Empowering Parents Prepared by Teachable Heart Ministries Empowering

Empowering Parents Prepared by Teachable Heart Ministries

Empowering Parents • the primary building block for a child’s education begins in the home • a child’s first teachers are his or her parents • where better to explore the beginnings of a child’s faith development than within the family? • Do busy parents actually have time to nurture and train their children up in the Lord? More importantly, do they know how? • Consider ways the church can respond by addressing the needs and issues surrounding the family unit

a few ideas for supporting parents…. • Encourage teachers to pray for both child and parent. • Encourage parents to be consistent in bringing their children to Sunday school. • Cultivate parent/teacher apprenticeships. • Provide take-home materials that reinforce the lesson. • Invite parents to learn weekly Bible verses with their children. • Suggest ways parents may connect the Bible lesson during the week.

• Invite parents and grandparents to Sunday school several times during the year for family faithbuilding activities. • Ask parents to help in the classroom or prepare snacks or materials at home. • Seat families with children in the front of the sanctuary so children can see, hear and participate. • Compose and duplicate worship activity bulletins especially for children. • Create “pew packs” for children that include crayons, paper and theme-related coloring pages.

• Plan worship that stimulates the senses: sight, smell, touch, sound and taste. • Develop a “Church Visit” and “Visit with the Pastor” programs. • Teach worship as a way of life rather than a specific time on a specific day. • Include children and parents as participants in dramas during the service. • Assemble worship “travel packs” during holidays so families who travel are able to worship “on the go” on the plane or in the car.

offer training for parents • Sunday School classes with lessons on how to spiritually train your children • Seminars, short evening presentations addressing current issues • Intergenerational Classes • Family Worship Services once a month in “Big Church”