Midnight Mass Tips for Young Children

Midnight mass is celebrated by many churches on Christmas Eve. Parents of young children often have a few extra challenges when they want to attend a Midnight Mass at their church. The late hour can be difficult for young children and some parents may feel torn between attending Midnight Mass and skipping the Midnight Mass tradition when they worry about how younger children will behave at Midnight Mass. Young children do now have to prevent parents and families from attending Midnight Mass if a few strategies are put in place ahead of time. The failure to plan ahead is often the reason young children do not fare well at Midnight Mass. Consider trying a few tips before attending Midnight Mass this year with young children. The planning will make a difference.

1. Prepare Children Ahead of Time

Parents can prepare young children for Midnight Mass ahead of time by explaining what will happen at Midnight Mass. Keep it simple and make it sound like a special event for everyone in the family. Younger children may be excited to be able to stay up for Midnight Mass. Even young children can understand when they are being included in a special family event, so talk to them beforehand.

2. Give Young Children a Nap

Nearly all children, aside from a few night owls, will be tired by midnight. A longer or extra nap is essential for young children who will be attending Midnight Mass. The key to a successful and restful nap is to plan it early enough in the evening so children have time to readjust and wake up before heading out to Midnight Mass. If there is no time for an evening nap, consider letting young children stay up later the night before and sleep in, or take a longer afternoon nap.

3. Keep Evening Activities to a Minimum

Christmas Eve activities may cause some younger children to become overtired. Try to keep evening activities and celebrations to a minimum if you plan to take young children to a Midnight Mass. If you plan to have Christmas Eve dinner or visit family, plan some break time for younger children in between.

4. Bring a Goodie Bag

Pack a small goodie bag for young children to take to church for Midnight Mass. A few quiet toys or some religious or holiday books can keep young children busy when their attention starts to wane during Midnight Mass services.

5. Have an Escape Plan

Young children can be unpredictable and the late hour for Midnight Mass and a busy day can cause some children to have a Midnight Mass meltdown. The best thing to do is to prepare for the worst case scenario. The potential for young children to become agitated or tired at Midnight Mass is high, so assume that you may need to leave church if the worst happens. Have an exit strategy in place before you go.

6. Bring a Babysitter

Another option for Midnight Mass with young children is to bring an extra helper to watch your child during Midnight Mass. An older sibling or relative can help to keep a young child from becoming distracting during mass.

7. Sit Near an Exit or in the Back of Church

Even the best behaved young children can sometimes cause a distraction during mass. This special annual celebration is a tradition for many families and parents should try to make it as easy as possible for other families to enjoy the service. One way to keep the peace is to sit near the back or near an exit to keep any unplanned disturbances to a minimum.

8. Take Your Child to Mass Ahead of Time

Young children can prepare for Midnight Mass by attending church services on a regular basis. Young children who have not attended mass beforehand will not be familiar with the social rules or how to behave in church. The more practice young children have with attending mass, the more comfortable they will be when they attend a special Midnight Mass service.