ALMOST every church has one — sometimes coyly labelled “Children’s Corner”, sometimes counting on the diminutive furniture and vivid picture books to point the aim of the space. The area is frequently tucked away, out of the road of sight of the worship leader and many of the congregation as well. It is where noisy children are hurried off, either by anxious parents feeling the effect of 1 too many critical pairs of eyes upon them, or on the whispered invitation of a sidesperson trying to not disturb the flow of events.
Too often, these spaces put aside for youngsters are fairly dismal affairs: an elderly rug, tiny chairs and table, set around with weary toys and barely foxed board books with the occasional flap missing.
How do these areas speak to the users concerning the love and care of God? In what way is the worth placed on every member of a church community reflected within the furnishing of this area — and the way does it compare with the chancel’s pressed linen, fresh flowers, and gleaming brass? If we’re desperate to invite and include young families into our church communities, should we not be demonstrating this welcome materially in addition to verbally?
PexelsPexels
It has been argued that your complete church constructing is for everybody; that there is no such thing as a necessity for a special place, put aside for the more unruly members of the community, as the entire people of God ought to be involved in whatever worship is occurring. This view is idealistic to the purpose of being unrealistic: there’ll at all times be services that don’t lend themselves to whole-church inclusion. Funerals are a main example, when it is likely to be vital for members of the family to attend, but appropriate childcare is just not available.
In addition, now could be probably the time to rethink the potential users of spaces which might be distanced from the important motion of the church event. Not only restless toddlers and breastfeeding moms, but additionally those members of the community who might experience sensory overload during a service, should feel comfortable in retiring to a “calm zone” to regroup, or rest, or just worship in a way that is useful to them.
These retreat spaces ought to be furnished appropriately, with the most effective that the church community can afford. Safety should naturally be a primary consideration, but not only the physical kind — corresponding to ensuring child-proof fixtures and fittings — but emotional safety as well, perhaps including an open-sided “tented” structure for individuals who find the big spaces of church threatening.
Other furnishings might include: sufficient storage to enable a transparent, welcoming space; comfortable seating for adults in addition to children; a spread of written material for all reading and comprehension abilities; objects that encourage exploration and reflection, but are also relevant to the important motion of the worshipping community.
Although these are “breakout” spaces, they also needs to offer the chance to hope and reflect –— an interactive prayer station or prayer space throughout the greater area, with written prayer material for individuals who can access it. Additional seasonal resources, and easy crafts and activities that relate to the service theme or Bible reference are ideal, but may stretch the ingenuity of volunteers an excessive amount of: higher to maintain it easy than offer a quiz on the Prodigal Son on the Christmas Eve service.
We must remember, too, that in case your church is open through the day, the retreat space could be a useful resource for visitors and tourists. “Churches are great spaces,” one young father said to me recently. “If we’re on the town and the weather is just not too good, or we want an outing that doesn’t cost anything, or if we’re getting ready to a meltdown, we at all times go within the church. There’s loads of room to run around, there is frequently a children’s corner with toys and a little bit of colouring and, if anyone is around, they’re at all times really pleased to see a young family. We might even get some squash and biscuits.”
Another reason (as in case you needed one) for keeping churches open through the day, then. Although this particular young man would never consider going to a church service, he’s teaching his children that church is a secure space, welcoming if not warm. And, who knows? Maybe children’s Bible stories will ring a bell. Maybe the friendly people sharing the space will invite him to an appropriate event: the potential is there, as these people have crossed the edge.
The Revd Dr Sally Welch is Vicar of the Kington Group within the diocese of Hereford.
Resources
There are many useful resources on the internet, with ideas from construction corporations in addition to lower-key helpful hints from children’s ministry web sites. A whole lot of these are aimed toward larger, urban churches; the diocesan web sites is likely to be more useful in case your church is small with few children.
Exeter diocese has a useful set of inquiries to work through with the PCC when attempting to extract funding. After all, what does doing things on the low-cost say about how we value children? exeter.anglican.org>children’s-corners DOC
Gloucester diocese has an article on creating spaces for youngsters, and families. gloucester.anglican.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Creating-spaces-for-Children-and-Families.pdf
St Albans diocese offers some thoughtful reflections. stalbanscme.com/2016/02/17/pray-and-play
