Reverence Tag by Wendy Beus

Ticket Keeper by Katie Salter

CBR Badges by Heather H. Shepherd

As a presidency stood by the two doors entering into the primary room. We greeted each child with a handshake as they entered. We quietly said hello and said things like, "You look so handsome today, I know Heavenly Father is glad you are folding your arms." or "Look how reverently you are coming to primary, Thank you." or "I know your teacher is going to be so happy to see how reverent you can be today." or "I appreciate how quietly you are walking this morning." or "Hi ____, I'm so glad you are coming to primary so reverently today...."  This way you can target the troublesome ones and give them a booster shot of reverence before they walk in.  Another thing we noticed was that if we as a primary presidency were prepared, sitting at the front and folding our arms when it was time to start - or had one of us up front smiling and standing in front of the pulpit with our arms folded and MINIMIZED the franticness of the beginning - things went much smoother. We noticed that the children really feed off the energy, whether good or bad, that we are exhibiting.  As the music leader, I stand at the front of the room. Lately I have used Silent Simon.  I try to have the children hum or whisper sing reverently when the transitions are happening.  A member of our presidency sometimes sings in a quiet voice - stop - look and listen - and puts her hands on her head. When the children hear this they are to copy her - put their hands on their heads and sing quietly back - stop - look and listen. Then she sings - I can be reverent - and folds her arms. The children echo and copy her back.  (JoAnn Mortensen)

Helping the new Sunbeams to be reverent in Primary

I first saw this at my kids' school during their weekly assembly and it quickly got 600 K-6 kids quiet so I tried it the next Sunday and it's awesome!  Whenever the kids get too loud, or aren't focusing, I just start waving my hands in the air (ASL clapping) or start a clapping rhythm.   I usually start with something like one clap on my legs and two hand claps. The kids immediately turn to me and start to join me. Then I add to or change it, like a snap in the middle. Then I end it by folding my arms.  It works so quickly and they really focus! It works for all 160 of our kids from Sunbeam to the 11 year old BOYS. Amazing, fast, and super easy.  (Idea by Kristal Coles)

My son was one of those antsy kiddos who couldn't sit still. His Sunbeam teacher gave him a heavy set of scriptures to hold. I'm not sure why, but it worked most Sundays at keeping him in his seat. The other kids all wanted a turn to hold the scriptures but it was his important job...and his alone. She made a big deal about the "hand-off" if he was getting up to participate, and then asked if he would please hold the scriptures again when he was done. It made him feel special and helped him to be reverent. (Idea by Amber Pace)

Reverence Jar by Marjorie Legare

New Online Training - Lessons provide suggestions for overcoming common behavior concerns many Primary teachers face.  Each interactive lesson (6 total) can be viewed online and lasts about 10 to 15 minutes. 

Primary 5 by Kristen

Reverence Game - You just have someone come up to the front of the group. You have them fold their arms and look for someone else that is being very reverent with their arms folded. They go to that person and tap them on the shoulder. Then they take their seat and the new person comes to the front, folds their arms and looks for someone reverent. You just do that back and forth. We did about 10 kids but those that didn't get picked weren't upset. It was great. After, the Primary President asked "did anyone hear anything during our quiet game?" (of course one sunbeam said 'I heard the chairs') but other kids said they didn't hear anything. (Perfect answer) So then the Primary President said "that is right, and that is how it is when we are reverent, we don't make any sounds so we don't hear any sounds." (Idea by Jessica Skinner)

Reverence in Training Sign - shared by Heather Matthews

Reverence Reminder Sign from www.eprimary.dk

Reverence Reporter - Choose a man and a woman from your ward and ask them to be this month's reverence reporter.   Give them little slips of paper that say, "It has been reported that...."  They are to watch very carefully during church and write down a specific moment a child was reverent.  For example, if your reverence reporter notes that Megan was especially quite during the Sacrament, she writes it up.  Your reverence reporter could stand in the doorway of Primary in the middle of sharing time and watch for reverent children.  They could be watching the children as they come into Primary, go to class, etc.  The only catch is that the children are not to know who the Reverence Reporter is.  Let them know that it is important to be reverent all the time, not just in Primary.  As part of closing exercises, you could let them know that "Reverence has been reported today..." and give them specific examples of when they were reverent.  You can rotate your Reverence Reporters monthly or as often as needed.  (If a child is really striving to be reverent and wasn't noticed by your reverent reporters, write it up yourself and include them).

Silent Simon Says

"Simple Steps to Reverence" taken from the Ensign, January 1997, p. 73

Some Reverence Ideas for Primary (various sources)

Something I've done to quiet things down was to turn out the lights and have a rainstorm.  First have everyone rub their hands together, click fingers softly, clap your hands together softly a few times (for light rain), pat legs with hands, then stomp feet softly.  Then you do everything listed in the reverse order (until the storm has ended).  

We are having a member of the bishopric come in and participate during opening exercises each week.  This really helps with the reverence problems and also helps them bishopric know what's going on. 

We had 12 topics about reverence and the presidency message covered them during the closing exercises for the month.  One of the most memorable stories I remember would work well for this topic. I would perhaps suggest that you do a combined sharing/singing time with it. The story is in the June 1991, Children's Friend. It is called - Primary Angel. (JoAnn Mortensen)