Dear Bro. Don and Sis. Ellen,
Greetings in the hope ofIsrael.
Just a note from a faithful reader of the “Tidings.” Enclosed are a few notes taken from our Sunday school children. It all started when I asked two of our noisy boys if they would like to try writing down the scripture quotes used by the exhorting brother. A small gift would be waiting if they did it.
Two weeks later, all the children were in the act — even the first graders, some of whom can hardly write at all. To make it easier for them, they can copy from an adult or the older children.
The gifts are anything the other moms and I put in “the Box.” They are not big items, for the cost limit is 25 cents.
Even the two pre-schoolers get to choose from the box if they are good that day in meeting. Occasionally, there is a little surprise like, “Brandy, you get two choices because your books and toys are so neat at your feet,” or, “Jonathan, you get something extra because your paper is very good.”
Just now I am working on two of the children who make too many trips to the restroom, especially during breaking-of-bread time.
The whole idea has worked so well that I thought it was worth consideration by others. Of course, there is a problem now and then, but that is true of everything and we can’t let little problems stop us from doing something useful.
In Christ, Sis. Patty Fulk
On the following page are photocopies of the samples sent by Sis. Patty.
We have noted a clear, positive correlation between bringing children to meetings from the earliest years to their eventually coming into the truth. The big problem is keeping them quiet enough so that the worship of others is not disturbed. Sis. Patty has suggested one way of doing so and we thank her for sending in this idea. We hope others will pick up on it. A variation on her suggestion is to have the older children write beside the verse the point made from it in relation to the general topic (this also gives speakers an incentive to be clear and organized in their talks).
Another idea is to have the older children write down the key words related to a topic and keep track of how many times the speaker uses those words. For example, key words for a talk on the state of the dead might be, “soul,” “grave,” “sleep” and “unconscious.”
One thing we used to do for younger children was to bring along books and toys that were special only for meeting time.
With effort and ingenuity, meeting can be a happy place for children, where they get together with their extended family and have opportunity to play with those with whom we want them to form lasting friendships as opposed to worldly associates.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One