Sanctuary Play

I'm convinced that the primary way my toddler familiarizes herself with places and objects is through play.  One place I want her to feel really at home in, a special place she can go to for the rest of her life, no matter where she is, to find the peace of familiarity and home, is a church sanctuary.  AND since I'm always on the lookout for places I can take her, not only do we go to church every Sunday (and I keep her with me in the service- more work for me, but the benefits far outweigh the cost in my mind - especially since children learn what they live), but we also sometimes will go to the sanctuary just to be there during the week.  (I check first to make sure there isn't a funeral or something).  I let her wander around and explore the pulpit, the alter, the baptismal font, the kneeling rails, etc.  We climb the steps to the balcony and look around.  She walks across the kneeling rails like a balance beam, she checks out the details of the furniture, she walks up and down and up and down the stairs to the front of the church...