Children in Sunday School...

United States
April 22, 2007 8:41pm CST
Ok, so I just started sending my two kids to Sunday School at a new church. They are 5 and 3 and really haven't gone to Sunday school but a few times in their lives only because of my laziness. Well, this was their 2nd week that I sent them. They loved last week and learned how to say CHRISTIAN in sign language...they made a paper hat that said "i am a christian" and learned a new song. :) Today I sent them and when I went to pick them up, my 5 yr old son told me that all they did was have free play all morning. Granted, it is only a 55 minute thing, but I figure if we take the time to send our kids to Sunday School, they should be taught something about God. Am I wrong??? What do your kids at this age do in Sunday School? Am I expecting too much??
5 people like this
11 responses
@Rozie37 (15499)
• Turkmenistan
23 Apr 07
I think maybe you should talk to the teachers and see what happened that the children were given a free day. I remember getting quite a few freedays in school. Especially, when it was raining. You can still learn when playing games and interacting with the other children. You also don't want to be to rigid with the little ones or else they wont want to go and then you will have to take them into the main service with you, which will really be no fun for them. I know that the church nuseries should do more than babysit, but I think as long as the kids are not being abused or just sitting there doing nothing, them a free day is not such a bad idea.
@loved1 (5328)
• United States
23 Apr 07
I used to teach the 3-5 year old group at my old church. I truly feel that children that age are not always able to sit and listen to a lesson. If I did nothing else but let them know that they are special to God, important because they are unique, and that they are loved, then I did my job. I would rather have the kids just play once in a while and have a good time at church than make them do a lesson(when they don't feel like it)and leave thinking church is a drag. Sometimes when children don't go to church on a regular basis, it is an uncomfortable and unfamiliar feeling. At that age you want them to feel welcome and have a good time. Then they will want to come back when they are 6 or 7 or 12 or 20 years old and learn more about God. Another thing is, maybe your church has issues with Sunday School teachers. When I taught, there was nobody to take my place if I was sick. They would just have someone else come in and play with the kids while they listened to Bible songs or watched a Veggie Tales cartoon. I go to a different church now and work with the 2-4 year olds. We mostly play and maybe read a very short bible story but the point is, they have fun. They want to come back next week! Some of those kids are foster children or are from broken homes. They might go a whole week without a hug until grandma brings them to church! I guess I feel like you can teach about the love of Christ without a lesson plan. If I can hold a dirty, scrawny 3 year old on my lap and tell her that she is special and we love her as she is, then I AM teaching her about Jesus. I am just not using a script. =)
1 person likes this
@loved1 (5328)
• United States
23 Apr 07
By the way, hats off to you for sending your kids to Sunday school! I know it is a pain to get them dressed and out the door on Sunday morning. I forgot to say that in my post.
1 person likes this
• United States
23 Apr 07
You are right...I am sure they learned something...maybe just that God loved them or anything like that. :) I do know that it was just my 2 and one or two more kids so maybe she just played some music and let them play a little bit. I won't stop sending them, though. It's important they go. You are right...it's a pain sometimes getting up and getting them to church, but it's worth it. They have tons of fun.
@lvhughes (545)
• United States
23 Apr 07
you are right. the teacher should have atleast taught them a bible verse or something. i am a sunday school teacher at a small teach. i have anywhere from 2 to 4 students each sunday. most of the time it is just 2 which also happen to be my sons. i always teach them a bible verse, read them the lesson for that day, we sing, and pray. i keep games, toys, puzzles and books the are all christian related. Sunday school shouldnt have free play. you are sending your child there to learn about God and the Bible. they could atleast taught them why and how to Pray. they are only there on Sunday so that leaves no time to waist. And by the way Good for you for getting them to Sunday school. God Bless.
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
23 Apr 07
There could be a logical explaniation. Maybe the teacher was not there and nobody else was prepared to teach. Dont give up on church. Attending Church services can give us the strength to deal with the trials of everday life. Even at 5 and 3, in today's society, they have stress. A normal sunday school class for kids should include a lesson on Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ but it must be taught from a person who has the Spirit with them and are prepared to teach or the kids will not learn. Be patient and I am sure that there is probably a good explanation for the play time today. Just being in the church with all the pictures of Christ there is comforting and they will learn something just from the pictures.
• United States
23 Apr 07
That is true...thanks. I know the teacher...she is the mom to one of my son's friends. She's really nice and is in church every time the doors are open. She was there because I saw her. Her son wasn't, though and I do know that it was just my 2 and one more so maybe that's why she chose not to do anything. It just really bothered me. I won't give up on church at all for them. I want them to go and they love it. But, it just kind of aggravated me. I'm not mad at all...just a bit aggravated. Oh well...I am sure it will be fine. Just when I went to sunday school as a kid, we just had a teacher who was HORRIBLE and I don't want that for my kids. I didn't learn anything from going and this is over a period of years...our church was a very small one and really was NOT geared toward kids. This church is wonderful (the one I am sending the kids to), but it just scared me a bit when the 2nd time they are there, there is just free time. LOL But, you are right...even with just the music and the pics, it is an uplifting and great experience for them. Thank you
• United States
23 Apr 07
Your toally right. I think free time is great but they should learn something too. Talk to the teacher and just ask what they did for the day. Maybe his class had a fillin and they didnt know what to do.
• United States
23 Apr 07
My grandchildren go to Sunday school every Sunday. Well thier dad is a pator lol But they are giving them lessons about what jesus has done for them. Weather they play all morning or not the teachers all include something about God.
1 person likes this
@missybal (4490)
• United States
23 Apr 07
I don't have any children however I went to sunday school a lot as a kid and I helped the teaches at sunday school with the kids when I got older. I can't believe they just did that. I've never seen them not teach something or at least put together a craft that has something to do with church. I don't believe that you are expecting too much. That is what Sunday school is all about is learning. Why else would they call it school. At that age I can see that they could be a bit of a handful but it is only once a week, it's not like it's every day of the week and they are running out of ideas.
1 person likes this
@drmt57 (295)
• United States
23 Apr 07
First of all I am a sunday school teacher. I teach 6 and 7 year old children. my class is only 45 minutes prior to this class I taugh 3-5 year old. I don't think you are expecting too much, the purpose of sunday school is to teach and learn how to be a christian and live a christian life. Kids tend to learn better through songs, activities, games etc what your 5 year old called free play was probably some type of bible base game or activity. Ask the sunday school teacher what she/he taugh that sunday. My kids learn about God through lecture, games activities, tape,cd,video,movies. Sunday is only one day out of the week most churches 45 minutes. Children should be taugh at home also.I think the sunday school teacher should be commended, because there seem to be a shortage in sunday school teacher in the churches. God bless you
@Hgateway (204)
• United States
23 Apr 07
First, you need to find out the program your church provide for your kids. Not all Sunday school are doing the same. Some more bible story, some only coloring or some even more like a daycare. At my church, we have programs run for different age group and material provided to teachers. In my 2yrs old class, I already introduce kids bible songs. Of course, we only have about 3 songs, repeated for a month, then move on to new songs. During bible songs time, we also have motions along the songs we sings which not all kids will participate all time; some rather sing, some only the motion, and this all depends on their mood that day. Then, we move on to bible story whilch contain a topic with simple passage/verse to remember. The bible story time only last about 10-15 times, then move on to coloring which related to the bible story they learn. After coloring, it's the snack time then free play. I encourage you check out kids program from churches nearby you.
@deesamps (653)
• United States
23 Apr 07
They do a coloring page or play until everyone is there. Then they do a little lesson with them and a craft project to go along with the lesson and also a snack time.
@qoo_rie (428)
• Indonesia
23 Apr 07
well as a sunday school teacher, i teach at 2 different sunday school, n the first is the public sunday school .... we as a teacher never gonna let the children do nothing, we prepare some activities, we have some schedule n we have the material sent so we never let the children play free. but in my other sunday school, it's just for the several area around neighbourhood. because we lack of teacher... sometimes there are free time for playing when the teacher can't come. but not often very very rare. our teacher here has a commitment.. so according to my opinion, u have to analyze about 1 month, 4 times meet... is 'the free play' part of the sunday school activities or it's because there's no material so they not prepare... bcos... that CHRISTIAN sign language n the paper things sound very good to me :) and it's okay if u expecting too much, u want the best to your son. :)
1 person likes this