→ Create a routine

Sunday morning can easily become the most stressful morning of the week. It can be a race to get the family dressed, fed, ready, and in the car in order to get to worship on time.

It is "easier" to get yourself together during the week that it is on Sunday because there is routine there. You have a rhythm to your schedule. Do you allow that to happen on Sunday, or is every Sunday different? Do you just rush through toward the finish line? Is there some sort of routine you can establish as a family to make Sunday a bit more structured?

Find the rhythm to Sunday. Think about the morning before you go to bed. Set an alarm on the weekend! Wake up early. Enjoy God in the small things as you prepare yourself for worship. Then establish routines with your children. Let them be a part of getting prepared for corporate worship. Give them a chance to think on things before they walk in the door and are expected to sit still for a couple of hours.

→ Bathroom Breaks

It can be hard to leave the service without distracting the rest of the room. So why not take bathroom breaks BEFORE? There are surely times where a bathroom break is necessary. Plan ahead and help your children limit those by showing them a practical way to prepare for their time for worship.

→ Where is the "off" switch?

When you walk into the service, you have likely prepared your mind and body for the moments ahead. You have set aside your schedules, to-do lists, and chores so that you can worship. Our children don't have that "off" switch; we have to help them. We have to be aware that they need to set aside things also. Help your child find their "off" switch.

→ Worship on the way!

Make it a habit on the way to worship to crank up the music and worship on the way! Stop and pray in the parking lot! Tell your children what to expect when they come in the door and let them get excited about worshipping with our church body.