How Can We Engage this Child in Worship?

This article is part two of a three-part series from our Executive Director, Dr. Mimi Larson, reflecting on what she has learned in her work about engaging children in worship. Read part one here. 

Recognize the Difference Between Teaching About God and Inviting Children to Engage With God

One of the most critical distinctions we must make is that teaching children about God is not the same as helping them experience God. Many children’s ministry leaders are deeply invested in nurturing children’s faith, but they often default to instruction rather than fostering opportunities for true engagement. Children need space to worship, wonder, and encounter God for themselves, not just learn facts about Him.

Understand How Children Make Meaning of Faith

Children can make meaning of faith during their worship experiences. Children process faith differently from adults. Their spiritual understanding often emerges through experience, play, imagination, repetition, and embodied practice.

Address the Barriers to Children’s Engagement

One of the most important observations in our research has been the identification of what hinders a child’s engagement with God. Many of these situations can be adjusted with attention, care, and simple accommodations. While this section could be a whole separate article, here are four of the common barriers to children’s engagement with worship.

1. Limited Understanding of Worship: Many leaders equate worship with hearing and singing music alone. This narrow definition excludes children from the full scope of communal worship: prayer, liturgy, sacraments, reflection, service, and more. Children invite us to get curious about our worship and whether everyone in our church is able to participate.
2. Low Expectations: A common refrain is “the children are in worship,” but presence does not equal participation. Often, children are expected only to sit quietly and be invisible.
3. Negative Attitudes Toward Normal Child Behavior: Movement, curiosity, and noise—hallmarks of healthy child development—are often seen as distractions rather than signs of life and engagement.
4. Lack of Developmentally Appropriate Accommodations: While many churches make adjustments for adults (e.g., hearing assistance or disability access), children are frequently expected to conform to adult-centered environments without support. Even small churches can make simple adjustments to help children access worship.

Reframe Participation: From Passive to Active

True engagement means creating space for children to participate actively in worship—not just be passive observers. Rather than only performing or giving polished, created presentations, children must be empowered to use their gifts to serve the people of God.

Cultivate a Welcoming Posture

Engagement begins with posture—how the community views and values children. Children need to feel that they are truly welcome, not just present. This means seeing their contributions as meaningful, their questions as valid, and their presence as a gift—not a disruption. Just as the church considers how it can extend hospitality to visitors, the church can extend hospitality to children.

Conclusion

Engaging children in communal worship requires more than just making space for them—it demands that we reimagine what worship looks like when the whole body of Christ is present, including its youngest members. When we move beyond simply tolerating children to truly valuing their presence and participation, we begin to create a worship environment that reflects the inclusive heart of God. This means offering opportunities for active engagement, accommodating their developmental needs with care, and expecting that God is already at work in their hearts. By doing so, we not only nurture the faith of children but also enrich the spiritual life of the entire congregation. Worship becomes more vibrant, authentic, and whole when children are not just seen, but heard, empowered, and embraced as full members of the faith community.