I have 2 kids. boy is 3, & girl is 9. Little man, we already keep "fairly entertained" by taking his hotwheels cars, a couple bible children's books for him to look at, a bag o' cheerios, and he gets to "draw" on his sister's notebook too. My daughter, brings a notebook that she constantly writes "I'm so bored" on, wont actually bother READING the bible stories book, and just overly acts bored, and doesnt even remotely pay attention. How can I at least get some of her interest into paying attention when we attend meetings....or look in the bible book for kids book.......... what do you do to entertain your kids when u are in church.
FYI: Relgiion is kinda a new thing for us....... so they werent raised in religion before this, and it's hard for them
2007-10-22 02:30:47 · 12 answers · asked by it'sjustme79 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
My church or any of thier denomination participate in children's church......that's entirely out of the question.
2007-10-22 03:41:06 · update #1
Can you get hold of the bible readings ahead of time? Read them at home, discuss and then ask her to compare what you discussed to what the pastor said.
Ask her to write down questions about what is being said. If she doesn't understand something, have her ask.
Have her write down key thoughts during the sermon. Things that really hit her or makes her really think.
Try to find some good bible studies online that tie in with what is going to be preached on that Sunday. Our church actually has "children's bulletins". The basic Gospel lesson, a few minor points, and some activities... word search, coloring page, etc.
Draw pictures of what the pastor is speaking about, or a picture reflecting what she is hearing or feeling.
Give her some questions to try to answer during the sermon... who, what, where, when kind of thing.
Ask the pastor or Sunday School teacher for advice.
Let her page through the bible and find something to read in there. There are some good stories!
It really is hard to keep them tuned in, especially if it's new. And even for the kids who have attended since birth, they all hit this stage. Trust me, we've done all of the things that I have listed!!
Good luck!! Just don't let her start bringing her own books or her electronic games with her.
2007-10-22 03:14:09 · answer #1 · answered by usafbrat64 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Talk to your pastor about getting a "Children's Church" started in your congregation. We have three boys and only the oldest stays in the service with us. The younger two attend Children's Church where they are taught about God's Word on a level that is easy for them to understand. If that seems too daunting a task, then I would speak to your daughter on her outlook in life. She has a choice....she can choose to be bored out of her mind and do nothing (which is not very creative) or she can find ways to entertain herself. Play games with the sermon. Like every time she hears the pastor say God, she writes down a point in her notebook. Jesus gets her two points and if she writes down the scripture reference the pastor uses, she gets three points. At the end of the sermon, add up her points and have specific rewards for different numbers of points. She will be listening so she can earn her points and she will receive more than just the physical rewards you will offer her as a prize. (Prizes can be little, like a sucker or a sheet of stickers, or a penny per point and a trip to the dollar store). Have her come up with other games to play too.
2007-10-22 02:43:44 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Kids that age are more self centered than worrying about spiritual stuff. I'm not saying self centered in a "bad" way, they just aren't mentally developed enough to grasp a lot of the concepts of something that is supposed to be ageless, timeless, etc. Abstract concepts are beyond their understanding. Just because children raised in a church going family are good at mimicking the words, does not mean they understand the intrisicate nature of them.
2007-10-22 02:46:25 · answer #3 · answered by Keltasia 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Make the studies with them fun. There's no reason the study sessions have to be limited to simply reading and listening. Pick a bible story and let them role play. You can read through a Bible account together and only read the character you've been assigned.
2007-10-22 02:38:40 · answer #4 · answered by Q&A Queen 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get them involved in the children's programs at your church. Does your church have "junior church" that goes on during regular church, usually in another part of the building? If not, start one. My church has one, and rotates teachers, so that one adult isn't missing the service every Sunday. The little ones are there for the first part of the service, but midway they are dismissed to go downstairs for junior church.
2007-10-22 02:35:59 · answer #5 · answered by N L 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well most the time that is what the kids in our church does, but the older kids like your girl the parents make them sit there and listen even if they are not. Have her to take notes on what the preacher is preaching. See how well she can take notes.
2007-10-22 02:41:46 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Bible pictionary. I'm not even Christian (but there was NOTHING to do in my town except hang out at my friends' churches) and I thought it was entertaining. We also did bible hangman and bible jeopardy and "Holywood Squares"--yay, bad puns FTW!
2007-10-22 02:43:17 · answer #7 · answered by serindwe 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Religion is kinda a new thing for us..."
Educate yourself first. Once you've done that, try and pass on some real knowledge to your children.
2007-10-22 03:18:39 · answer #8 · answered by cananddo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
kids are always going to be bored in church, it's as natural as breathing.....just offer them some ice cream afterwards only if they're quiet! :-)
2007-10-22 02:35:39 · answer #9 · answered by Hope 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Stop trying to force this on her.
Give her the freedom to make her own choice about this.
Love and blessings Don
2007-10-22 02:36:41 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋