Adoration with children

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KarenSpade

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I am taking over the 2pm to 3pm time slot for Eucharistic Adoration. It is at the parish where my children go to school so they will be coming in at 2:30 after school. They are 10 and 12. My question is, the mom who did this before me would let her kids do their homework while in the adoration chapel. Is this appropriate? I’m not sure if I should let my kids do their homework or if they should take that 30 minutes to pray. Thank you for (name removed by moderator)ut.
 
My opinion is that Eucharistic Adoration is exactly that: Eucharistic Adoration, not study hall. If the half hour of prayer time is too long for your children, maybe they could do homework outside or in another room. But what an awesome opportunity to let your kids learn the value of Adoration and prayer time.
 
My son is 10 and he goes to adoration once per week with my husband or me. An hour is a long time, so he has a variety of things he does: he prays a Rosary, might walk the stations of the cross, he has a prayer journal (where he writes thoughts to God or composes prayers), he reads his Bible, and just spends quiet time with God. At times, he might light a candle and spend time with Mary. Or he even has gone to kneel on the floor before the Blessed Sacrament. He actually sits away from me because it is his time with God. He is very reverent and I have had people make nice comments about him during this time. He really values this time and asks to go. I think your children, if given a few devotional practices, can find some variety to keep them engaged during the time.
 
KarenSpade said:
I am taking over the 2pm to 3pm time slot for Eucharistic Adoration. It is at the parish where my children go to school so they will be coming in at 2:30 after school. They are 10 and 12. My question is, the mom who did this before me would let her kids do their homework while in the adoration chapel. Is this appropriate? I’m not sure if I should let my kids do their homework or if they should take that 30 minutes to pray. Thank you for (name removed by moderator)ut.
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Ok, I’m assuming your children go to a catholic school at your parish. Do the school children have regular Adoration time? If they do I’m sure the children have been giving guide lines for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. During lent we have perpetual adoration for 40 days. My time is always from 1-2p.m., during which time the children from the school are in the main church doing the stations of the cross. At 2 p.m. I am replaced by children from the school. Each class takes an hour of Adoration each friday. Even the First graders know what they are supposed to do at Adoration. It melts my heart when they all file in so quiet and reverent, drop to both knees and b ow their heads, imagine what it does for Jesus!! And if there isn’t Adoration for catholic school kids I’d be asking why??
 
No, our son is in public school. So as parents, we try to make sure that he gets religious instruction from us, his primary teachers. For example, we take him to our adult Bible study. And I work with him before that class session or after to help him understand what we are learning, at his level. He also goes to weekday Masses during summers (or breaks). And we prepare for Mass by reviewing the readings each Sunday before Mass. We also have discussions on those readings and a reflection after we listen to the homily. We like to see if how we understood the readings was the same or different from the homily. This sounds like alot - but prereading and discussion takes about 15 minutes. And the after Mass discussion happens on the drive home or during lunch. You are right, seeing the reverence of children for God is so amazing and beautiful. We need to teach them while they are willing to learn, so that they will have these things for the rest of their lives.
 
Do your children walk over to church to meet you? In that case it seems like they would be there less than one half hour, which isn’t very long for a 10 and 12 year old. Maybe pray the rosary? They have little books about the rosary and prayers with them that you could look for. I would think reading a book on a saint (there are plenty for children) or a religious book is fine as well. I don’t know about doing homework at that time. It is such a wonderful opportunity in front of our Lord for them to give their time to their faith.
 
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