Comments on: Restraining Policies?

By: This Week in Children’s Ministry for 12/16/2009

This Week in Children’s Ministry for 12/16/2009 — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:35:22 +0000

[...] Does you your ministry need child restraining policies? [...]

By: Henry Zonio

Henry Zonio — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:11:44 +0000

Thanks for the suggestions, Larry. I agree that hands-off is best with paging the parent. I wonder what other people's experiences have been?

BTW, it's 911 in Canada, too :)

By: @LShallenberger

@LShallenberger — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:59:18 +0000

I'd avoid the contact if at all possible. When I worked in mental health I was trained in non-violent restraint.

There are common sense times to put hands on– your scissors example, breaking up a fight, a child who is about to bolt. But you risk injuring the child and exposing your church to liability.

I would suggest if possible, the parent is paged, and enlisted to restrain or remove the child from the church. And be open to calling 911 (or the Canadian equivalent.)