Family Time Together at Church
It can be hard to sit with young children in church. They can get squirrelly. Even if they are not disturbing anyone around them, parents' senses are heightened to the noise and movements of their children. It is important for families to be together in worship. Some Sundays it may seem futile to parents, but don't fear! As you worship together, your children get the message and know this is their church too. They are an important part of this community.
Tips for parents: Show your child how find the hymns in the hymnal, and use your finger to show how to follow along the stanzas in the hymn. Encourage them to stand for the prayers - especially the Lord's Prayer since that will be familiar to them.
Tips for kids from other kids: Even if you are coloring or reading, keep one ear on the service. That way if something peeks your interest, you can set your things aside and listen. That is what Abby H. does when she worships at Faith.
Jack B. gets his own bulletin so he can follow along himself. It helps him learn the different parts of the service faster. It also helps him pay attention.
Sacred Time Together at Home
Eating meals together is one of the most important activities families can do together. Studies show that when children and parents eat together: children have a stronger sense of family togetherness and unity, know more of their family history and stories, and even learn a broader vocabulary more quickly.
Sharing our lives and our stories are a sacred act. We are showing our children what it looks like to be vulnerable with each other. When we make time to just be together, our children recognize that gift. They know their parents have busy full lives. So when we slow down for our children, they notice!
At Faith's Family Day in October, each family made a Table Talk Kit to encourage sacred conversation. Inside each jar are slips of paper that contain conversation prompts. Some are silly. Some are deep. All are sacred - because of the act of sharing and listening.
Check out some of the families who made the Table Talk Kit for their own home.
It can be hard to sit with young children in church. They can get squirrelly. Even if they are not disturbing anyone around them, parents' senses are heightened to the noise and movements of their children. It is important for families to be together in worship. Some Sundays it may seem futile to parents, but don't fear! As you worship together, your children get the message and know this is their church too. They are an important part of this community.
Tips for parents: Show your child how find the hymns in the hymnal, and use your finger to show how to follow along the stanzas in the hymn. Encourage them to stand for the prayers - especially the Lord's Prayer since that will be familiar to them.
Tips for kids from other kids: Even if you are coloring or reading, keep one ear on the service. That way if something peeks your interest, you can set your things aside and listen. That is what Abby H. does when she worships at Faith.
Jack B. gets his own bulletin so he can follow along himself. It helps him learn the different parts of the service faster. It also helps him pay attention.
Sacred Time Together at Home
Eating meals together is one of the most important activities families can do together. Studies show that when children and parents eat together: children have a stronger sense of family togetherness and unity, know more of their family history and stories, and even learn a broader vocabulary more quickly.
Sharing our lives and our stories are a sacred act. We are showing our children what it looks like to be vulnerable with each other. When we make time to just be together, our children recognize that gift. They know their parents have busy full lives. So when we slow down for our children, they notice!
At Faith's Family Day in October, each family made a Table Talk Kit to encourage sacred conversation. Inside each jar are slips of paper that contain conversation prompts. Some are silly. Some are deep. All are sacred - because of the act of sharing and listening.
Check out some of the families who made the Table Talk Kit for their own home.