I am looking for good resources to educate a toddler on the faith

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Hey everyone. I was wondering if anyone knew of some good resources which I could use to supplement the religious education that my 3 1/2-year-old boy gets at CCD class. I am really wanting to teach him more about the faith at home but besides trying to explain things to him in language that he understands, I don’t really know what to do and I could really use some guidance. I wasn’t raised Catholic so I have no idea how it’s done.
 
Thanks! I have two Brother Francis DVDs and want to buy more but I’m on a very limited budget so it’s difficult.
 
Thank you! I did buy him a book called My First Catechism: The Catholic Faith For Little Ones by Christine Pedotti but I found it to be a little too basic for my son. I think he needs something a little more advanced.
 
I loved picture books about Jesus and Bible stories when I was a kid. If you’re on a tight budget, you might be able to find some at the library. Or if you know other moms maybe they have some to lend or that their kids have outgrown.
 
Thank you! I have been thinking about going to the library lately. I might go down there after while if I am feeling up to it.
 
I used to let my kids watch Faith Factory on EWTN when they were 3 or 4. Sort of like afternoon cartoons when we were a kid, except they’re more religious-based. If you don’t have EWTN on cable, you can watch it on your computer, or through Roku or whatever.

When they were a little older, I picked up some DVD boxed sets of Truth in the Heart. Those are broken down by grade. (You can get the boxed set for about $40-$60/grade.) I’d give them an episode and ask them to be able to tell me two things they learned to see if it was going over their heads.
 
Your parish may offer a subscription to FORMED. There are many kids resources.

Simply reading Bible stories, teaching in every little thing is key.
 
The book is aimed at kids ages 2 and up, preschool to Kinder. It ought to be just right for your guy!
 
That cover art makes me want that Bible for myself.
Always loved the animals.
That must be why the “Noah’s Ark” toy was so popular with kids for the last couple hundred years.
 
I would also recommended EWTN’s children’s shows and have come to learn that Magnificat has a really great selection of toddler-friendly books about the faith and prayer. They’re pretty affordable too. And many come as board books so they are relatively indestructible 😉

Oooooh also, Praying with My Fingers inspired by Pope Francis is becoming a favorite book with my little one. It’s really fantastic for toddlers!
 
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Tis_Bearself said:
That cover art makes me want that Bible for myself.
Always loved the animals.
That must be why the “Noah’s Ark” toy was so popular with kids for the last couple hundred years.
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I know, right? I had a similar Bible as a child, and used to love flipping through the pages and looking at the pictures just as much as reading the words.
 
Thank you all so much for the suggestions! I greatly appreciate it!
 
I’d reccomend if you get a children’s bible that you get a Catholic one for the sake of the Eucharist being explained instead of a just a symbol interpretation or something.

That or just explain the correct doctrine when reading the last supper.
 
Thank you all so much for your recommendations. I have added several things to my Amazon Wish List that I am hopefully going to be able to buy sometime soon. Unfortunately I won’t be able to buy all of them because of my limited budget. Some of them are around $15 and I can only afford to buy something like that once a month.

Anyway, about the children’s Bible, I have had a few given to me that are not specifically Catholic but I am definitely planning on buying a good Catholic Children’s Bible at some time in the future. If anyone has any specific ones to recommend, that would be awesome.
 
IMHO, the best things to do to educate a preschooler are:
  1. Plenty of sit on lap and read time.
  2. Plenty of doing normal things with mom and dad.
    Specifically for religious ed. this would mean lots of story books as others have suggested but also lots of tagging along with mom and dad as they live out their faith. Pray together. Go to Mass together and gently teach by example the whats and hows and whens even as the whys may have to wait for explanations at home (Discreet whispering like “this is when the bread and wine become Jesus” or “we stand now because we’re going to hear about Jesus’s life” can help too.). Bring the child along to Adoration even if it means you can only stay for a couple of minutes. Do a part of the rosary each day. Some things are better caught than taught at this age.
 
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