Yes, Memphis Meeting has been blessed over the years with a sizeable number of young Friends; some of them have attended meeting since birth.

We do not expect our young Friends to sit still for more than about 10 minutes. They stay with us for about that long at the beginning of meeting, then they leave the room to attend First Day School (Sunday school), and return at meeting’s close and share the last few moments of silence with us.

If your children fidget or whisper inquiries into your ear, do not worry. It will not bother us. Many babies share messages of the spirit. We may not always understand them, but we do enjoy them.

The adults running First Day School will signal when it’s time for the children to leave. Generally they will have a story, a lesson, music or an activity. In good weather they may enjoy supervised play outdoors.

Children are an important part of our Meeting. Adults make a point of including even our very youngest Friends. At the close of meeting, when introductions are made, young Friends are given the opportunity to speak their names too. It’s always a celebrated occasion when one of the children first volunteers to say his or her own name. Don’t be surprised if some of the littlest ones wander around our circle at the close of Meeting, joining adults in the fun of shaking hands.