well adjusted teen...don't cause too much trouble and thinking that I too will get into the Ministry.

In Jesus Name

Answer 10

Most good churches have age appropriate activities for children.

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing those from whom you learned, and that from childhood you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 3:14-15

These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7