Large church attendees question...

[CEDmom]

Why can't the children go to church with their parents??? Or is that a whole 'nother thread?

We go to a small church but DD goes to Sunday school for about 1/2 the service and then comes into church with all the other kids right before communion.

I imagine these large churches do something similar and kids could get misplaced. It reminds me of the stamping they do at Chuck E Cheese or other large venues.

 

[oxfordcircus]

I don't know but I think if I were a visitor, I'd really be put off by it, barcoding the kids like that. Have any of you used this system? Is this being used in bigger churches? How would you feel about it?

I once visited a largish church in Atlanta where they used this system. It actually made me feel better because the nursery workers didn't know me or my child, so it was a more objective way to link parent to child. I would think in a church with lots of visitors or even lots of members, it might make an easy target for a predator.

 

[oxfordcircus]

Why can't the children go to church with their parents??? Or is that a whole 'nother thread?

I leave my 2 year old in the nursery so that 1) I can participate in the service and listen to the sermon and 2) the rest of the congregation can participate in the service and listen to the sermon.

 

[Mickey02]

Why can't the children go to church with their parents??? Or is that a whole 'nother thread?

Kids normally get pretty bored in a service, parents usually spend their time trying to keep their child entertain and not able to enjoy the service. Childrens church offers activites for kids to learn, play and have fun.

 

[crzy4pooh]

Why can't the children go to church with their parents??? Or is that a whole 'nother thread?

I agree with the other responses to this. Plus, we have age-appropriate Sunday School in addition to the church services. They need to be in a class with their age group with material that is designed for their level.

 

[powellrj]

several years ago we had a non custodial parent come into our church and try to take a child. Luckily we had several police officers attending services so it was taken care of instantly. Anymore you can't be too careful.

 

[Nicolepa]

I wouldn't go to a church, no matter how big or small, that didn't have some sort of system. Either a computerized system or a card etc. It acutally surprises me how many churches don't have any sort of system, or process for the kids. When we were looking for a new church this became a huge issue. For awhile we would just put them in and worry the entire service, then we decided that if they didn't have some way to match us up, then we were going to turn around and leave.

I feel this is especially important with infants and toddlers who are not able to clearly communicate for themselves.