1	A Child Welcoming Ceremony - 1
	Aim To devise a child welcoming ceremony. To introduce the children to Christian and Muslim birth customs. Preparation Before the lesson obtain a life-sized new born baby doll and a calendar of saints. Lesson Begin by revising what was taught in the previous lesson. Although many Christian children are dedicated, many more are baptised. Were any of the children baptised as babies? Allow children to talk about their baptism. While Christians either dedicate or baptise their babies, Muslims do something else. Inform children that Muslims believe that Jesus was not God. For them, Jesus was one of God's messengers. The last and most important of God's messengers, according to Muslims, was a man called Muhammad, who lived and died over 1000 years ago in the country known today as Saudi Arabia. Ensure that the children understand this distinction before showing them 'their baby'. Select two willing volunteers to act as the baby's parents. Inform the children that as soon as possible after a Muslim baby is born, its father whispers something into both its ears. What do the children think this could be? A greeting? A piece of advice? Some information? Invite the baby's father to whisper something into the baby's ear. Allow the baby to be passed round the children inviting them to whisper something to it. Inform children that some of the words which Muslim fathers whisper to their babies are, "There is only one God and Muhammad is His messenger". Do the children think little babies understand words? Why do Muslim fathers do it then? Naming What should the baby be called? How did the children's parents decide upon their names? Do any of them know the meaning of their names? Activity Invite the children to write what they know about their own name. What do they think of it? Would they prefer to be called something else? Christians sometimes choose their children's names from the Bible. Which children in the class have Biblical names. Sometimes, Christians give their children the name of a famous Christian in the past. Perhaps while the rest were writing, a group of children could use a calendar of saints names to find the names which correspond to their dates of birth. Muslim children are given different sorts of names. The boys are often named after one of the God's messengers, most commonly Muhammad. The girls are named after one of his wives or daughters. Share with the children a selection of Muslim names. Which would they choose for themselves? Conclusion Conclude lesson by deciding on a name for the class baby. Notes In your child welcoming ceremony, you do not have to include all of the different elements listed, nor do you have to follow the structure of a Christian baptism.
	A Primary Vision resource provided by Stockport Christians in Schools Trust

1 A Child Welcoming Ceremony - 1

Aim

To devise a child welcoming ceremony.
To introduce the children to Christian and Muslim birth customs.

Preparation

Before the lesson obtain a life-sized new born baby doll and a calendar of saints.

Lesson

Begin by revising what was taught in the previous lesson. Although many Christian children are dedicated, many more are baptised.

Were any of the children baptised as babies? Allow children to talk about their baptism.

While Christians either dedicate or baptise their babies, Muslims do something else.

Inform children that Muslims believe that Jesus was not God. For them, Jesus was one of God's messengers. The last and most important of God's messengers, according to Muslims, was a man called Muhammad, who lived and died over 1000 years ago in the country known today as Saudi Arabia.

Ensure that the children understand this distinction before showing them 'their baby'. Select two willing volunteers to act as the baby's parents.

Inform the children that as soon as possible after a Muslim baby is born, its father whispers something into both its ears. What do the children think this could be? A greeting? A piece of advice? Some information?

Invite the baby's father to whisper something into the baby's ear. Allow the baby to be passed round the children inviting them to whisper something to it.

Inform children that some of the words which Muslim fathers whisper to their babies are, "There is only one God and Muhammad is His messenger".

Do the children think little babies understand words? Why do Muslim fathers do it then?

Naming

What should the baby be called?
How did the children's parents decide upon their names?
Do any of them know the meaning of their names?

Activity

Invite the children to write what they know about their own name. What do they think of it? Would they prefer to be called something else?

Christians sometimes choose their children's names from the Bible. Which children in the class have Biblical names. Sometimes, Christians give their children the name of a famous Christian in the past.

Perhaps while the rest were writing, a group of children could use a calendar of saints names to find the names which correspond to their dates of birth.

Muslim children are given different sorts of names. The boys are often named after one of the God's messengers, most commonly Muhammad. The girls are named after one of his wives or daughters. Share with the children a selection of Muslim names. Which would they choose for themselves?

Conclusion

Conclude lesson by deciding on a name for the class baby.

Notes

In your child welcoming ceremony, you do not have to include all of the different elements listed, nor do you have to follow the structure of a Christian baptism.

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A Child Welcoming Ceremony - 1