Parishable Items

• Tell your children every day that you love them and that God loves them too.
• Listen attentively and respectfully to what your child says.
• Forgive frequently. Ask forgiveness when you have done wrong. Look for the humor in stressful situations and hug often.
• Ask children to consider “what if…” when dealing  with challenging situations. Help them find creative, peaceful, and moral responses.
• Tell your child that you pray for them every day and DO it. Thank God for the gifts they are.
• Share your faith beliefs so your child can understand your hopes. Also share your doubts so they understand that doubts do not overwhelm faith.
• Bless your child before bedtime by tracing the Sign of the Cross on their foreheads and saying: “God love you and keep you safe” or some other blessing. Teach your child to respond. “Amen.”
• Encourage your child to value others for who they are – not what they have. Help them to develop Christian virtues and to treat others kindly and with respect.
• Once a week, have a family night when you “unplug” to play board games, do crafts, read stories, or take time to talk together.
• Honor family  dinner. The benefits are amazing and establish a sacred time to share the joys and trials of life with each other.
• Pray before meals, before bed, during holidays and family celebrations, and any time when one needs guidance or comfort.
• Have a family Bible and read the Gospel passages before Church.
• Decorate your house for the liturgical seasons with an Advent wreath, purple during Lent, and a prominently placed crucifix.
• Take time to ponder the beauty of creation with your child. Easter is a wonderful time to appreciate the new life of springtime.
• During the fall and spring, help your child sort through their clothes and toys to donate to a shelter. Bring the child with you when you drop off your donations.
• Select a patron saint to watch over your children when they become involved in a sporting activity. Pray to that saint every time they are at a practice or event.
• Participate in the Catholic Relief  Services Rice Bowl program: read the prayers during Lent, look up the featured countries, and donate coins in the box provided.
• Introduce your child to older people or those with disabilities in your neighborhood. Find out if they need assistance with chores or shopping.
• When you can’t physically help someone, pray for them.
• Choose sporting events that do not conflict with your Sunday Mass attendance.
• Encourage “secret” good deeds.
• Contribute to a food bank. Ask your child to help you with the collection and delivery.
• Watch TV with your child and explain during commercials or afterward what you found to be good, wholesome, and valuable. If you find a program objectionable explain why when changing the channel.
• Encourage your child to use their God-given talents to serve others.
• Help your child find ways to participate in the of the parish, such as being an altar server, choir member, greeter, or reader.
• Invite your parish priest over for dinner.
• Volunteer in your child’s religious education program or Catholic school.
• Have the sporting equipment your child uses get blessed.
• Read stories from the Bible and biographies of saints to your child. Several great videos can also be found online.
• Ask grandparents, godparents, and extended family to share stories about the family their faith lives.
• On the anniversaries of your children’s Baptism, light their Baptismal candles and tell stories about that special day.
• Display religious items in your home, such as a cross, artwork, or a picture of your child’s patron saint. Talk to your child about them.
• By the way you live, let your child know that life is good, that your values and faith guide your decisions and how you interact with others, and that the happiness you experience is a direct result of your personal relationship with God.

Adapted from the pamphlet “Raising Your Child With Faith” by Cecilia P. Regan.

This entry was posted on April 13, 2016 at 11:19 am and is filed under Childhood, Christian Perfection, Culture, Faith, Marriage and Family, Parenting, Reflection. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.