How to Attend Mass With a 6-Year-Old

It is always a challenge to go anywhere with a child 6 and under, but church can be an even tougher challenge. Here are some ideas to keep things calm during the special rituals of Catholic or Episcopal Mass, even with a very expressive and active young child.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Sticker books
• Coloring book and crayons
• Small stuffed animal
• Patience
• Discipline
• A willingness to instruct and explain

1. Provide small distractions. Probably the oldest trick in the book is to allow the child to work on sticker books or coloring books, or to play with a small stuffed animal or toy. However, the potential problem here is noisy play. Pencil drawing may work for a while, if the child is into drawing.
2. Discourage the running. While your child would love to run up and down the aisles, stopping to touch the stained glass, he needs to stay in his seat. Is there a playground on the church grounds or nearby? Allow some active time before and/or after Mass for the child to get his energy out. Teach the child to walk down the aisle with you.
3. Tone down the loud remarks and laughter. While comments can be cute, during the sermon or Communion is not the time. Siblings may need to be positioned away from each other, on the far side of parents.
4. Involve the child in what is happening as much as possible. She may not be able to read, but she can do her best to sing, and she can be taught to recite the Lord's Prayer with the rest of the congregation if you practice with her at home. Try to connect the content to her, if only by pointing out the colors of the priest's robes or new decorations or flowers at the altar. Help her to notice the choir, organ, guitar or handbells...or any children participating. Teach the sign of the cross.
5. After Mass, discuss the main idea of the sermon, simplifying it for her level. If there is a Sunday School option, go for it.

Tips & Warnings

• Escort the child to the bathroom during the service if necessary. This may also help calm him down for the rest of the Mass.
• Remove the child from the Mass with a consequence if behavior spirals out of control.
• You may wish to suggest to your parish or church that they include a children's sermon, if this is not already happening. Any element that is family-friendly or child-friendly will help.
• Attend the "family" Mass. Everyone will be much more tolerant.
• At the end, it's great discipline for a child to learn to sit quietly for 1 hour.
• For Episcopal Mass, review the etiquette of receiving Communion: no chewing the wafer, saying "amen" instead of "thank you" and making the sign of the cross.