If my 8 y.o. doesn't wanr to go to church what should I do? It's a hassle to get him to go very Sunday ???

Question

he says it's boring, and stupid when I ask. He's in childrens church but doesn't want tp really want to participate, He says he'd rather go to granparents house, or a friend. he says he hates it.

Answer 1

I have to ask do you run your house or does your kid? If my Katie doesnt want to go somewhere that I deem necessary and beneficial for all, as long as she is under my roof or under 18 or 21 she will go. Its your choice .... who is boss?

Answer 2

I didn't like church much either when i was a kid, and in fact, never took my kids.... maybe that's bad parenting, but i got absolutely nothing out of church.

Meanwhile, if you wish for your son to participate in an hour or two once a week with the family, then tell him that's what you'd like.  It won't kill him to give up an hour or two a week for church.  He might learn something, who knows?

If he doesn't want to comply, next time he turns on TV or asks for a favor, you can always tell him that, since he doesn't want to spend that little bit of time each week, you don't see any reason to give him those privileges.

i can't think of another thing.

Answer 3

Mm. I'd set up a system maybe? Like make him go to church every other sunday, or a few Sundays and then let him have one day off?

Answer 4

if he doesn't want to go then there is no reason to force him and yeah church is boring and it's possible that he really doesn't understand the whole point of it either. i am 22 and i don't always understand the point of it. i honestly don't understand why we put so much emphasis on it these days either. let him not go for a while and see what happens if you let him not go maybe he'll want to start going again, and if he doesn't then don't try to force him to go you won't get anywhere. some kids jsut don't pick up on it and some grow up to be great christians, but either way they have to find their own way to God, and sometimes they don't but it is a path that they must figure out on their own, you have tried to push him in the right direction it is up to him to decide to go all the way and right now he doesn't want to.

Answer 5

I wouldn't force the issue, i would find some place else he can stay while you go to church.

Answer 6

Almost no kid likes church.  You have to sit still and behave yourself, which you have to do at school all week as well, and most of the subject matter is over your head.  But an eight year old shouldn't dictate what family decisions are. It's entirely up to you what to do about this situation.

Answer 7

beat the light of jesus into him!!!!

Answer 8

im a child/teen >.< so i understand that he doesnt want to go because i feel the same way

you cant force him to do it if he doesnt want to, he'll resent you more than ever

Answer 9

Sounds like he needs a little discipline. He should not be giving you a hassle and you should not be putting up with it. I would make him go, at least for now. You don't want him to think he can have his way for putting up a fuss. Be the parent.

Answer 10

It is probably boring to hI'm, im sure he rather play games or anything more entertaining... It depends on how you want him raised. My mother forced me to attend church until I was 13 and responsible enough to decide and understand the concepts before I could choose whether or not to continue. It depends on how willing you are to push him through this. It also depends on how big of a believer you are in God and going to church.

Answer 11

Try taking your son to the adult service with you and see if he still thinks the children's service is boring.  If you are making him go to services and you are not attending than you aren't setting a good example but if you are going and he is just being a stubborn typical little boy, He just needs to have impressed upon him that in your family you recognize keeping the Lord's day by attending church services, no arguments allowed.

Answer 12

compromise with him make him go every other sunday

Answer 13

If he doesn't like going, then there's no point in forcing him.  He will only end up resenting you.

Answer 14

Well, honestly there are a lot of things 8 year olds don't want to do.  If it's important to you, insist on him doing it.

When he doesn't want to brush his teeth, do you let him not brush his teeth?  When he doesn't want to bathe?  How about when he only wants to eat cheetos for dinner?

I don't take my kids to church, but if it's something you want him to do and it's important to you and you want him to do it for the rest of his life, then make him do it.

Answer 15

DAAAAAAA. You dont give him a choice. Hes 8! Too bad if he doesnt like it. Arent you the parent? Dang. Do you have no sense?

Answer 16

Im 13 and even now i dont want to go to church, but i go to on my own will because if I look at how much god has given me it seems quite sad i'm incapable of giving an hour of my week for God... Try making some deals with him that'll make him want to go to church.

example- he dosnt go to church hes not aloud any junkfood or limited TV time.

i think you should just take him to church, its perfectly normal for us kids to not want to go, its not the most exiting thing in our lives... However exposure at an earlyer age will make him start to see the importatnce of it

I've been going to church every sunday (as long as i was in healthy condition to do so) ever since i was born, and even the though its still not what i';d like to be doing sunday mornings i feel a commitment to do so even if and when i can skip on it i dont

Answer 17

I felt the same way.  And, nowadays you see all those kids with their DS's in there, and I wonder, whats the point.  Maybe have a actual chat with him about what religion means to you, and why you are doing it, bringing him up in it..  Maybe find out if its the church itself.  Like in any profession, there are good and bad ministers.  If its important to you, look if there are alternatives that wouldnt compromise your role as a parent.  For instance an alternative, might be volunteering during that time or doing something where the money raised would go to charity.

Answer 18

Who is the parent? Who is in charge?

Answer 19

Maybe he just doesn't like this particular church.  If you're not completely in love with this particular church maybe you could try and find another church and allow him some say in the decision of picking a new church.  Try checking out a couple other church's in your area and maybe he'll find one that he enjoys going to and will look forward to going to church every sunday.

Answer 20

Yeah great idea...instill even more hatred of church in the kid...just let the kid be. If he's not paying attention and dreading it what's the point? How can anything possibly good come of it? It'll eventually turn into frustration directed at you and religion and in no time your child will likely be rebelling like you never imagined. I speak from personal experience...years of forced prayer in a catholic setting....when's the last time you think I went to church?? no really cuz your guess is as good as mine

Answer 21

well this is coming from personal experience, im only 14, but when i was younger i never wanted to go to church, because i didnt understand, but one day i had like a revelation(or whatever you want to call it) where pretty much ,he the big man up there(dont want to offend anybody religion so i wont say name) talked to me, and i learned why its important to go.  Just take him anyways, its like(quote from just jordan) homework for the soul.  So keep on taking him eventualy he will get tired of resisting and just learn to go with the flow.

P.S.:eventualy if he still keep on whining about it, give him a good whoopen my moma gave it to me and i never complained again

Answer 22

Your the parent, and he's only 8. I say make him go until he's older, then he can decide. Personally, my mom drug my butt outta bed every Sunday, and I think I have her to thank for instilling those values in me.

Answer 23

How do you feel about going to church? He is too young to make this decision by himself, he should go if you want him too. BUT, these values should be demonstrated in your home as well, if you truly believe its important he should be able to pick up on that. Make him get out of bed, hassle or not, later in life he will thank you. Make sure what you are learning on Sunday is practiced throughout the week, I am working on that too!

Answer 24

Being 8, you can't really decide for yourself what religion to practice, if any.  First I would ask him if there's someone he doesn't get along with, or anyone who makes him feel weird.  Rule those things out, then I would explain to him why you think he should go, and make him go anyway.  Then in a few years, if he still doesn't want to go, then I wouldn't make him.

Personal note: I think church gives young children good morals to live by.  But once they're older, unless they like the experience, I find no reason to go.

Answer 25

Well, since he is only eight I would tell him that he can go but stay in church part with you, and maybe it wont bother him as much, maybe he is more advance than Sunday school. I know when I was younger I preferred being in Church than Sunday school. And tell him that life is what he makes it, that its all about his attitude. Who knows there might be something going on during Sunday school that is making him feel uncomfortable. Because Sunday School teachers are not perfect and neither are the children going to it. So I would take him with you and give him a choice to sit with you or go to sunday school and then we he is older to stay home by him self, give him the choice cause he is his own soul and God will reach him when he needs too.

Best of Luck!

Answer 26

I have seen SO many kids turn bad in their teens after being "forced" to go to church when they were younger.  Not only do they rebel in a big way, but they resent their parents, and some can even be put off religion for life.

I think if you don't force him, when he is older he'll feel better equipped to make his own decisions about religion, God and church.

Perhaps when he is a little older you can see if he'd like to get involved in the church Youth Group - they usually do more age appropriate and fun activities, and if he makes friends in the group who also attend church, he's more likely to go.

I know for a lot of parents they worry when their children aren't interested in church, but forcing them to go isn't going to change their minds.

Good luck :)

Answer 27

Since he is only 8 years old and you are the parent he should attend.  Try to find out more specifically why he doesn't want to go.  Maybe he is actually having some kind of issue with a teacher or another kid there.

Answer 28

He's 8, and you're the Mom.  He's entitled to his opinion, but not old enough to make the choice.  He can go to the grandparents after church.

Don't hassle, tell him to get ready, and walk away.  Check about 10 minutes before leaving, tell him to get ready, ignore the complaints.  Not easy, but...

Also, talk to his teacher and let him or her know.  They can maybe try and draw him out.

God bless!

Answer 29

If he doesn't want to go, he doesn't want to go.

Religion is something we can choose for ourselves, so I wouldn't be making him go. He may want to go again in the future, but for now leave him be.

Answer 30

idk

Answer 31

I would set rules. You must attend church with the family until you are 10. You dont have to enjoy it. You dont have to participate in activities, but you MUST be there to support your family because THEY enjoy it and family comes FIRST. At 10 he can choose weather he wants to go or not. Religion should not be forced, but it should be encouraged.