Sorry not to have posted these results before. Somehow it’s harder to find time to do things in the holidays… Anyway, here they are:
| Technique | Votes | Percentage |
| Colouring/quizzes | 23 | 21% |
| Books | 21 | 19% |
| Other (see below) | 15 | 14% |
| Extensive pre-service briefing on loving ones neighbour by not distracting them | 13 | 12% |
| Breadsticks or other healthy snack | 12 | 11% |
| Threats | 8 | 7% |
| Cuddly toys | 8 | 7% |
| Sweeties or similar | 7 | 6% |
| My kids always sit nicely, I don’t know what you’re talking about | 1 | 1% |
Other Answers (all 1 vote each)
Participation
- taking time to answer all questions about what’s going on and being said
- Get them to play in the music group!
- OH actually tries to get him to follow the lesson and sing the hymns!
- cuddles, sitting on knee and talking about what is going on
- Participation in the worship
- Quietly talking them through what’s happening.
Training
- Teaching and training parents in how to develop their kids’ attention level
Extreme
- Gags
- taser
Distraction/other
- wandering round with them so they can focus on something ‘more interesting’;
- Not always possible but don’t take them until they want to
- “What’s Daddy doing now?”
- Have child-focused services and a creative vicar
- Just letting them be
- i dont have kids!
So the recommended techniques seem to be a combination of activities (including participating in the service), food and working on expectations (both children’s, parents’ and congregation’s – the latter was mentioned more in the comments).
It’s a tricky area for us all I suspect and I guess we need to encourage one another to persevere. We want those kids to be real church family members now as they will be the core church family of the future, God willing.
This subject is ripe for future polls, so watch out for more once the summer hols are over and my thinking head is less distracted by screaming kids beating each other up. We like to set a good model of Christian family life here in the Vicarage.
The Vicar's Wife 