“Sunday school is so boring, I don’t want to go.”
It’s a line that some—if not many—parents are likely to hear from their kids, at least once in a while.
Given that most kids are always looking for something new and fun to do, we might pretend we didn’t hear them or ignore their complaints, knowing that they need a little discipline in life and should learn to accept routine—even if they might not always enjoy it.
Then again, you might also want to give your child the benefit of doubt and ask: Is it true? Is the children’s programme in church so boring, that kids really struggle to attend it, Sunday after Sunday?
You might even secretly agree, having attended your share of boring sessions when you were their age. Let’s face it: just as adult church services and sermons can—if we are honest—feel boring at times, Sunday school programmes, which are often run by volunteers, can struggle to retain the attention of active kids who would rather spend their Sunday mornings sleeping in, watching TV, or playing.
Every month, we roll out a new resource for families. Subscribe to our email updates, and be the first to get a copy!
It’s not easy to give a measured response that acknowledges a real struggle on the part of your child, without downplaying the importance of Sunday school or compromising the discipline of routine and commitment. So, what can or should you do?
We put this question to three parents who are actively involved in children’s ministry. Lim Chien Chong, Teaching and Resource Director at Singapore Youth For Christ and father of two teenage boys; Sophia Huang, a children’s author and mother of three; and Gerard Su, a children’s ministry staff at Bartley Christian Church and father of two. Here’s what they suggested:
1 First, understand what goes on in Sunday school
While most churches believe in the importance of teaching children about God and thus pour much effort into making Sunday school engaging and meaningful, the fact remains that in most churches, the programme is run by volunteers—fellow “ordinary” believers like you and me, who chose to avail themselves to serve in this ministry. Unless all of them are education experts or particularly gifted in engaging children, there are therefore limits to how “good” Sunday school can be.
And, realistically, it’s hard to keep kids occupied nowadays, as most parents would know.
“Kids these days are very different,” notes Sophia. “They’re on their devices all the time. They need to be constantly engaged. So you have to be very interesting. You have to take out all the tricks from your bag. Yet we have to remember that our purpose is not to entertain them, but to share the gospel with them.”
While most churches pour much effort into making Sunday school engaging and meaningful, the fact remains that in most churches, the programme is run by volunteers.
Some of the children who are attending Sunday school had also grown up during the Covid-19 years. The many months of isolation and schooling from home may have affected their ability to handle face-to-face interaction, or to retain their focus during on-site lessons for longer durations.
Given that this is a challenge for mainstream teachers as well, it would be little surprise if Sunday school teachers struggle to retain the attention of a class of easily-bored, fidgety kids—on a weekend.
Gerard, who is involved in children’s ministry, acknowledges that many churches also need to change their teaching style. “Our methods and curriculum need to keep changing, and the way we run children’s ministry needs to keep up with the times,” he says. “If we do not make more use of technology in the classroom, we may miss the potential on engaging children.”
For example, teachers could use phone apps that get everyone involved in games or quizzes at the same time, like Kahoot. “That’s what the children are into in primary school. Why not use it in Sunday school, too?” he muses. “We do need to expand our horizons.”
“Get involved yourself by stepping up and serving. You’ll discover that a lot of preparation work needs to go into it.”
But this takes time. All three parents, who have been or are involved in Sunday school, note that it’s not easy for a church to change, because so many people with differing viewpoints are involved. Their plea to parents: please be patient.
As both a parent and Sunday school teacher, Sophia urges parents to be patient and to gain a better understanding of the challenges and limitations that teachers face. “If your child complains that Sunday school is boring—first, understand firsthand what goes on in Sunday school. Get involved yourself by stepping up and serving. You’ll discover that a lot of preparation work needs to go into it.”
2 Have a word with church staff, but sensitively
If Sunday school really is boring for the children, Chien Chong suggests approaching the staff or volunteers running the children’s programme to have a word with them—but to do this sensitively and considerately.
“It is good to have an open conversation with the Sunday school superintendent or person in charge,” he says. “But, when you share your feedback, don’t share from a position where you are complaining. Rather, you want to ask: ‘Are there other things that we can do together? What can I do to help?’”
Parents who have had useful experience with children at home or elsewhere can share this with the teachers, he adds. And they can get more directly involved, by helping to improve the design of the children’s programme or even to carry it out as Sunday school teachers.
“When you share your feedback, don’t share from a position where you are complaining. Rather, you want to ask: ‘Are there other things that we can do together?
Like Sophia, however, he is quick to remind parents: be patient and remember the limitations that the church and its volunteers face. “Have a word with the Sunday school teachers to understand the struggles that they’re going through,” he says.
3 Check for other issues
Sometimes, a child’s complaints about Sunday school may be related to something else other than the programme itself. Just like some complaints about school being boring, they may be hiding deeper issues that a child is struggling to cope with, which makes them less keen (or even fearful) to attend Sunday school.
For example, he might have trouble adjusting to a change in environment (if you had recently changed church, or your child had moved from one class or session to another). Or, he might have issues interacting with the other children, or feel he is being left out—or worse, being treated unfairly, neglected, or even bullied.
“Maybe it’s not the teacher or the curriculum, but the people around them that’s affecting them.”
Chien Chong believes that parents need to probe a little more, and start deeper conversations with their children to find out if it’s just a simple case of boredom, or more. “Talk to your child, and ask: ‘So what is it about the Sunday school lesson that is really boring you?’”
These conversations may reveal other factors concerning deeper issues, or issues to do with the child’s personality or challenges. “Maybe it’s not the teacher or the curriculum, but the people around them that’s affecting them,” he says.
4 Remember that discipling takes place at home
While some parents may worry that their children aren’t picking up enough “spiritual education” in Sunday school because of a curriculum or programme that is lacking, all three parents are quick to stress that Sunday school in church is not the most important thing.
Ultimately, they note, the discipling of a child takes place at home, not on Sundays only. At the end of the day, they say, parents are the biggest source of mentorship and coaching when it comes to teaching kids about God.
“What you do on Monday to Saturday is going to be greater than what the Sunday school teacher can do for two hours on a Sunday.”
“Two hours on a Sunday is never going to be enough to get your children interested in the Bible, in who Jesus is, in what the Gospel is,” says Gerard. “Biblical parenting and discipline is not a Sunday thing. What you do on Monday to Saturday is going to be greater than what the Sunday school teacher can do for two hours on a Sunday.”
One way to look at it, he says, is to see life at home as a “Sunday school”—that reading the Bible, singing worship songs, and learning about God takes place as much at home just as it does in church. He says: “You’ve got to exemplify what it means to follow Jesus, and show them they can have fun learning about Jesus and the Bible.”
