Question on Homeschooling catechesis

[WingsOfEagles]

That’s great insight. Thank you. I will try the brainstorming. Again, I can be somewhat linear and narrow minded when it comes to things like this. ‘That didn’t solve the problem? Go at it the same way but harder!’

She does sing in the choir, likes to do it. But it doesn’t stop her from playing with her hair during the Eucharistic prayer. I will look at the video, that sounds interesting.

At this point she has no interest in altar serving.

Her attention span may naturally lengthen out as she gets a little older.

 

[Whalljim]

“at some point you pick your battles”

Do you work with kids? You seem to have alot more insight than me. I’ll admit my wife is way better at all this than I am. I’ll admit some of my anxiety comes from the current culture making it tough to be Catholic, and I don’t see it getting any better for our kids. I fear my kids losing their faith and not having it for the tough times.

 

[Whalljim]

Her attention span may naturally lengthen out as she gets a little older.

I’m hoping. I hope I don’t sound like a jerk. I’m not constantly harping on them. Just trying to figure out ways to ignite their faith.

 

[WingsOfEagles]

I’m hoping. I hope I don’t sound like a jerk. I’m not constantly harping on them. Just trying to figure out ways to ignite their faith.

No, I think you just sound like a concerned father trying to make sure he steers his kids on the right path.

 

[pianistclare]

I think it’s so wonderful that you care so much. Wish all parents were this engaged. I’m the Director of Religious Ed, the Youth Minister, and the Lay Ecclesial minister at my parish. We see a lot of this. You are not alone.

One thing to watch:
Make sure while you’re pouring info into her dear brain, you also block much of the bad info that is available to her via internet, social media, and celebrities “rants”.
The hardest thing that youth ministers and pastors have to contend with is children who think they have a lock on truth, and that if Madonna or Miley Cyrus said it, it must be true.
In their innocence, they believe everything.
One student said in class “well the world needs gay couples because otherwise no one else would adopt children.” Yes. She said that. And ran out of the room crying when we tried to explain that marriage the way God intended it, is not in line with that perception.
This was especially hurtful to the Catechist in the room who had just the month prior adopted a sweet little baby boy after 2 failed adoption attempts. We were very dismayed that she would say something like this, but where did she get this idea? From popular culture.

So whether parents believe it or not, kids get their opinions the same way adults do, They read things, they watch tv, and they are being formed. Not always in a Catholic way. Keep being vigilant, and she will do well. As the previous poster suggested, maybe she might be interested in joining the choir, being an altar server, or a helper int he parish cry room. As long as she is involved and around good families, red flags will become obvious and you can deal with those as they may occur. Hopefully they will not.
God bless.

 

[casslean]

“at some point you pick your battles”

Do you work with kids? You seem to have alot more insight than me. I’ll admit my wife is way better at all this than I am. I’ll admit some of my anxiety comes from the current culture making it tough to be Catholic, and I don’t see it getting any better for our kids. I fear my kids losing their faith and not having it for the tough times.

I do. I currently work with our parish’s religious education program, and their youth program, and accompanied our pilgrimage to WYD in Krakow. I also have quite a bit of experience working in other youth programs, like 4-H. That’s why I don’t sweat the little things - because really, do I want to send the message that God is going to be upset that they decided to stare at the window for five minutes during an especially long homily? Of course not.

The world is certainly happy to catechize your kids if you don’t, but never fall into the trap of thinking the world is greater than God. I grew up without a faith, in a secular home, and I still found my way to the church. Your kids have a foundation in the faith, and they can’t lose that. I think it’s far more important to them to have that foundation and a strong role model than any lessons or classes.

 

[TCEL]

We use a great video series with our Junior High class called Altaration that gives a lot more insight into what is going on during the Mass, and a number of our teens have commented that it makes the Mass more real to them.

Yes, it’s in one of the links I provided, along with a middle-school version of the Great Adventure Bible Study.

 

[tafan]

Not sure what YouCat is. Could you explain? We do read the bible, though I really need to ratchet that up.

She is 11 YO.

The Short Answer is nice… but won’t fly for long, and won’t give the type of roots that I want to plant.

I had a grandmother that did basic catechesis, and then in HS a Basilian priest who did a fantastic job of giving the reasons behind the faith.

In the age of the new atheists and secular attacks, there has to be a philosophical framework instead of ‘Cuz we said so’.

Keep in mind, that the “short answer” being discussed has never been the position of the Church.

 

[Tablefor9]

Symbolon.

Works as RCIA, but my son used it prior to confirmation. Love it. Additionally, some parishes have a password program so that any parishioners wanting to deepen their knowledge & understanding can do this.