Younger children and the faith

[CB_Catholic]

I didn’t know how to title this thread, but it seems there is a problem developing with my 8 year old grandaughter. She is going to PSR and being prepared for her First Communion. One of her friends invited her to their church (a small Methodist church) for a youth night. They had activities, sang songs, heard Bible stories, etc, sort of a VBS type thing, but it is held frequently. She came home and said “I don’t want to go to PSR anymore, it’s boring. I want to go to this.”

Well, my daughter told her she had to go to PSR, of course, but my daughter was also upset because what the little girl said was true–PSR is boring for her. Then my daughter said she had to sympathize with her daughter, because she remembers how boring PSR was when she was a kid.She said to me, “Why isn’t there something like this for kids her age in the Catholic Church? There is nothing around here for kids her age in the Catholic churches. All the Youth Groups are for teenagers.” I got to thinking and realized that in my area it is the same–there is nothing for children of that age group. When she was growing up it was the same for kids that did not attend the parish school. Most of what they have is Scouting activities or sports, and most of these programs are attended by the kids that go to our school. Her parish does not have a school, so the kids can’t connect through the school, all they have is PSR. This is a small country parish, but it is growing by leaps and bounds, and there are a lot of young families with kids.

I told her to speak with her Pastor about this, and maybe God is calling her to do something, which she agreed might be possible. Not to replace PSR, but to supplement it, and help kids to connect with their parish and the Church. My question is, does anyone have a program aimed at kids of this elementary school age, or know of one? She was thinking of even something just once a month. They do have some family activities in their parish, but it seems she is talking about something just for the kids, a fun night where they can sing, do activities, etc., but also learn about Jesus and the Bible, etc. I would appreciate any suggestions.

 

[kage_ar]

8 is very young for youth group. Youth groups usually begin in middle/jr high.

Volunteer to run VBS at your Parish. That is great for 8 year olds.

Volunteer to teach CCD (PRE, PSR, RE whatever your parish calls it). You can sing songs in class, the CCD kids should be reading the Bible and learning to love the Church.

And, unless your child is well versed in Scriptural apologetics, don’t send them to protestant churches sunday school, children’s church, youth, etc.

 

[CB_Catholic]

8 is very young for youth group. Youth groups usually begin in middle/jr high.

Volunteer to run VBS at your Parish. That is great for 8 year olds.

Volunteer to teach CCD (PRE, PSR, RE whatever your parish calls it). You can sing songs in class, the CCD kids should be reading the Bible and learning to love the Church.

And, unless your child is well versed in Scriptural apologetics, don’t send them to protestant churches sunday school, children’s church, youth, etc.

It’s not me, it’s my daughter and grandaughter. I don’t have much control on whether she allows her daughter to go with her friend to her friend’s youth group.

But I would like to know if there is a good, solid reason why elementary school aged children are too young for a youth group geared to their age. I certainly cannot think of any. They play sports in groups, go to scouting, take dance lessons, go to birthday parties, etc. Why should we exclude a regular activity at Church? I can’t agree that they are too young.

Anyway, I would like to know if anyone has any experience with this in their parish.

 

[PatriceA]

I may be off the mark, but I think we don’t have that kind of “entertainment” at that age because our church teachings offer much more substance and depth than what other denominations offer. We have the Eucharist, how much better can it get? Yes, other denominations seem to have a lot of activities for all age groups, but what is it really about? It seems to be a lot of bells and whistles and entertainment and not much more. Of course its going to appeal to someone young. But there’s not much else to it. And to water down our faith, even at that age, is not really giving the full picture to the riches of our faith.

But to give the benefit of the doubt, there are instructors that can make the instruction of our faith very, very dull. Just like any other subject taught in school.

 

[puzzleannie]

I
.She said to me, "Why isn’t there something like this for kids her age in the Catholic Church? There is nothing around here for kids her age in the Catholic churches…

if there is nothing similar in her parish for children it is because the parents and other parishioners have not volunteered to start and run such a program, and do not volunteer to help when asked.

Protestant parishes often have full time paid children’s pastors to run such programs because they tithe. If Catholic parishes were willing to adopt stewardship spirituality and tithe their time, talent and treasure, they could have all these programs and more. As long as Catholics resemble the fig tree in the gospel this week, and refuse to bear fruit, the situation will be as described, mediocre children and youth programming.

 

[aspirant]

We have the Eucharist, how much better can it get? Yes, other denominations seem to have a lot of activities for all age groups, but what is it really about? It seems to be a lot of bells and whistles and entertainment and not much more. Of course its going to appeal to someone young. But there’s not much else to it.

I cannot think of any good reason that children cannot or should not have both substance and fun. I would encourage the development of more youth activities in parishes.

 

[kage_ar]

It’s not me, it’s my daughter and grandaughter. I don’t have much control on whether she allows her daughter to go with her friend to her friend’s youth group.

But I would like to know if there is a good, solid reason why elementary school aged children are too young for a youth group geared to their age. I certainly cannot think of any. They play sports in groups, go to scouting, take dance lessons, go to birthday parties, etc. Why should we exclude a regular activity at Church? I can’t agree that they are too young.

Anyway, I would like to know if anyone has any experience with this in their parish.

$$$$$

Catholics don’t give like protestants do.

Because Parishes cannot afford to hire a children’s church director. Paid youth ministers are hard enough to come by in the Catholic world!

Volunteer yourself or have a fund raiser to pay someone to head up such a program. Get the parts in place then present your pastor with a plan (including where you will meet).

 

[shondrea]

Oh man, I remember going to my friends youth group in middle school, and wondering why I had to go to CCD when it was so much more boooring. I would have LOVED for there to have been some sort of interactive faith group for Catholics when i was younger, but it seems like it just doesn’t exist