Apologetics for children at school

[cktplus5]

My 9 year old daughter has been legitimately challenged about her faith at her public school by other students. She answered what she could pretty well, but she’s only 9. I would like to know if there is an apologetics resource for kids, how to answer challenges to her beliefs. Does anyone know of anything?

 

[Tis_Bearself]

The YouCat would be helpful for stating what Catholics believe in the cases that often occur where someone is challenging based on a wrong assumption of “what Catholics believe”.

You can also tell your daughter that she is under no obligation to have these types of discussions with others and can simply tell them that they need to respect her faith and respect her wish to not discuss it.

 

[HOMM]

Rather than arming her in the art of Apologetics, it might be better to reinforce beliefs in the home.

Even well intended Catholic adults entered unprepared into Apologetics fail miserably, and would be better off evangelizing, through the way they live, rather than battling it out, whether defensively, or offensively.

So, reassure her.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Yes, there’s also the potential for her to give the most wonderful Apologetics answer like a junior Aquinas or Jimmy Akin, and the other kid still doesn’t accept it and reverts to “aw g’wan, yo momma” type name-calling.

That’s why I’m thinking it might be better for her to just not engage. She also deserves to be able to go to school without getting hassled about her religious beliefs. If the other kids keep disrespecting her beliefs, I would contact the school administration. It’s no more okay for a Catholic kid to be hassled at school than it would be for a Jewish kid, a Muslim kid, etc.

 

[Peaceable]

I agree, and would say further that it wouldn’t be terrible to bring this up with the school sooner rather than later. Why let it escalate? As a kid, whenever I brought something up like this, it probably wasn’t the first time it happened (just my personality I guess).

And besides, shouldn’t the school want to know so they can do something about it?

 

[Lara]

It’s good that she’s challenged because it’s through researching the answers that she will have a stronger faith. I would buy some apologetics books and then respond to her in ways she can understand when she comes home with a tale.

This week, I learned a Catholic friend’s daughter had married a Muslim about five years ago and the marriage went bust. To me, it’s terribly sad that she didn’t know why she shouldn’t marry a Muslim. It’s seems obvious to me. Yet her parents, father in Knights of Columbus, somehow missed this important piece of instruction when she was growing up. Now they’re spending weekends taking care of the grandkids who are shifted from house to house. It’s terribly important to get good at apologetics.

 

[jeannetherese]

As an adult, you might read apologetics materials yourself, then consider the issues which are most frequently raised in our society, and use your sources to help her think through these issues using more familiar vocabulary (but also, if possible, explaining the vocabulary of the Church).
You could purchase the first Baltimore Catechism and then review the questions and answers with your child, drawing from your sources to help her to own the answers.
May God bless you and your child.
Amen.

 

[HeDa]

“I don’t know the answer to your question but I will find out and come back to you.” is a good answer if they are polite.

EWTNs programme Called to Communion sometimes has kids calling in or mailing questions. Dr David Anders gives them an age appropriate answer.

Maybe have a “Kids ask the priest/deacon/sister questions” meeting in your parish where they have the opportunity to have all their questions answered. I am sure the parents will learn a lot too.