Worship Matters to Kids
As a pastor, I get the privilege of talking to parents about why worship matters for kids. Most people expect me to give religious reasons: God is worthy of worship; worship is part of discipleship. And, yep, that’s all true. But when it comes to worship and children, I find myself mostly giving the perspective of a developmental psychologist (you know, that other job I do). Here’s what I shared recently with a group of parents: 1. Patterns, rhythms, and rituals build identity, create a sense of security, and orient/ground us. Research for over 70 years (yes, that many!) has shown that children thrive when their grownups provide rituals and routines. Worship is a powerful ritual that reminds kids, “you are part of something bigger.” Family routines and rituals may improve family relationships and health (apa.org) 2. Worship is a sensory-rich experience with music, liturgy, readings. Little brains are stimulated when in they are enmeshed in environments like this. Excep