Are your kids ready for Lent? Kick things off right by celebrating Shrove Tuesday and observing Ash Wednesday. Here are nine things to do, and resources to go with them.
Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday: 9 things to do with your family
Fasting, giving, praying: 25+ ideas for what kids & teens can do for Lent
Fasting, almsgiving, and prayer are at the heart of the forty days of Lent. Here are some strategies for helping your kids get involved in these traditional penitential practices. Most of the ideas you’ll find on the website are appropriate for kids ages six and up. The best way to introduce younger children to Lenten practices is for them to see adults and older kids in the family practicing them; use their natural curiosity and desire to be “grown up” as a springboard for talking about what you’re doing, and why. Find out how to talk about Lent with kids, fasting ideas, prayer suggestions, giving ideas and much more.
Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Bernadette Soubirous • Saint stories
Our Lady has appeared to many people throughout history, including a fourteen-year-old girl in Lourdes, France–Bernadette Soubirous. Bernadette lived in a very poor house in Lourdes, France, with her parents, two brothers, and a sister. You’ll find Bernadette’s story, and a movie suggestion based on her life.
Celebrating Reconciliation with kids: 9 ways to get into the habit
The sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation gets a bad rap, with many people steering clear because they think it’s all about guilt and punishment, when actually the emphasis is on mercy, forgiveness, and healing. Here’s how to help your family enjoy the benefits of this sacrament more regularly.
Count down to Christmas with an O Antiphons paper chain
“How many days until Christmas?” young children want to know. In the week before Christmas, help them keep track with an O Antiphons paper chain that will serve as a daily reminder of Christ’s coming.
