What are good things to take along for a 5yo on Sunday mornings? Our service lasts about an hour.. He has an hour of sunday school before the service, I have an hour of bible study. Ironically, I go to a young married's class (and I'm the only single parent in the entire church).

I don't know if Jack would get a whole lot (spiritually) out of the service, but I would like to sit together as a family. He is usually taken down to the gymnasium for freeze tag or duck-duck-grey-duck while I attend church in the chapel.

I'd like to give this a try next week....

Leftover,

There's a passage in the Bible that says bring your children up in the way of the Lord and they shall never depart from it. I'm not sure of the passage though. I take my daughter to church and she sits with me. Her favorite part is singing. She does get bored with the messages sometimes, but I bring bible coloring books and crayons to church for her to color. It works and keeps her entertained.

I take my 3 year old into church when she refuses to go into the toddlers class. I usually tke crayons and a book or I sit at the top (stadium seating) and walk her around when she gets fidjity. I really do prefer her to go to chlass though because they get bible story time and song time and play time and then they watch a veggie tales.

Hey all

I'm a firm believer in bringing kids to church as in the actual service. I pack a small bag of goodies for my 3 year old to play with. (We're Catholic so we don't have the Sunday school classes for the little guys.) I have been bringing my son to Mass with me since he was an infant and he knows that when we walk into church, it is time to be quiet, sit still and behave. I will bring him in during the week for daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration or just to show him parts of the sanctuary and we'll talk about Jesus, etc. By last fall he could recite simple prayers and would point out pictures of Jesus, Mary and a few of the saints as a result. Outside of Mass, we'll watch Veggie Tales videos or do other things to ensure that he is getting a 'toddler catechism.' I really think they do absorb more than we realize - and planting that seed young is the best thing you can do!

So my advice is to pack some appropriate books, toys or finger foods/sippy cups. Take them out when they're noisy/fidgeting so as not to disturb others - but make it clear that the negative behavior is not acceptable and leaving the service is not a reward. The more they're in church, the more they'll learn. I have fond memories of doing the same with my parents when I was younger - even sitting in the choir loft with them. They were happy memories!

Anyone else out there snow-bound tonight? Yikes! Eight inches and it's still coming down!

Nope we are not snow bound, thank Goodness.
Leftover I do a lot of the same things listed above. I bring papers for coloring and drawing, quiet trucks, and little snacks and sippy cups. Sometimes we make it through service okay and others I don't hear a word of the preaching. We have a wonderful Sunday school and normally after songs and stuff all the kids go down stairs for their service. Most of my kids love to go but the little ones. So I have 3 that refuse to go down with "strangers" It all takes a little time to get use to. Even if I have a day when I am caring for kids instead of listening to the service I'm glad I made it there.
Just try not to expect him to be perfect. He may roll under the pew a few times. That's okay. Our church is very accepting of kids and I love it. Our preacher has been known to pick up wondering toddlers while he is preaching.
I am glad to hear you are going, I think it is wonderful.

Usually after church we go out to eat, or go visit friends. We've been going to my sister's house for chicken and NASCAR and Jack plays with the dogs. Do you guys think it would be acceptable to turn this part of our normal routine into a reward for him for behaving?

Sunday is becoming my favorite day of the week, almost makes going back to work on monday bearable!

I think any type of reward is a good one when it works. I have told my girls that when they are good in church I will surprise them with McDonalds sometime during that week. They like McD and they love surprises so it tends to work.