Bringing Younger Children To Church
As a parent, coming to church can sometimes be quite a challenge! It can be difficult to keep your children entertained, and to know what to expect for them. At HCC we really want you and your children to feel comfortable in our services, so here’s some info to help make things clearer.
In the service or out?
Children are a valued part of the whole church and it’s great to have them here. Your children will usually be with you for at least part of the main service (usually the first 30 minutes). Most Sundays from about 11am we run age-specific breakout groups where the children learn about God, grow in their faith, make friends and have fun with one another. Someone will tell you from the front when to take your children out. Mini Kidz is our group for one to four year olds, whilst Powerhouse Kidz caters for the Reception to Year 6 aged children.
What can they do during the service?
When children are in church, it’s about more than keeping them occupied – it’s about giving them an experience of God and worship and being part of everything. As they get older they will be able to participate more, but it’s great if they enjoy the environment right from the earliest of ages. Please feel free to help them join in by singing, dancing, jumping, praying or just playing if they want to.
To help us make church a great experience for your children, here are some guidelines to follow:
• Please DO keep an eye on them – even older children! Apart from when they are signed into groups, children are the responsibility of their parent/carer, so always make sure you know where they are and that they are safe. They shouldn’t be left to play upstairs or in the foyer without supervision, so please don’t let them go up to their groups early.
• Please DO prevent them from running around the room during and after the service, out of consideration for all those in the service and for their safety.
• Please DO encourage them to be involved with what’s going on with the service wherever it’s possible and try to keep them reasonably quiet during more contemplative times of worship, for instance, when people are praying.
• Please DON’T worry if in spite of all your efforts your children are noisy! It’s good to have them around, whatever noise they are making, and we would never expect children to be silent in church. If your child is crying, having a tantrum or making a lot of noise then feel free to bring them to the back of the church where there’s a bit more space to pacify them. Please don’t be embarrassed to ask for help if you need it – many of us have been there and will sympathise with you!
• Please DO ask us if you need someone to watch your children – for instance if you are on your own with them and want to have prayer, or to respond to something at the end of the service. Just ask any leader or member of the prayer team and they will be happy to look after your children so you can concentrate on your own needs.
Some practical thoughts and tips for younger children...
Keeping them occupied...
Although our worship times are usually only around 30 minutes, this can seem like forever to a young child! You might want to bring something to keep them occupied. We suggest a few small, quiet toys – do avoid balls or toys that move on their own (we have had toddlers crawling under the rows of chairs to retrieve them), loud toys and anything too large or with lots of small pieces (which can get lost, swallowed, sucked up by our vacuum cleaners etc!). Crayons/colouring books etc are ideal for older children.
Rumbling tummies...
Children often get hungry during the services so if you want to bring snacks, we suggest small quantities of food that won’t melt or get smeared onto your clothes, the chairs, other people etc (avoid chocolate for that reason!). Raisins, mini packets of biscuits etc are perfect – and you may want to put them in small containers rather than noisy packets. For more substantial appetites chopped up fruit and sandwiches also work well. Drinks should be in spill proof cups and please do keep an eye on where your child leaves them to avoid them being knocked over/trodden on! Usually your child will be offered a drink and snack in their group, so if they do have any specific dietary requirements etc make sure you tell one of their leaders.
Space...
As our church grows, space here becomes more of an issue. Because of this we do need to ask that unless they are used (for example with small babies needing a place to sleep during the service) pushchairs are not brought into the main sanctuary. If you bring your child to church in a pushchair please can you fold it up if possible and leave it in the designated area at the back left of church. We have a few bouncy chairs etc, so if your baby needs something like this please ask.
Feeding...
We know that small children and babies generally don’t fit into our adult routines and may need to be fed during the service, so if you need any assistance (e.g. warming bottles/food etc.) please ask. There’s plenty of space at the back in the foyer during services and you’ll no doubt find other parents feeding babies there as well. If you have a young baby and are breastfeeding we want to support you in this; please feel free to feed wherever you are comfortable. Do be discreet – and if your child is likely to make a lot of noise you may want to move into the foyer. We can also provide a private space if you wish to feed there, please ask a leader if you need this.
If you have any comments, requests or queries about bringing your children to church, please contact Sharon Beck, Children's Director: email or phone 01462 442238.