Sophie's Diaries : Tots' Sunday School

I have mixed feelings about TSS.

On one hand, I love the idea of having my little girl participate in simple Bible-education activities along with other children her age. The teachers are a fun (and godly) bunch; Sophie enjoys singing the songs she learned throughout the week; and it does seem like a more churchy way (whatever that means) to occupy her time while the main service goes on - than her walking around the creche. I am glad that TSS makes her early experiences of church so pleasant.

But on the other hand, I also have my reservations...

Firstly, why do we need our children to spend time away from us while the main service is going on? Why separate them from the space, the music, the liturgy - the adults? So that we will be less distracted? Why not allow them to be part of the main service(s), even if it means staying put in the transparent creche at the back of the hall? Why should TSS be "more meaningful" to our toddlers than the creche? (This is in light of my recent reflection on my creche experiences, which you could read about here.) The "we need an age-appropriate worship and discipleship experience for our kids" argument doesn't make enough sense somehow. So we want to meet their spiritual needs (something that should happen at home throughout the week anyway) by disconnecting them from the life of the general church?  What message do we give our kids when we indicate that they should only sit in worship when the environment, songs, level of language, experiences, and subject matters are "suitable" or "fun"? What do they learn when we send them away from the family gathering because they are supposedly not ready for it? Are family gatherings - and its shared responsibilities as well as fellowship - only for grown-ups? Why do Sunday mornings have to be so "productive" for our little ones anyway? Isn't Jesus into the "slower rhythms of life" (as a friend of mine put it) - abiding, delighting, dwelling, and soaking in God's presence? (Note: there was no TSS in Jesus' time; the children were in their midst.)

Secondly, one parent will need to accompany the toddler to TSS - and this means that he/she will not be able to listen to Scripture with the rest of the congregation in the main hall that week. It was a weird experience to be that parent (I felt like I had missed out on an important weekly routine); and an even weirder experience to sit through the service without my husband (and Sophie) last Sunday.

There you go. Two sides of a coin.