While the Sacrament is Passed
One of the more challenging moments of Sacrament Meeting for parents of small children is the passing of the Sacrament. Behavior is more complicated in a very quiet room, where there is little to interest a child. If a parent also wants to help a child understand the sacredness of those few minutes, she has a greater challenge. How do you help to make the taking of the Sacrament meaningful and successful for young children?
The first step is to be certain your child knows what type of behavior is expected during this time. If you allow your children to play during church, you may want to consider holding back the toys until after the passing of the Sacrament. This is an important step in preparing children to make it through the entire meeting without entertainment, but it also makes it easier to create a reverent environment during this time. Help him understand he is expected to sit still and quietly. Bring a picture of a child reverently taking the sacrament, and when your child is talking or wiggling, point silently to the picture to remind him of what is expected. You'll need to go over this at home, so he knows what you mean when you point to that picture.
Instead of toys, give a very young child a homemade book with pictures of Jesus to look through very quietly. This will set the stage for helping him understand that the Sacrament is about the Savior and that this is where his thoughts and actions should be focused. Later, give him a single picture to hold and look at. This will serve as a reminder to think of Jesus, and help him get used to not playing during sacred moments.
At home, teach your child the song, To Think About Jesus (Children's Song Book, number 71), which tells children that it shouldn't be hard to sit quietly and think about Jesus. Another good song to teach is Reverence is Love, which explains that there is more to reverence than sitting quietly. Your child can learn to sing both songs in his mind—silently—if he finds himself being wiggly.
Be sure your child understands what the sacrament means, and what each part of the prayers mean. Express your feelings about taking the sacrament, emphasizing that it's a sacred moment for you. Be sure your own behavior demonstrates that, and that you don't take it without thought or attention. Let your child see you modeling correct behavior and attitude during the passing of the sacrament. Every Sunday, express your pleasure at being able to renew your covenants.
A three year old should be well on his way to having a special experience during the passing of the sacrament. You can begin the process as soon as your child can understand simple instructions on how to behave during this time, although it will be years before he is consistently well-behaved. However, when he behaves because he treasures the reverent feeling in his heart instead of because it's a rule, he will have an easier time remembering what to do, so always start with the purpose and a testimony.
