Imagine you have taken your toddler to a religious place – it could be a temple, a church, a gurudwara or a mosque. The atmosphere you will get there is calm and peaceful. But a peaceful boring atmosphere is something that surely will not please the toddlers. They will start making noises, screams, and whatnot. Keeping a toddler quiet at religious places hence becomes a tricky task for parents.
If you face such a situation, you know how humiliating it feels to have all the eyes staring at you and your toddler with irritation. Many churches in Western countries have a “crying room” or nursery to help manage toddlers. Since that is not the case in India, here are some ways to keep your toddler quiet at religious places.
Top Tips to Keep Your Toddler Quiet at Religious Places
If you do not want to miss your weekly prayers just because you have a dandling toddler at home, then here are some tips for you. Follow these tips as they can help you to subdue your toddler’s tantrums at religious places.
1. Dress Your Toddler Comfortably
Make your toddler wear comfortable clothes, especially during summer. Avoid the use of excessive buttons, zippers, and too many layers of clothing as these may irritate them (1). As toddlers still lack the ability to prominently express themselves, it can cause unnecessary tantrums which will be difficult to handle in a public place (2).
2. Pick a Good Time to Visit
The time of your visit to the religious place matters when you have a toddler along with you. It will be wiser to visit for prayers during the afternoon when your toddler is well-fed and well-slept. Sleep and food are the primary requirements of a toddler, and missing out on it will directly influence their mood and behaviors (3). So make sure your toddler has a good sleep and a satiated stomach before visiting any religious place.
3. Prepare Them Beforehand on What to Expect at The Religious Place
It is always good to prepare before the actual situation occurs. You can teach your toddler to be quiet and sit still at home by playing imaginary plays with them. You can play whispering games to prepare your toddler to talk at a low volume. Also give small challenges like “sit quietly for 2 minutes”, or “close your eyes until I say open” to habituate the toddler with following simple orders.
4. Carry Snacks
If your religious place allows food for your toddler, then do carry some snacks. Nothing like bribing them with a biscuit for sitting quietly for 10 minutes. You can carry any dry finger food or fruit that is easy to hand over. The idea is that you engage their mouth in something other than shouting, screaming, and crying. If your toddler is a foodie then this trick will surely help you.
5. Bring Small Toys or Activities to Engage Them
The reason for your toddler’s restlessness and irritation at a religious place is often boredom. Toddlers cannot focus on one thing more than 4 to 8 minutes (4). So to keep them involved try to carry small activity-based toys that fit into your purse. A small toy car or a tiny doll can work well. Small puzzles, Rubik’s cube or a pocket paint book will engage them in activities without causing any disturbances. Just avoid things that make sound as the whole idea is to remain quiet.
6. Sit in Front
You may think that sitting in the last row will help you to run if your toddler starts creating trouble. But you are wrong here. Take the risk of sitting in the front row. This will make your toddler see what is happening in the front. Your tiny little kid cannot see through the giant figures sitting in the front to see the interesting actions taking place during a religious prayer. So it is always better to sit in front to let your toddler experience the live actions.
7. Avoid Crowded Places
If you are going with your toddler to a religious place then avoiding crowds is important. It is better to stay away during the time of any special occasions, or festivals if your toddler is not yet accustomed to the scenario. Choose a time when the crowd is moderate so that your toddler does not feel congested or suffocated.
8. Keep Realistic Expectations
Be realistic and be ready to deal with any adverse conditions. You are going to the prayers with your toddler so things are not going to be that much predictable. No matter how much you try you cannot expect your kid to sit still for one or two hours. Hence, make your worship as quickly as possible. It is better to bring your partner or any other family member along to look after the kid when you are engaged in prayers.
9. Make it a Routine to Familiarize Your Toddler
Do you visit religious places often? Like every weekend? Or every Tuesday? In that case, try to build a routine around it. Toddlers react very well to routines (5). It could start with a bath, packing the bag, going to the temple, and finishing off with a breakfast/lunch/dinner at their favorite eatery nearby! When they know what to expect, they will be more calm and secure. Therefore the chances of misbehaving will be less.
10. Start Small
If you are visiting with your toddler to a religious place for the first time then start with small steps. Keep the visit short. Leave the place as soon as your toddler shows signs of irritation. Gradually extend the timeframe as your toddler gets used to the situation. Let your kid develop a natural liking towards religious practices with time and observation.
It is a very good initiative to take the toddler to religious places to socialize and experience their surroundings. These tips will help you in this endeavor.
Despite all this, if your toddler still goes on a crying spree, then relax. There is a high chance that more than half of the crowd in your religious place have gone through the same situation at least once in their lives. People will understand! If your toddler is inconsolable, then you can take them out for a brief time, help them calm down and bring them back. But, these tips will surely help in keeping your toddler quiet at religious places. What are some of the most embarrassing moments you have had at a religious place? Let us know!
FAQ’s
1. What to do When Your Toddler Cannot Sit Quietly at The Temple?
You can practice sitting quietly with your toddler during a time of the day. Reading time and quiet mealtime are two effective ways to make your toddler practice some silence. These will develop a habit in them and help you when you visit the temple next time.
2. How to Get a 2-Year-Old to Behave in a Place of Worship?
You can make your 2-year-old behave in a place of worship by praising when they behave properly. You can promise to give a candy or a toy if they sit quietly. Your praises and promise of rewards will surely help your toddler to behave.
3. Is it Normal For Toddlers to Cry at a Temple?
Toddlers crying at a temple is not an uncommon thing. It is probably the most common thing. Do not worry about what others think when your toddler is crying at a temple. Instead, take their help to console the kid.
References
- Guide C-401, Author: Extension Family and Consumer Sciences Agent, Eddy County Extension Office, New Mexico State University, Reviewed by Jennah McKinley, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico State University – https://pubs.nmsu.edu/_c/C401/index.html
- raisingchildren.net.au – https://raisingchildren.net.au/toddlers/behaviour/crying-tantrums/tantrums
- Children’s Hospital Colorado – https://www.childrenscolorado.org/conditions-and-advice/conditions-and-symptoms/conditions/sleep-deprivation/
- CNLD Testing & Therapy – https://www.cnld.org/how-long-should-a-childs-attention-span-be/
- Saliha B. Selman, Janean E. Dilworth-Bart – https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jftr.12549
