Is it acceptable or is it rude to let a child bring a book to church?

[Anonymous]

Hi, we are finally trying to commit to weekly church-going (Episcopal) with our kids (7 and 4)--we haven't gone since our older one was an infant. (I posted a different query earlier about a beginner Bible). We are going to go to a family service, but nonetheless, I wonder if they can tolerate the entire service, which is about an hour or so. Is it considered acceptable to allow quiet reading, coloring, etc., esp. for our seven-year-old? (We might put our four-year-old in church childcare.) If not, what is the solution.? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

I would bring a children's bible or childrens' prayer book. I always had a tough time keeping mine still for that long, and eventually had to go keep them occupied with the other kids at the fountain.

[Anonymous]

What do other families at the family service do? We used to sit behind a family of 3 at mass and I was always surprised to see how much stuff they brought for their girls...full blown art box...the girls would sit and color barbies the entire time during the mass. I thought it was a little weird.

What happened to the days when parents just took their kids to church and kids behaved? Am I weird? My mom never gave me a coloring book during Mass, we didn't have kids church and I behaved.

[Anonymous]

I behaved but it was torture! I didn't listen to a word and just daydreamed inside my head or played thumb war silently with my brother.

[Anonymous]

I sat through temple services -- in Hebrew -- without the aid of dolls, toys, or books and gradually learned what was going on. Your child needs to learn respect for his or her religion and needs to learn about the religion. Otherwise, why I you bringing your children to a place of worship? So they can learn to play?

[khawthorne]

I think a 7 year old is probably old enough to sit quietly, however I don't see a problem with bringing a book if it's a bible story sort of book. I enjoyed reading those as a child, I did not enjoy sitting through the service. Do they not have Sunday school for him?

[Anonymous]

I don't have a problem with a child sitting quietly with a book. We actually stay out of the "cry room" at our church b/c a) kids bring noisy toys which is ridiculous and b) your kids never actually learn how to be quiet in that environment. So, as a compromise, I let them bring a book to look at quietly and actually pack a ziplock of those fruit snacks and dole them out through the hour.

[Anonymous]

Every Episcopal church I have attended had a "kids church" or "church school" as well as a room for babies. The procedure was for parents to drop their children off at the designated room prior to the service and then shortly before celebrating the eucharist there was a procession into the chapel for kids to join their families and receive communion.

[Anonymous]

It is 100% totally acceptable to bring a book to church! Kids get squirmy, and most folks understand that. If you're going to a new church and aren't sure how open the congregation there is to kids, just sit in the last pew so you won't get the stink eye from anyone.

But my Episcopal church is so wonderful about kids and even when my baby is crying/whiny, people just smile and are very understanding.

[Anonymous]

I think that God only cares that you have made the effort to go, and that you are working to give your kids the gift of faith. Congrats to you, and thx for motivating me...I've been a total slacker, and because of your post, I'm going tomorrow...with books and a small baggie of cheerios...

[Anonymous]

Why don't you just get a baby sitter and let the kids decide on their own if they want to let god into their lives?

[Anonymous]

Bring the books. God will understand. Seems better to have the kids quietly engaged in something than being silently tortured by boredom or antsy-ness.

[Anonymous]

If there were a god I think he'd understand. But since there isn't one, it really doesn't matter if they bring books or not.

[Anonymous]

I'm Episcopalian, and they hand out crayons and children's programs/coloring pages when we walk in! I also bring a quiet snack, which entertains her and lets me hear the sermon. There's also a nursery and a church school if your kids prefer that (my 3yo HATES the nursery, so she stays with me).

Especially if it's a specifically family-oriented service, no one will mind a bit if your kids have a book or whatever. (I've been to the family service at St. Columba's and most of the kids there were engaged in the service, so you may find you don't need a book if that's the case.)

Have fun!

[Anonymous]

Since my own father brought a magazine to read during mass, I would not bat an eyelash at a child with a book.