Sitting Still
Oh the irony… that sitting through church with my children is one of the few times I want to break the 6th Commandment (”Thou Shalt Not Kill”). Maybe it’s because my girls are more active than most almost-2-year-olds, or maybe it’s just because there are 2 of them, but either way, sitting quietly for an hour seems to be torture for everyone involved. So, for those who might have the same problem, here are some ideas.
Disclaimer: You will have best results if you have double of everything- sharing is a good thing to learn, but church might not be the most productive place to start teaching them. Give them the least amount of reasons to fight.
Quiet books. When I was a kid, we had a “quiet book” with felt pages. Every page had something to do on it; tying a shoelace on a shoe, un-snapping apples off a tree, matching up velcro shapes, zipping up a jacket, etc. I recently found a “Make your own quiet book” book, but it doesn’t come close to the one I had as a kid.
Coloring books. When they’re old enough, bring coloring books, paper, and crayons. Have them draw a picture of who is speaking, or any “church” related things they see.
Bring snacks. Of course, bring the least messy snacks as possible. Cheerios, fruit snacks, chex mix, and sippy cups with WATER are good.
Pick the best seat. We have slowly figured out that where we sit usually determines how quiet our girls are. For example, when we get there late, and sit in the folding chairs at the very back, they don’t want to sit at all- they would rather run around the open space in back. But, if we find a seat closer up, near another family with kids or a baby, they have something/someone to keep their attention. (Now we just have to figure out how to get there on time).
“Barricade” the kids. Try to sit with 1 parent at each end, and all kids in between. That should help keep them from getting too far. If you are a single parent, sit between the kids, but try to find another adult (or a couple without kids) to sit near you.
Practice at home. Most children can’t learn to do something when it’s only being practiced 1 hour, 1 day a week. So, try and schedule quiet times during the week. Read books, play with “quiet” toys, sit still with them on the couch. Teach them why it’s important to be quiet. Slowly they will learn.
If you have any other great ideas, we would all love to hear them!