[kayb]

Just a quick poll to find out what your church does for children not old enough for ccd?

We have a once-a-week playschool for 2 hours on a weekday (that i run) for parents n kids up to age 6.

But there's nothing on Sundays during mass. Even tho there's ONE time slot of childcare and there's 4 masses saturday and sunday combined

I'd like to know if all the toddlers are going to mass with you or what?

Our parish seem to be mostly over 60 and one even made a rude comment to a mother that the visiting priest did not like her child "moving around" during mass. the mom was soooo embarrassed !

[kayb]

anyone? anyone?

[DPline]

Not much!

There is no nursery, though there are two cry rooms. I have never cared for those though because there are too many people who take their toddler in there just to let them run around.

At one time (7-8 years ago) there was a playgroup for babies to preschool age children, but it didn't last long.

There is the opportunity for young school age children (ages 4-8 or so) to leave during the readings for their own readings geared to their level, but that is it.

My children are 9, 5, and 4, so we have been (and are still at the tail end of) the toddler 'not able to sit still very long' phase. Luckly we have never had any comments, and we do try very hard to keep them well behaved and sit in a place we can make a fast get away if one of them gets out of control, but there have been times that I swore the priest was going to stop mass and ask what the heck was going on!

I think the advantage is that it is a large parish ( a couple thousand families) so there are all ages at every mass. That said, all the more reason that there should be more child centered programs!

[Lumpkin]

I'm not Catholic, but our church is probably similar to others in that we have a "cry room" where we can take children and still listen to services over a speaker. It is not "manned" by anyone, so it's just you and your child (and anyone else in the same situation!).

However, we have many young families in our church, so it's not uncommon to just stay with your children in the chapel. The closeness of our patrons is such that there is really never any worry about offending anyone with a crying child (as long as you're smart enough to get up and take them out when it turns into uncontrolled wailing). It's not uncommon for toddlers to slip away from mom and dad and visit with others in the general area - people generally handle this well in our church and are very helpful (actually it is surprising to see some of the guys that you would never think would like children to pick up a toddler and keep him busy through church so that the parents can relax).

[kayb]

cry room...that would be the vestabul for us! What's with the lack of programing for kids on sunday...why does ccd have to be wednesdays? if all the kids attended ccd on sundays during mass we wouldnt' need wed...

whats the deal? any inside knowledge to this reasoning - other than traditon?

[lovemy2boys]

I'm not sure what you mean by CCD...do you mean Chatechism? We call ours REP (religious education program)...

My kids don't attend Chatechism because they attend Catholic School, and religion is in their cirriculum...Otherwise, I'm not sure I could "sell" that to my 7 year old - lol.

We also don't have a cry room...The reason for that (and also why REP is during the week and not during mass) is because they want everyone to attend as a family (hence the reason for weekday REP) and they want us to all be together in one room, worshiping the lord, as opposed to separating families with young children.

I guess I can see why they do this, although there have been a few times when I wish I could take my fidgety toddler to an area where I didn't have to be so "concerned" about how his fussiness affected those around us.

[DPline]

My oldest son (age 9) attends CCD on Monday immediately after school. And I know of several other parishes local to us that have it on Monday either after school or later in the evening. So it isn't always Wednesday. My understanding has always been like Lovemy2boys' - that that way families can attend mass together.

[mschaefer]

We have a 3,4, and 5 y.o. CCD program during the 9:30am mass on Sundays during the school year. First grade through high school CCD meet duing the week in order to encourage participation in mass on the weekend. We do not have a "cry room", our vestibule does have speakers if you need to stand outside the doors.

Personally, I think I might have to quote Mattew 19:14 "Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me...'" should someone make a rude comment about a child attending mass -- they're toddlers, their bodies are made to sit still! There are times that it would be nice to focus more on the mass than the children, especially with twin 2 y.o., but it is amazing how much my 5 y.o. has learned and how much he wants to know just by going to mass each week.

We say the Our Father every night before bed with all three children and sing "Amen" and "Allelulia". During those parts of the mass our kids think its such a novelty that everyone knows "their prayer". They also love to shake hands during the sign of peace. Most grumpy parishioners, over look their other antics , after they see them participate on and off during the mass

[MamaS]

We are Episcopal. There is a nursery for children 2 months to 3 years. There is a Childrens Church for children 3 thru 6. Those children are brought to the sanctuary just before Holy Communion and can take communion with their parents. (Our children are baptized at birth and this is acceptable.) There are also various activities - Vacation Bible School, Trunk or Treat, Easter Egg Hunt, the Greening of the Church, Founders Day Picnic, Festival of the Saint Day, etc. with special activities for the children.

[mamamull]

Our parish has a professional (as in paid staff that is screened and other such things) for kids one and walking to PRP age or have problems sitting in Mass but are in a different religious ed program.

Until they are walking - well there is the vesitbule and it pipes the sound out there and the little ones are free to move about some and fuss some and...

Grace happens,
Denise

[jackiesbooks]

CCD in our parish is Youth Formation Classes. Monday nights. Special classes (first communion, etc are Sunday morning before our 1 mass). We have Children's Mass for preschools- they leave right before the homily and come back before communion. They usually do some type of craft based on the reading for the day. I guess I am old school - we sit up front so my son can see everything and he knows he has to be good in church. No toys, etc.

[lovemy2boys]

Originally Posted by jackiesbooks

We have Children's Mass for preschools- they leave right before the homily and come back before communion.

We have this one mass per month - Children's liturgy of the word...but like you, I'm old school - my kids come to mass with us...minus the toys and food. ( I sat there one week and watched a 7 year old eating fruit loops off the floor and drink a juice box. It's an hour people, and he's 7...)

[One_Happy_Momma]

Originally Posted by lovemy2boys

- my kids come to mass with us...minus the toys and food. ( I sat there one week and watched a 7 year old eating fruit loops off the floor and drink a juice box. It's an hour people, and he's 7...)

Glad to hear I'm not the only old school here. ....And what is wrong with some of these parents?. . It is not the park people. Oh, and after Communion, it is not time for you to plan where you're going for lunch! ! (o.k. rant over)

We also have Children's Liturgy of the Word, but I would never send my kids to it; I'm a full time working mom, I'm taking advantage of every minute I can spend with my kids, I'm not gonna share them..... Besides, how will they ever learn to behave?!

We're usually first pew!

[kayb]

Oh, you "old school" girls are killing me! LOL

We (collective preschool parents) will be talking our church next week about a once a month children liturgy.

I really like that idea and then it's something special every couple of weeks.

Thanks!

[TXTennis]

My church takes kids out ages 4-10 for readings and homily and they come back after that. We used to have a cry room which is now part of the room they use to take the kids. My husband is not Catholic and we have a 2 year old who can't sit still long enough to eat, never mind go to church - so right now she stays home with him. I feel bad about that, but I do know that she can be a distraction and don't want to distract others.