https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 30 Apr 2026 06:36:46 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-church-or-similar-activitiesdistractions#post-1614177 Mon, 05 May 2014 16:45:51 +0000 rattles 1614177@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@swurlygurl: oh that's adorable and totally a project you could make! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-church-or-similar-activitiesdistractions#post-1614139 Mon, 05 May 2014 16:25:31 +0000 JerricaBenton 1614139@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@swurlygurl: isn't that the best? I love when there's an older kid to entertain lo :-D And yes I'm sure you can find cute religious dolls that work!</p> <p>@rattles: I love those! Thanks for the link! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-church-or-similar-activitiesdistractions#post-1614137 Mon, 05 May 2014 16:25:15 +0000 swurlygurl 1614137@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love this one! But for $56 I might have to make it myself...</p> <p><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/187621771/noahs-ark-set-with-animals-catholic?ref=shop_home_active_9" rel="nofollow">https://www.etsy.com/listing/187621771/noahs-ark-set-with-animals-catholic?ref=shop_home_active_9</a> </p> [attach=3446/14/n54e63.570x476.il_570xN.595076114_a78a.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-church-or-similar-activitiesdistractions#post-1614133 Mon, 05 May 2014 16:21:17 +0000 swurlygurl 1614133@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@rattles: @JerricaBenton: Those dolls are adorable! Not Catholic, so we don't have Saints, but I bet I could find some Bible story ones (Moses, Noah, etc)</p> <p>@looch: I wish I had talent to make some - I bet I can count on Etsy though ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-church-or-similar-activitiesdistractions#post-1614126 Mon, 05 May 2014 16:16:33 +0000 rattles 1614126@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JerricaBenton: those are so cute! Not exactly the same, but I have saint dolls for LO from a shop on Etsy called Saintly Silver, and she definitely makes a St. Therese. <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/SaintlySilver" rel="nofollow">https://www.etsy.com/shop/SaintlySilver</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-church-or-similar-activitiesdistractions#post-1613998 Mon, 05 May 2014 15:30:26 +0000 swurlygurl 1613998@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mamaof2: Yeah, I don't like the cry room either. I miss feeling like part of the service though, instead of like I'm just peeking in at the back! I guess that's another part of having kids... hoping God is happy that I'm there! :)</p> <p>@looch: Ooohh, stickers - that would be an easy one! I think she might start to 'get' them now. LOL at the loud talking - I grew up in a church with a lot of kids. I didn't mind hearing the kids jabbering, just the crying! </p> <p>@pui: What an awesome idea! I bet the kids love coming to church to get their board. I'm seriously counting the days until she likes to color so I can print her out church-related coloring pages.</p> <p>@rattles: Haha, much harder for them to fuss with food in their mouths... although not impossible ;) My SIL doesn't feed her kids until Church, which keeps them quiet, but L gets up too early to try that. Cheerios last us about halfway through though, so that's something...</p> <p>@tinyperson: Love the foam shapes! L also loves taking things out and lining them up, then putting them back in. I need to get a Church-sized version of something since the only similar things we have are large and make noise...</p> <p>@JerricaBenton: Last week an older boy (8 or so?) sat in front of us and basically entertained her the whole service. It was amazing! I missed him a little bit this week... haha!</p> <p>@LuLu Mom: That would be so nice! The nursery isn't open until the 9:30 service for us though :( I don't know that we could go that late, we like our early 8:00 time :)</p> <p>@meredithNYC: Hah, that's cheating! ;) Seriously though, I almost wish I had someone I could leave her with so I could enjoy a service every once in a while. I'm hoping that she's getting over her fussy phase and will sit nicely and color quietly within 6 months or so. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-church-or-similar-activitiesdistractions#post-1613969 Mon, 05 May 2014 15:18:14 +0000 JerricaBenton 1613969@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@meredithNYC: aren't they? I've got the st. Nicholas one on my wishlist for LO. I do hope they make more saints. I'd love to get St. Therese. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-church-or-similar-activitiesdistractions#post-1613960 Mon, 05 May 2014 15:14:19 +0000 meredithNYC 1613960@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JerricaBenton: Those dolls are so cute!</p> <p>I haven't taken LO to mass with me since she was tiny, and I don't know when I'll get up the courage to try it again - especially now that she's two and quite the busy bee. My husband isn't Catholic, so I am able to leave her with him while I go. However, I do agree with others that setting an example and getting into the routine of going will be a good thing for her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-church-or-similar-activitiesdistractions#post-1613845 Mon, 05 May 2014 14:39:52 +0000 LuLu Mom 1613845@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We try books, stickers, snacks, water, ect. however, we have finally resigned to taking her to the Nursery. It's the only way we can both enjoy the service. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-church-or-similar-activitiesdistractions#post-1613840 Mon, 05 May 2014 14:38:16 +0000 JerricaBenton 1613840@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO is 14.5 months. She's still at the age (or maybe she's just this type of kid) where people watching is pretty entertaining. I bring stickers in my bag and she loves that. I just ordered her one of these virgin mary dolls. It looks very cute and I think the company is coming out with more saint dolls. I think for now I'll only give it to her in church so it's more special and hopefully keeps her interested. </p> <p><a href="http://shininglightdolls.com/Shining_Light_Dolls/Home.html" rel="nofollow">http://shininglightdolls.com/Shining_Light_Dolls/Home.html</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-church-or-similar-activitiesdistractions#post-1613829 Mon, 05 May 2014 14:35:09 +0000 looch 1613829@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Also quiet books, but I never got around to actually making anything.</p> <p>Finger puppets could be a good idea, you can probably find ones that are religious themed, or make some? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-church-or-similar-activitiesdistractions#post-1613828 Mon, 05 May 2014 14:34:32 +0000 tinyperson 1613828@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>at 17 months, we use </p> <p>• stickers,<br /> • a small bag filled with small toys (especially little toys inside a small container - take it out, put it back in, and repeat); she loves taking things out, lining them up, then putting them back<br /> • small books, bigger books with lots of pictures (i.e., books with pages of things that teach colours, or numbers, etc. - not so much stories)<br /> • colouring (I just bring 4 crayons and a small notepad)<br /> • snack like yogurt melts, cheese cubes, cut up grapes (she's a neat eater)<br /> • finger puppets<br /> • foam shapes (stars, hearts, flowers) in a little bag - you can colour or shape sort, practice pulling them out and putting them back in again, stack them, etc.</p> <p>That's all I've come up with for now! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-church-or-similar-activitiesdistractions#post-1613827 Mon, 05 May 2014 14:34:31 +0000 rattles 1613827@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That's basically our list too. One thing is that we have a separate set of books and toys for church, so at least they're sort of novel? We have little saint dolls, board books about church (we try and point out the stuff in the books around us there), and a kid's rosary. I've started printing some coloring sheets with biblical stories, but I don't think DD is quite big enough to keep the crayons consistently on the page yet, which is fine at home but not in a pew :wink: We've definitely been bringing cheerios since it's harder to talk and squawk with her mouth full. Overall, I just tell myself that it's better for us to be there than not. Even if we're only getting 50% of the sermon, it's more than nothing, and it's setting an example for her that it's important to be there.</p> <p>ETA: DD is 17 months, and we've been going each week since she was 8 days. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-church-or-similar-activitiesdistractions#post-1613819 Mon, 05 May 2014 14:31:47 +0000 pui 1613819@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our church sets up these activity board things for younger kids. They have these small little lap tables where they clip on activities and crayons. They usually have a few things, like a page to colour, a word puzzle and other things like that. Since it's church, I'd try to make it related too if possible! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-church-or-similar-activitiesdistractions#post-1613818 Mon, 05 May 2014 14:30:39 +0000 Mamaof2 1613818@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: Oh yes - the 1st time I took my 3 yr old it was quiet and she yells out "Where's the TV?" :shocked: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-church-or-similar-activitiesdistractions#post-1613816 Mon, 05 May 2014 14:29:26 +0000 looch 1613816@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Stickers are my son's absolute favorite thing. You can also find dry erase crayons and little whiteboards, those are fun, clean and quiet.</p> <p>My son's problem is that he is a loud talker, so no matter what activity he's doing, he's narrating it, LOUDLY, lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-church-or-similar-activitiesdistractions#post-1613815 Mon, 05 May 2014 14:29:11 +0000 Mamaof2 1613815@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@swurlygurl: I feel your pain! We are trying to go to church again after many years and trying to get my 3 and 5 yr old to sit for an hour is hard!</p> <p>I hate the cry room so instead we sit in the very last row. This way we have the end so the kids can see the priest and altar but we aren't front and center!</p> <p>We have been going for 6 weeks now</p> <p>When we get there and get seated I kind of let them do whatever - then once Mass starts I give them coloring books.</p> <p>They both talk - its inevitable - but so are all the other kids in church so I don't feel too bad!</p> <p>I bring a small snack too.</p> <p>I will hold my 3 yr old for a little bit when she gets antsy.</p> <p>I bribe my 5 yr old with a donut after church - ha!</p> <p>Not sure how old your LO is but I assume it will just take time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/favorite-church-or-similar-activitiesdistractions#post-1613798 Mon, 05 May 2014 14:23:33 +0000 swurlygurl 1613798@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What have you guys found to be your favorite books/activities/toys/etc to take to Church to entertain your kids?</p> <p>We've been pretty bad the last year or so at getting to Church, and just lately we've started getting much better about it. However, L is now a pain in the butt when asked to sit still for longer than 5 seconds, so Church has been... unpleasant. I think part of it is that she's not used to having to sit still and behave in Church yet, so we're making it a priority to go EVERY week. I would like to be able to pay attention to the sermon though, and to not have to sit in the back so I can escape when she starts freaking out...</p> <p>Right now our favorites are:<br /> Cheerios<br /> A couple small board books that she can hold on her own<br /> A small magnetic puzzle book<br /> Small favorite dolls/loveys </p> <p>I *think* she's starting to get old enough to work on some simple activities. </p> <p>I'd love to hear what everyone else brings with them to keep their kids quiet! </p>