Last Sunday, I had the opportunity to spend time with seven children in the little Bears class at St Etienne’s Sunday school. I wanted to discover what they loved most during Sunday school.

Like all Sunday school teachers, I welcomed the children and thanked them for coming to church. A few minutes later, it was play time. The rushed to play at corner of their choice. While the girls chose dolls to play with, the boys rushed for the cars. 

Playing time was not meant for whole service; of course they had to learn the word for the day. But gathering them to settle for another 10 minutes was another job, altogether.

With patience, I called them, one after another by name. This took me another 15 minutes, I really wanted them to come and sit and learn. My strategy didn’t work out and so I had to change it. I thought of something else that would catch their attention.  

I sat down, and started singing the ‘Baby Jesus’ song. And in less than a minute, they had abandoned what they were doing and joined to sing. I gave them all, dolls to carry that signified Baby Jesus and that is how I started my day’s lesson, with fun and joyful listeners for children.

Ends