Thread: How do you make children behave in church?

Originally Posted by Rocket Cowgirl

Maybe thats just their way of telling you they don't want to learn bible stuff. Kids should be given a choice on that.

What do suggest I teach them then? That is what church is about. When they are in school they don't have a choice what book they learn from. We do have fun activites, but we tell them we do the lesson then the fun stuff. The lesson includes some really good things to do , but go along with the lesson.

Originally Posted by joey74

I can't imagin walking up my 9 year old and saying "maybe this religion isn't for you, would you like to try another one; or think on it for a couple of months" !!

I am not saying to tell your 9 y.o. to chuck their religion because this is only my opinion. I do feel that my children should have a choice in what religion they want to practice. I have heard tons of people say that religion was forced down their throat when they were kids and now they stay as far away from that religion as possible. Kids are smart. I did not tell my son a thing about any religion, but he knew about the bible, God, Noah, etc. I wanted him to make an informed choice though so I told him there are other religions out there and explained some beliefs from them (He is 10 BTW). If they are given a choice in what they want then they will feel more comfortable with that choice and will stick with it, IMO.

As far as morals and values, you do not need religion to teach your child the value of what is right and wrong. Again they are smart and can see when they do something the consequences of it. Just because you do not have religion in your life does not mean you do not have faith in anything or that you will automatically be a rebel and a heathen. Again this is only my opinion and not meant to challenge the way anyone believes or feels.

As far as teaching them, if you want them to learn I agree with others you have to let them get involved. How exciting is it for an adult to go to a lecturer that they have no interest in learning anything about? People don't learn from it unless they are interested in it. Find what they are into and try to use that to teach from and relate it to the bible till eventually you no longer need the other to get them to learn about the bible. HTH and GL

Originally Posted by monii222

What do suggest I teach them then? That is what church is about. When they are in school they don't have a choice what book they learn from. We do have fun activites, but we tell them we do the lesson then the fun stuff. The lesson includes some really good things to do , but go along with the lesson.

True, but Church is not a mandatory institution like school.
But these are all off the subject. You go to church? Great. You want involvment with you kids? Great.
I suggest maybe making the class into story time. Let them play or do whatever. If they are under the age of five it will obviously be hard to get their attention. As long as they here the stories from the text as you want them to understand the message you should be fine. They shouldn't be held completely accountable for what they know until they rach 9 or 10 anyway.

Morals and values should be taught at home as well as in church.

Plus, don't forget to tell them why they are there, and don't give the because you have to line because it doesn't work...trust me.

Some kids aren't going to behave no matter what you try to teach them or how fun it is because their parents haven't taught them how to act. I am truely amazed at how bad kids can be when I have them in my home. Like everything I tell them they delibrately disobey. Like don't go upstairs and wake the baby then they say I have to go to the bathroom and they wake the baby instead.

But I really think that the younger kids and older kids should be seperated. In our church we put the ones not yet in school in the nursery. And the older ones learn the stories with songs crafts, ect.

When I was a kid (and my dh also felt this way) church was either scary or boring. Sorry to not be of more help, but I don't know how much little kids absorb of sermons or whatever. Babies cry and are distruptive. Toddlers and so on cannot be made to "mind" in that sort of environment because they clearly haven't a clue what is going on.

We teach morals and values at home. We enjoy nature and animals and respect others. Our family doesn't go to church. When my son grows up, he can decide for himself if he wants a religion or not. I don't believe in "making" your child your religion. To me, religion is something personal and private, and not something you indoctrinate your child with just because YOU believe it.

Again, this is JMO. I am not judging anyone. Everyone has the right to worship in his or her own way.

If you MUST or WANT your child at a religious place, then they should have age appropriate activities for them. To me, it's stupid to take a 3 year old to the opera. They won't get it. The same thing for making them sit in church and "BE" quiet for an hour.

Originally Posted by DivineMsDi

If you MUST or WANT your child at a religious place, then they should have age appropriate activities for them. To me, it's stupid to take a 3 year old to the opera. They won't get it. The same thing for making them sit in church and "BE" quiet for an hour.

Here, here!

Originally Posted by tmesser

i TOTALLY AGREE. i WOULD BE BORED TO DEATH WITH ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE CHURCH LET ALONE A SMALL CHILD WHO WOULD RATHER BE OUTSIDE PLAYING INSTEAD OF LISTENING TO SOME EXTREAMLY BORING THINGS ABOUT PEOPLE WHO YOU CAN'T PROVE EVEN EXISTED IN THE FIRST PLACE

This thread was not about weather or not you believe in God, but it was about getting others opinions on how to get them to listen (obey) what they are told to do. Maybe help me come up with some ideas. I toyally do apreciate any advice that was given on that part. I am not a holy roller, but I do believe that God has a purpose for all of us, and one of mine is to help the children in our church learn about God, weather or not they want to. When they act up I see it as a way that God is testing me. So if anyone else has any idea on how to get them to listen ( obey) please post them for me. The ones who are good through out the hole class, do get a gift out of our gift box, that works most of the time, but last Sunday nothing did. I know we will have those days sometimes.