We're absolutely committed to families. Not just that we like them but that we feel they are the model for c2b - because it seems to be the biblical model!
We certainly don't have all the answers on this - we'd love you to join us in working it out! Here though are some thoughts from David, based on what we've experienced recently:
Interestingly, most newspapers aim at an intellectual and reading age of about 12 - including most of the broadsheets.... similarly if you are teaching a large group you already have to set the bar pretty low with regards language, concepts etc. In a smaller group that you know well, you can actually deliver much more complex material - because there's immediate feedback and the opportunity to say 'I didn't get that'. Not only that, but because it is so immediately applied it actually becomes learning rather than teaching....
In reality then, it's only the most complex of concepts that can't be grasped at some level by most kids over 12, so as long as there's good thought in the presentation, they're fine too. My approach has been to include in the interactive talk, lots of involvement - acting stuff out, reading, targetted questions etc that all the school age kids feel involved. My experience then is that when there is a bit they don't get or engage with, it's ok, because in a few minutes there is stuff that they relate to and if you are careful, they re-engage. Actually, that's no different to everyone else... rarely do we stay focussed for the whole time - something speaks to us and we wander off to process it then dip back in a bit later.... So it's about making it accessible, chunk sized, very practical and not so linear that if you miss or don't get point 3 you're stuffed for the rest of the talk.... So yes, I think it's about training, somewhat for the participants, but most importantly for the speaker... I'm sure there are folk a lot more gifted at this than me, but I get away with it!! In terms of very young kids let them run about, shout a bit, sword-fight... make it part of your talk, make them feel included without the expectation that they have to listen and learn. As you do that, it's amazing how much they engage!
What they do learn then is that they are valued and that learning is valuable. They hear their parents ask difficult questions, so they know it's safe to ask difficult questions. Of course there are going to be some things that aren't shareable in front of the kids... but not as many as pride might suggest!
Gareth came up with this great thought, that what we do a lot of the time by telling famous stories in watered down form out of context, in order to accommodate young ones, is to 'innoculate' our kids against the gospel! By the time they are old enough to really grasp it, their heads are full of talking vegetables and other myths! Better we think to just let them play and learn love and acceptance and wait till they are old enough to really get it!
We're not advocating mayhem, or such chaos that noone can benefit, but equally we are going to value everyone and that means the mature adults giving up their rights to an entirely quiet, structured environment that actually excludes the most vulnerable...
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