Swam the Tiber on Easter; now, how to teach my toddler and preschooler?

[RHC]

Hey, everyone,

We (my husband and I) are so excited to be in full communion with the Church finally! We swam the Tiber on Easter Vigil! Praise God.

Now, I want to raise my children with an authentically Catholic faith. My children are ages 3 and 1. Any suggestions? Curricula? I do better with a plan.

Has anyone used the Family Catechesis program from the Apostolate for Family Consecration? I saw information from them at our archdiocese’s Web site. It looks like the program is geared toward older kids. Has anyone used it with little ones?

 

[gardenswithkids]

Hey, everyone,

We (my husband and I) are so excited to be in full communion with the Church finally! We swam the Tiber on Easter Vigil! Praise God.

Now, I want to raise my children with an authentically Catholic faith. My children are ages 3 and 1. Any suggestions? Curricula? I do better with a plan.

Has anyone used the Family Catechesis program from the Apostolate for Family Consecration? I saw information from them at our archdiocese’s Web site. It looks like the program is geared toward older kids. Has anyone used it with little ones?

Welcome the the Catholic Church.

At three and one, I don’t use any curricula with my children. Young children typically learn through their senses and through experience. Make the sign of the cross with family prayers and teach your children how to make it and work on teaching standard prayers. Read stories from children’s Bibles, simple stories of the saint, etc… Take them to Mass. Tell them the stories behind the statues and paintings that they see in church. Catholic church stain glass windows often tell Bible stories that even the not-yet-literate can “read” and meditate upon.

Let them dip their little fingers in the Holy Water font and bring some Holy Water too for your home. Make your Catholic home look like a Catholic home–display crucifixes, statues and religious art. They can make their own Catholic art projects by color religious coloring books or doing other simple art projects related to the Church seasons, Holy Days and saints feast days.

If you want more ideas, Catholic homeschooling websites and books often have suggestions and curriculum ideas for pre-schoolers, but your children learn their faith mostly by living it and watching you live yours. God bless you and your family.

 

[julia1234]

Just to jump in with a quick observation. I was brought up Catholic, attended catechism etc. but went to public schools after 3rd grade. Never cared much for church and believed all churches, faiths etc. are equal while growing up and only recently decided to make up my mind since I want to be consistent raising my young son. I realized after all these years that I know the new testament backwards and forwards but that’s it. I was never taught the explanation of the symbolism of icons. A picture is worth a thousand words etc. No explanations on how amazing it is that the church carried on for 2000 years and how it managed. I could go on and on. I just recently learned these things on my own. I think sharing that with children as they grow would be very helpful in retaining Catholism for the next generation. Just my two cents. Good luck and congrats!!!