Getting ready for Sunday School

Sunday School is both a spiritual growth opportunity and a fellowship opportunity. But let’s be honest, there are many barriers that make attending Sunday School challenging. This is especially true if you have an entourage (kids) to get ready. To help you, here are some tips:

• Prepare ahead – go ahead and prepare their clothes a day or two ahead so you won’t have to scramble on Sunday mornings.
• Clear the path – go ahead and set the expectations by informing them of what will happen on Sunday mornings. “We are going to Sunday School. So let’s get your bath. Your clothes are ready. We will get up at ______ o’clock. And we will have ____ for breakfast before we leave.
• Put them to work – go ahead and give the entourage (kids) part of the work to lighten the load. If they’re old enough to have responsibilities, giving them an assignment will create buy in and they’ll be more willing to help. For example, when our daughter, Faith was little, we made her the “Snack Ministry Leader”. She had to pack the snack bag for us with juices, waters, and snacks for the trip to church.
• Calculate your time – watch the clock as you prepare and take note of how long it truly takes to get ready. We say to ourselves “this will only take me a few minutes” but how many minutes is a few? Is it 5, 10, 15? When you know how long it truly takes, you can make better plans. It will also help you establish a routine for the entourage to follow each week.
• Expect something good – it’s easier to get ready for Sunday School when you expect to get something good out of it. It’s easier for the entourage if you help them to anticipate something good like learning more about God, spending time with the other kids, and growing closer to our church. 

Make attending Sunday School a priority for your family. A new unit begins in June with new books and new lessons. Sit down as a family and discuss ways to make getting ready for Sunday School easier and more fulfilling.