1. Sit together as a family. If you have a large family, invite single adults to sit with you. This will emphasize that all believers are in the Lord's family. It will also help singles fulfill their vows to help in the nurture of the covenant children by helping one of your children with the hymns, the Scripture reading, the confession of sin, etc.
2. Impress on your children the fact that they should quiet, themselves, pray to God, and get ready to worship God during the prelude preceding the beginning of the morning worship service. Children need to be reminded that we are in the presence of the Lord, and are to quiet our hearts before Him at the beginning of the service. Make good use of the time of worship preparation beginning at 10 AM. by arriving in a timely manner and teaching your children the songs.
3. Encourage your child to participate with the congregation in standing, praying, reading, singing, etc. When they are young, gently sing the hymns to them. As they are able to read, take them through the hymns and confessions so that they too may participate.
4. Encourage your child to say "Amen" after each of the congregational prayers. Explain that we do this because prayer is a corporate activity and that we, as a body, give our united agreement to what was prayed.
5. Our Lord loves little children and their presence in worship is a joy to Him as it should be to us. While we offer a nursery to any who wish to use it, infants and toddlers are not sequestered there as if their presence is undesirable. Parents make the choice as to where their child will be during worship. Feel free to walk in the back of the sanctuary to keep the little ones happy, as well as those who may become distracted by their wonderful coos and adorable glances.
6. Note in the bulletin when communion or baptism are coming up the following week and explain to your child what these mean prior to the service. Use these times to train your child so that the child will be able to discern and be admitted to the table by the Session. Do not dampen their interest, thinking they are too young, rather make use of every opportunity.
7. You may wish for a younger child to have something to write on and with. Encourage children to use this and not to write on the welcome pads. If the child does draw, direct attention to the sermon, drawing an appropriate picture of what is heard. Discourage the drawing of pictures that have nothing to do with things of God.
8. Have your child share with you after the service the things written or drawn during the worship service. Praise the child's attempts to listen to the sermon and to participate in other parts of the worship service.
