In Rufus and Ryan Go to Church!, four-year-old Ryan explains to his stuffed monkey, Rufus, what is happening as they attend church on a Sunday morning. He lets Rufus know when it's time to sing and to pray and to be quiet. Author Kathleen Bostrom presents this experience in a light way, even showing a moment where Ryan is being too light and his mother, with a smile on her face, encourages him to be quiet. Children everywhere will relate to the idea of explaining their surroundings to their favorite companions as they go about their daily activities.
This book offers a great way to talk about church, what your child might see in a church service, and what worship can look like. It might be one way in your church, but a different way in the church Rufus and Ryan go to. When my daughter saw the book, she immediately picked it up and started reading. My son was able to listen attentively as the pictures were appealing and story line was short, but engaging. They can also relate to having a "pet" in the form of a stuffed animal.
Here are some suggested ways that you can introduce your child to worship:
1. Attend a child-friendly church.
2. Bring your child to church on a day other than Sunday morning. Many churches offer services on Wednesdays or Sunday nights.
3. Take home a worship bulletin and go through the service at home. Show your child that there are times to sit, stand, sing, pray, and listen. You can prepare offering envelopes and explain why the offering is important.
4. Play "Let's go to church" at home.
5. Read the Bible and pray at home. There are many age-appropriate Bibles available. You could read a Bible story, let your child handle the Bible, and encourage questions.
6. Sit near an aisle or in a place where you can make an exit if needed.
7. Be prepared with a worship notebook or bag. Bring supplies to keep your child engaged throughout the service. Colored pencils, paper for doodling, or coloring pages from a Bible coloring book. This will help your child listen more attentively. You could have your child draw a picture of the songs they hear during worship or things from the sermon.
8. Teach basic church etiquette. Speak to people before and after worship, and teach your child how to shake hands and greet others. If your child is shy, don't force it, but practice at home and let your child see you greeting others.
9. Get to know the pastor. Introduce your child to the pastor after worship, and participate in church activities so that the pastor becomes a friend.
10. Don't give up! It may take awhile for your child to become comfortable in worship, and to learn how to sit quietly. The best way for this to happen is to attend worship on a regular basis.
I am excited to let you know that I am giving away a FREE COPY of Rufus and Ryan Go to Church!. If you would comment on this blog post and let me know why you would like this book, your name will be put in the drawing. We'll draw a winner on next Friday! I may be doing some other blog posts in the mean time, but don't let it stop you from commenting through the week. Thanks so much!!
*"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."*
God bless~
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