This article shares some key points about when a child can.... then they can....
It also shares the idea that when your children are young, learning letters and words, you the adult can have a notebook, write one sentence in child friendly print after the sermon, and read it with your child after the message. Then again at home with your child, with your spouse and child, etc. This makes a lot of sense. Build the skill of taking notes from young on, and train the kids how to take notes. This will also work well with the strategy of giving kids key words to listen for and tally, as they hear them. It will help your child gain more words that often are heard in the series you are in, or in a message.
But the other point it makes is, that if your child can sing, he or she can memorize a psalm/hymn. If your child can write, he or she can make a note. If your child can speak, then he or she can pray.
I'd like to add some other ideas, and you tell me if this is accurate or not.
If your child can watch a full episode of Daniel Tiger, Paw Patrol, or other preschool TV, they can sit for the sermon or message.
If your child can draw or color independently while you make dinner, he or she can sit and color during the sermon.
If your child can play quietly, while you teach your other children, he or she can play quietly during the quiet parts of the church meeting.
I think how we the parents form our expectations is what really matters. If you expect your children to attend and learn to sit,stand,play, color, whatever YOU find reasonable for YOUR children, I believe that they will rise to the challenge. Will it happen the first week? month? that will take time, but as you train them of expectations, and they experience the opportunity, most children will love being close to you, having you whispering in their ear to explain the next part of the meeting, or to ask a question about the song lyrics, this is family time, and they love it.
I believe in our family it was a lot like potty training, it was highly anticipated by me, dreaded even, seemed like it took forever, but when my children were ready, and had clear expectations, it never took more than 3-4 days of lots of accidents to achieve 90% success. It just felt like forever. I know that even my most difficult child to train, took less than four weeks to learn and live up to the expectations I set. Was it perfect? did I never have to take him out again? No, but it became unusual to have a struggle and normal to be able to worship alongside him with little stress.
Children thrive on clear structure and routine and once they learn a new routine, they often excel on their own. Yes you will still be involved in their engagement and attention, with questions, accountability, and insight, but it won't be the discipline struggle you dread, when you plan for success.
Perhaps, your child having siblings near by will create a bigger challenge, then invite some singles or empty nesters or teens to sit among your family, and prevent sibling interaction, and they just might cheer and praise your child more effectively than you can while managing 2 or more children.
Perhaps the environment change, makes your children respond differently, teach your children that when you go to church, this is time at God's House- and since you are already walking and talking a loving, caring, connected real relationship with your Great, Big God. This will help children know that it is a home away from home.
Perhaps you can set the expectations for family time at church, with your children when you are seeing the skills needed for Big Church, at home, and remind them- they can be independent, attentive, and engaged while sitting, listening, playing, coloring, singing, etc. It's a life skill to learn to sit without talking to your neighbor, and it's one that is worthy of our time not just to make church possible, but to make our children ready for public settings, like the movies, theater, library, restaurants, meetings, school, etc.
Wonder how to make this possible, here is an article on Mom Tested Tips.
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