• Kids usually get a little too excited when we take a trip to the bathroom or water fountain. So, I made a CTR shield and glued it to a popsicle stick. When it was time to line up I chose the most reverent child to be the line leader and to hold the shield. When we were out in the halls everyone who was out there saw the kids how reverent they were and commented on them. On the way back to the class room, the child who held it there got to pick some one to hold it and be the leader on the way back. Then once we got to the class that child pick another for the next week. Usually they want to go to the restroom a lot JUST to hold the sign and to be reverent!

-- Emily Bennett, Georgia

• I have always found that the children love stuffed animals. I have this really soft white elephant that is holding a pink heart. I let the class name the elephant. At the beginning of the class I pick someone that is the most reverent. They come up in front of the class and hold it until they pick someone else who is reverent. This process continues until each child has a chance to hold it then they are all reverent. The elephant sits on the table during the class and when they start to get a little antsy I let them hold it. Each Sunday they ask me if I brought it before we even get to class! They love it!

- Emily Bennett, Georgia

• In our ward, the Primary Presidency came up with revernce jars.  Each class had their own canning jar, labled with the name of the class.  Each teacher was given a certain amount of pompoms and we also had them for the music leaders (me) and sharing time.  If we saw a child who was being reverent, we quietly walked to him and gave him a pompom.  At the end of the meeting, the children got to put their pompoms in their jar.  If they were not reverent, their teacher could take the pompoms out ot the jar.  The class who filled their jar the fastest "won" (you could give out pictures of Jesus, the temple, etc.)  Just don't tell them in advance and keep changing the prize. It worked great, especially with Jr Primary.

• One of our teachers came up with this idea... We have a board in the front of our Primary room with stuffed felt mice.  Each child's name is above it, and when that particular is not being reverent, they get their mouse taken down (they have velcro on them).  It is up to all of the children to remind each other to be reverent, or nobody gets the "treat" at the end of church.  Now,the treat could be as simple as a thank you, or a bookmark, or candy, etc., the point is that they don't ever know what the treat is, so that they understand that they are not necessarily doing it for the treat, they are doing it for the feeling they have that they were reverent in Heavenly Father's house.  That is the real treat.

--Kristi Radmall - Phoenix 36th ward

• My idea that I use all during primary is a red stop sign I made and laminated and glued to a popcicle stick.  All I have to do is hold it up and watch the children tell one another to fold their arms and be quiet and look up front.  I usually count in my mind and when everyone is quiet I tell them how long it took.  They love to try and beat their record.  (Hey it works).

--Jessica , Colorado
• Children will do anything to be noticed.  Usually the kids who are always acting out and always irreverent are only begging for attention.  And we usually give it to them, only in a negative way.  We do this by asking them to be quiet and reminding them this is Heavenly Father's house.  I have found that by changing who I give attention to, changes the spirit of our primary from negative to positive.  Instead of asking the noisy children to behave, I point out the children who are already acting the way they should.  I tell Josh thanks for sitting with his arms folded because Kim, who is sitting next to him is bugging his sister  (and Kim fixes himself without me reminding him...then I recognized his good behavior).  I tell another child I appreciate the way she is singing with the music leader because the child next to her is talking instead of singing  (usually the other child wants this attention and starts to sing...then give the attention to this child too).  This allows me to give attention to the children who are doing well and give some positive encouragement to the children who need reminding.  Our primary children benifit from the positive feedback they get.
• We talked about the parable of the ten virgins, and how they wanted to have drops of oil in their lamp. Then we explained that when we come to primary and are reverent we are adding oil to our lamp. we had a large "lamp" that we added drops of oil to ( they were popcorn kernels) if they became irreverent we took oil out. then we presented it to our bishop during sacrament program. - Shelli Bates
• As you give examples of behavior at church, have the children raise their hand if it is reverent and keep their hand down if it is not reverent. Suggested behaviors: Leaving a meeting to get a drink, Wiping my feet before entering the church, running in the halls, wrestling in the church, folding my arms during classes, closing my eyes during the prayer, keeping my feet still on the floor, listening to and trying to understand the speakers, whispering during the Sacrament, dropping paper towels on the floor in the restroom, tearing or writing of pages of the hymn book, thinking about Jesus during the Sacrament.
• Have a large picture of The Savior at the front of the room each week.
• Each teacher could challenge her class members during their class time to be more reverent in Heavenly Father's house.
• Ask for the parents to help by sitting with the child or having a special Family Home Evening on reverence.
• Encourage folding arms and walking when traveling to and from sharing and closing time to show respect for Heavenly Father and His house.
• Teachers should sing with the class.
• Have reverent music playing as the children enter and exit.
• Sit the children boy, girl, boy, girl.
• Record the children as they come in and play it back to them and let them decide if they sound reverent or if they could improve.
• Have a REVERENCE CHILD stand at the front being an example with his arms folded as the children enter. We made a sash that says REVERENCE for the child to wear.
• Primary leaders should always be an example by not talking, by participating in Singing Time, and by walking quietly down the halls.
• Be aware of the children who are disturbing and correct them, whether by a touch on the shoulder, a loving wink, etc.
• I got a spray bottle of water and I labeled it Reverence.  In a very dramatic way I told them that I had reverence in the bottle and that I was going to give it to the children.  I misted the whole group and they giggled, then got quiet.  We began teaching a song and whenever someone would be talking I would mist their area, but as we learned the song we learned what reverence really was.  In the end we concluded that reverence wasn't something someone else could give you (outside of the Holy Ghost).  Reverence was something that came from within.
• Reverence Jar:  We use the reverence jar. We use rice that is used over and over and when the jar is full they get a party.  It does keep things in control when they are slipping away. Everyone straightens up when the rice is poured out of the reverent jar.  In the same light, we are very quick to pour rice in with any improvement we notice.
• Golden reverent shoes award (You could use anything for the actual award) Our  president took a pair of baby shoes, mounted them on a plaque and spray painted them gold (took all of 10 minutes to do).  In Junior Primary's Sharing Time and Singing Time we remind the kids that if we see a class being particularly reverent (NOT the MOST reverent) they will get to take the "Reverent Shoes" to class with them.  The kids really look forward to this honor. (You could have separate awards for junior and senior - something "cooler" for the older kids perhaps)
• Paper chain to the bishop - Actually works well for individual classrooms bit can be adapted for all of sharing time/singing time.  Each Sunday at the end of class/ sharing time, etc., those who earned a link on the chain wrote their name on a link and added it to the chain. When the chain is long enough to reach the bishop's office from the classroom/primary room, the individual class can go visit the bishop in his office for a scripture chase etc., if it's involving the whole primary - then have him come to you to do something silly or fun!
• Whisper - Something that works well after the kids have had a rousing song or activity is to quietly whisper something like " If you are listening to me put your elbow in the air" - the nuttier the better - even the cool kids like to do this because they can be silly! You should only have to whisper this a few times to get everyone's attention.
• "Quiet Game," and it works like this: One child is chosen to begin the game. He/she goes up to the front and looks for a reverent Primary child. When one is found, the child up front reverently goes and touches the new child on the shoulder. This new child comes up front and starts the process over again. The game continues for a few rounds.

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