Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States
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How does one deal with distracting children during the Sunday School Classes? Can the servants use the time-out? Is it accepted to dismiss the child at least once? What would the effect be on the rest of the class?

Time out is not a way to solve the problem. It would only alienate the problematic child causing him to resent Sunday school even more; and providing him with the opportunity to distract the class even more looking forward to be dismissed. In a regular Sunday class setting, there usually are two servants, one to deliver the lesson and the other to help out. I suggest that the child distracting the class be warned several times in a nice spiritual way. If he does not comply; then the helper servant, quietly without making a big scene, can take him out of the class and talk to him on one to one basis about his disruptive behavior; and the love of God for him. Talk to him about being a stumbling block to others who would not benefit from the lesson because of his behavior. Then, get him back into the class so that his classmates might not think he had been punished. Such children need always a one to one conversation and a lot of patience from the servant. Some of them adopt a disruptive behavior just to be the center of attention. If this is the case, you need to work on it; and involve them more in the lesson. Make it a habit, in your own personal prayers and in all your servants' meetings, to pray for all the children you serve and for those special ones in particular.
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