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Summary of Question:	Sikh Education
Category:	General Sikhism
Date Posted:	Wednesday, 6/30/2004 12:19 PM MDT

WJKK, WJKF!

The children at my Gurudwara are running around and playing during the congregation. Some uncles are trying to stop them while others just let them do. We cannot expect kids to sit still for two hours! However i do agree that running around isn't very respectful. Therefore something must be done. In the christian churches, children attend sunday school. Is there some kind of program for sikh children? Are there any Gurudwara that have something organized for children? We do have children program every once and a while but it does not run every sunday. Any suggestions?

<<<<< REPLY>>>>>

Wahe Guru Ji ka Khalsa
Wahe Guru Ji ki Fateh!

This is probably not what you wanted to hear, but actually, I and my wife trained both my kids from when they were very little that Gurdwara was a special time to meditate on the Guru's Shabd and they both have always dressed in full bana, sat calmly and meditated or napped at my feet in Gurdwara. I have always told them that they cannot bring any toys to Gurdwara - that they need to train themselves to meditate on the Gurbani and experience the bliss of it. Even two or three year olds are not too young to meditate. In fact they love it. Just set the example for them and make the standard of behavior known to them. Gurdwara isn't school. It's not the time for "lessons on Sikhi." It's the time to tune in and experience the Guru directly. As children get a little older, they will naturally want to participate more - serving Guru's prashad, waving the chauri sahib, even doing kirtan and sitting behind the Guru and participating in langar seva. This is what Gurdwara is all about.

If you want to help organize a "children's group" that gets together before Gurdwara to practice kirtan and tell katha, get together with other parents, decide who will guide the group each week and who will bring snacks for the kids. But be sure that it's not too long - perhaps 30 - 45 minutes. Then all the children should re-join the adults in the sadhsangat and experience Guru's darshan and learn to sit and meditate on the Guru's bani. No talking or whining. Napping is okay. Make it the standard and it will become their habit.

.....G