by Victor Chen

This is the fourth part to the previous blog post, “What Are My Children Supposed to Do During Sunday Service?”

Thanks to help of our communications, admin and children’s ministry staff, we have designed various helping aids for your child to listen and stay engaged with Sunday service. These materials are designed specifically for Pre-K through 6th grade. I wanted to take the time to go through and explain each.

Pre-K/Kinder

The final two pages of each week’s children’s bulletin are designed with this particular age group in mind. Your children are able to engage with the message with a drawing or coloring activity. The final page will highlight the sermon series logo.

I would encourage parents to direct their child’s attention to the “keyword” and the hand motion attributed to it. There is also a maze in the children’s bulletin your child can do that leads you to the “keyword”.

1st/2nd Grade

The entire children’s bulletin is designed with this age group in mind. Children are able to track with the order of service, note the preacher and the passage being preached. In addition to the “keyword” maze mentioned previously, there is the preaching passage (in the translation being preached) so the children can follow along and an activity to search for specific words that appear multiple times. Your child should be able to work through the entire children’s bulletin for the duration of the message.

3rd/4th Grade

This age group should be able to listen and track along with the sermon. We have designed generic sermon notes to help your child track with the flow of the sermon and write down the key points. Consider this like a training aid to help your child listen and takes notes during a sermon.

5th/6th Grade

This age group should be able to listen and take notes without the aid of the generic sermon notes. However, your child may still find it helpful to use the generic sermon notes. I would encourage you to provide a journal or notebook for your child to take notes during Sunday service. 

What about my child younger than Pre-K?

I would encourage parents to have their child pay particular attention to the keyword and the hand motion associated with it. Ask your child to track how many times the keyword is mentioned. You can open up a children’s bible and see if there are any pictures associated with the passage being preached. Your child may enjoy doing particular portions of the children’s bulletin as well.

 What about my child older than 6th grade?

The goal from 3rd grade on is to have your child listen and take notes during the sermon. Feel free to make use of the generic sermon notes and try to provide a journal or notebook for your child to take notes in.

The Final Helping Aid

The final helping aid I want to share is you. Do not underestimate the influence you have on your child. If your child sees you actively engaged and listening to the sermon, that will be a tremendous example for your child. Take notes during the message and compare notes with your child afterward. Make Sunday night Family Worship a time to review the sermon and the sermon notes. 

Even with all of these materials we’ve provided, the greatest thing that can help your child listen during a Sunday service is you.