Kids in Church

For whatever reason the Lord has convicted us to keep our kids in church.  We have seen many blessings from it on our end and have come to appreciate keeping them with us.  1.)  Instead of playing, snacks, and stories, they see that worship is singing, listening, and learning from the scriptures.  It involves being reverent and honoring, adoring and teachable.  It has amazed us what they pick up and bring home.  Even as soon as they can talk I've heard such things as, "Did you hear what Pastor said about those Romans?"   2.)  They see us pray together, and when Jeff's not preaching we always hold hand as we pray together.  3.)  They see us tithe.  Jeff is such a humble man he would never boast about what he gives to anyone, but when the children are in church they see him putting something in the plate.  4.)  Our hearts just feel more united as a family when we've shared the same experience, when we can relate or apply certain scripture to our lives that week. 
Now for the hard part, how to make a child sit through church?  That first year is basically in and out, and usually by a prayer do we both get to hear an entire sermon.  I have found it best to prepare a young one to sit still and listen to the bible study at home when Jeff does family devotions.  This way we can disperse discipline as needed and set the standard of what's expected.  I have also found it helpful to not bring any distractions.  No food, books, crayons, or toys.  They drop and cause further distraction and eventually become an issue of control and dispute which is very difficult to handle in church.  They usually find their own amusement by taking off a shoe, pulling up a dress, or picking their nose!