We Did It! We Actually Prayed an Entire Rosary Together!

Our Cupcake Rosary from Last Friday

Several years ago, I attempted to make a habit of praying the rosary with my children before bed each night.  It was a struggle.  The kids just did not get into it and, therefore, they succumbed to temptation to morph their rosary beads from prayer tools to toys (and -- yikes! -- even swinging weapons).  So, away went the beads and pause went my efforts to develop a peaceful, prayerful bedtime rosary routine for us all.

Later, since my children love to listen music CD's at bedtime, they received The Rosary for Children CD set.  It was great, I thought.  And, they did, too.  For a while.  But, soon enough, even this lovely CD set  was met with more complaints than delight and prayer.

And so the quest to engage the children in praying the rosary continued.  And, I admit, the quest to make the rosary a strong prayer habit of my own did, too.  Praying the rosary is not something my own family did growing up, and, although I understand the value of it and feel called to do it, I confess that I have failed to follow that call regularly.

Then, finally, this past Friday, we met with some success.

At our first fall gathering of Catholic homeschoolers at a parish about 40 minutes from our home, the leaders decided to include a cupcake rosary.  As I baked my share of the cupcakes for it, I wondered how my kids would make it through the prayer portion of the afternoon.  Prior to the gathering, my children had never made it through an entire rosary.  In fact, sometimes, attempts to pray the rosary together ended in anything but  a reverent atmosphere in our home.  (Anyone else ever experienced this unhappy phenomenon?)

Enjoying Cupcakes After Praying the Rosary and Hearing a Poem About St. Francis

With God's grace, the gentle leadership of the two wonderful homeschooling moms that led the rosary, and, perhaps, the promise of cupcakes awaiting the children on a nearby table, the kids did it, though.  Nina participated 100%.  Luke, who currently has an odd and inexplicable dislike for the Hail Mary prayer, struggled, but at least did not disturb others.  Jack, a typical three year old, came in and out of the prayer.  So it was, that all three of my children and I remained present -- if not 100% engaged by -- praying the entire rosary this past Friday.

I am so grateful.  I am so encouraged.  Praying the rosary with young children CAN be done -- even with my children. 

Now, I am eager to revisit The Rosary for Children with my children and to make praying the rosary a more regular habit for us -- even if it may mean making lots of cupcakes or inviting friends to pray it with us (which are both things I think helped us meet success this past Friday.)

What hurdles and helps have you discovered when praying the rosary with young children?  Please share your tips and tales.

 

(If you receive this post via email and cannot see the linky, be sure to actually click over to the blog to read browse the rich catalog of ideas there.)

This post contains affiliate links to Amazon. If you click on them and choose to make any purchase, you will not be charged any extra, but we may receive a small percentage of your purchase price.  We thank you for supporting us like this should you choose to do so. :)

5 Easy Steps to Enjoying Faith and Life at the Kitchen Table

Faith and Life is a religious studies series for children that many local friends of ours highly recommend.  So, a couple of years ago, I borrowed a copy of the Our Heavenly Father student book (which is the first book in the series), its Teachers Manual, and its Activity Book from someone and tried it out with the kids.  Although the materials were well laid out and the information in them solid, the curriculum just didn't work for us.  So, we did not continue to use it at that time.

This fall, however, we have picked the series back up and are finding it a great fit for our family!

Since Luke is preparing for First Holy Communion this year -- and Nina is but a year behind him -- I thought giving Faith and Life a second try would be a good idea.  So, at the beginning of the month, I decided to make Our Heavenly Father our family's Sunday breakfast reading.  No teacher's book.  No Activity Book.  Just our family, one copy of the student book and a five step routine for enjoying each chapter.

Our 5-Step Routine for Reading Faith and Life Together

1. Do a quick picture study.  Each chapter begins with a full page reproduction of a beautiful piece of fine art.  We study these, Charlotte Mason style, discussing what we see in the images and sharing our thought about them.  To get the children really looking at the pictures, I often challenge them to look at  them for 15-30 seconds, trying to remember x number of details about it.  Then, I hide the picture and they narrate back what they saw.  From there, we chat a little about what the picture might mean, thoughts about its composition or whatever else strikes our fancy
2. Read the text in a conversational way.  Since Our Heavenly Father is written for children in first grade, it is an easy read that lends itself to reading conversationally, which is exactly what we do, pausing to let the children answer its rhetorical questions and dialoguing with the presented information.
3. Enjoy a playful quiz.  We use the Words to Know and Catechism Question sections as the basis for oral quizzes.  (Our children actually like these!  If they did not, I would make them into a hands-on game.)
4. Pray!  Of course, we practice and pray the prayers at the end of each chapter.
5. Play a game or do a movement activity. When we have time, or at any point when the children are getting to antsy, I make up movements or games related to topics in the chapters that we can play around the breakfast table pp or even one that get us up and about moving around.  For example, with Chapter One, we played God Made-Man Made, a game I will post about in coming weeks.

And that's that.  Our succinct, effective and enjoyable approach to using  the Faith and Life series as a family around the kitchen table.

How do you approach using Faith and Life or other religious education books as a family?  Are there any particular books or series you'd highly recommend, particularly for families with children of First Communion age and younger?

 

(If you receive this post via email and cannot see the linky, be sure to actually click over to the blog to read browse the rich catalog of ideas there.)

An Easy, Active Game for St. Michael's Day (with a Free Printable)

Luke as St. Michael Last Year in the Frugal Costume He Helped Make

Next Sunday is St. Michael and the Archangel's Feast Day, so today I thought I would share a quick and easy game we played last year during our homeschool Co-op's All Saints Day party, which could just as easily be played at home with your children.

The game is easy to set up and includes climbing and throwing, plus some running if you wish, thereby encouraging lots of motor skill coordination and proprioceptive input.

The set up of the game, as we played it, was super simple.   

We draped the top of a ladder with a "heavenly" blue fabric and placed both a stuffed snake and a stuffed dragon on it, as well as a game challenge card. Further away on the floor, we placed some dried stalks to represent brambles.

Get this here.

 With each group that rotated to the game station, we looked at the image on the game challenge card, used it to briefly discuss what we knew -- or could figure out -- about St. Micheal, read the Scripture verse on it, and, then, one by one, let the children climb to the top of the ladder to select either the snake or the dragon (as symbols of satan) to throw as far as they could into the brambles.

We selected children whose turn it was not to be our "runners" and "markers", either getting the stuffed toys for the next person in line or marking where previous throws were to see if the next person could out-distance them.

It was simple, but fun!  Children asked to play again and again. 

If you'd like to play the game, too, or to simply use the sign for it for a picture study, please feel free to download the sign here.

Nina Playing with Our St. Micheal's Symbol Cards Last Year

You may also want to check out our Resource Round-Up for Planning a St. Micheal's Tea, which is chock full of ideas and links for St. Michael's Day decorations, foods, prayers and activities, and, if you haven't grabbed them yet, print out a free copy of our St. Micheal's Symbols 3-Part Cards.  I made them for my children last year, and they loved them!

What are your favorite games and motor activities for celebrating with the saints?

 

(If you receive this post via email and cannot see the linky, be sure to actually click over to the blog to read browse the rich catalog of ideas there.)

This post is also being shared at Upsidedown Homeschooling Hearts for Home Blog Hop.

Make Way for Ducklings Duplo Challenge

In late summer, I found older copies of Five in a Row, Volumes 1, 2 and 3 at a library in a neighboring town.  Since we love reading and extending what we read here, I thought I'd give officially "rowing" a few books a try.  So much for a few though, we have yet to stop enjoying our first row -- Make Way for Ducklings -- a book we have read before, but never with as much depth, fun and extensions as we have been doing for the past few weeks.  For while, yes, suggested "rows" are but a week long, we seem to be meandering longer with this pick!

Lego Ducks! 

As a side trip in officially rowing Make Way for Ducklings, the children enjoyed building a variety of Lego Duplo ducks using patterns found online as well as their own imagined designs. 

The step-by-step design patterns we used all came from Building Examples, a site from which I printed out the three available duck pattern pdf’s, as well as one bird one.  I loved this selection since the designs ranged from super-easy ones, which I could make into easy "tray work" to get the kids started with their duck designs, to much more challenging ones, which could inspire more complex creativity.

In a Montessori-inspired way, I slipped print outs of the two easiest designs into a page protector and placed them on a tray with a small bin that contained only the blocks required to complete the designs, thereby ensuring control of error.  The two more complex step-by-step designs I tucked into larger bins of Duplos in the children's open-ended play shelf.  I also searched online for images of other Lego ducks, which the children used as inspiration for building their own designs. 

And what designs they built!   

Extending a Modeled Design with a Pong atop a Castle

Paying it forward, I wanted to include some printable images of my children's designs so that your little ones could use them as patterns.  However, now that I am sitting down to look at the pictures I took, I am having difficult time remembering which of the many Duplo ducks were copied from images that we found online and which were their own amazingly inventive creations.  I know there were more of the latter than the former, but I would hate to credit my kids with something they copied from another child's design.  So, instead of creating a printable, I am simply sharing a few snapshots here of some of the kids' designs.  I hope they inspire your own children to build an enjoy!

Jack's Minimalist Design -- Simply a Head/Beak and Body

Nina's Awesome Creations, One On Its Legs, One Swimming

Luke's Hungry Duck with Open Beak

Learning Connections

As we enjoyed this activity, we naturally wove in lots of "academic" learning.  For example:

• Sorting and Classifying (Math):  Before beginning our build challenge, we sorted out Duplos by colors and shapes.
• Science/Anatomy:  We talked about the parts of a duck and how we might represent these in our creations.  (Note tail feathers, wings, feet, open beaks, closed beaks, eyes, etc on the kids' different designs.)
• Design/Engineering:  We followed models to understand design principles and then imagined and built our own designs, sometimes freely and sometimes with parameters, such as, "Design a swimming duck," or, "Design a duck with all the typical duck parts."
• Language Arts:  In our home, few things come without some sort of dramatic play and storytelling, and, most certainly our Duplo Ducks were not just build-and-sit projects.  They swam and adventured all over our home. 

Play?  Lessons?  I'd call our Duck Duplo Challenge a hybrid.  The kids?  They'd call it just plain engaging fun!



What extension activities have you enjoyed while rowing Make Way for Ducklings?  Do you have favorite Lego Challenge design sites?  Do share!

This post contains affiliate links to Amazon.  If you click through one of them and choose to purchase anything, it won't cost you any extra, but it may help us earn a very small percentage.  We thank you for supporting us in this way!
 

An Easy Way to Teach Young Children about Baptism

Last month, Nina’s baptism anniversary arrived before I had made time to plan for it.  Determined not to let another year go by without honoring the occasion, I decided to make the anniversary the primary focus of our day.  So, we reminisced over photos, read about John the Baptist and Jesus, visited Jesus in the tabernacle, prayed special prayers, enjoyed a family meal together and even centered some of our learning time on exploring the signs and significance of Baptism.

(Note: This post contains affiliate links.  Thank you for supporting us if you have any purchases to make today.  Please read our full disclosure if you wish.)
 

After consulting Moira Farrell's Home Catechesis Manual and Google for ideas, I was able to put together an easy Baptism tray with found materials from our home, which was a hit with my kiddoes.

Our Montessori-Inspired Baptism Tray

A Sacraments-Based Tray with Practical Life, Story Telling and, of course, Faith Formation Connections

Materials

• a bowl with water
• a small pitcher
• a small container of scented oil
• a basket
• a doll (in the basket)
• a white garment (for the doll)
• a cloth
• a white candle
• a smaller candle (or several)
• 3 white paper (or cloth) circles
• matches

Main Goals 

Nina blessing "Baby Nina" with the Sign of the Cross on her Baptism Anniversary Day

1. To explore the Sacrament of Baptism in a concrete way.
2. To describe the signs and symbols of Baptism.
3. To recall our own baptisms and discuss the meaning of it

Set Up

Place a bowl with water, a small pitcher, a small vial of oil, three white circle, matches, a small white candle, a larger white candle, a cloth and a basket with a baby doll and a white garment on a tray as pictured above.

Procedure

Luke Taking a Turn with the Tray

1. Invite children to gather around the tray you have put together.
2. Briefly introduce the Sacrament of Baptism by recalling the children’s own baptisms, a recent or upcoming baptism you’ll attend, Baptism stories in the Bible or similar.
3. Present the tray by tweaking scripts found in Moira Farrell's Home Catechesis Manual or through online sources to suit you and your children.  (A helpful online source is the Baptism pdf found when scrolling down this page or the youtube video found here.)
4. Put all the materials back carefully on the tray, just as they were when you began your presentation.
5. Invite children to explore with the tray, listening to them present as you did if they wish you to.
6. Place the tray in a “home” and allow children to explore it further.
7. Extend learning with other activities if you wish.

Skills, Learning and Concepts

• Faith (role playing what happens during the Sacrament of Baptism; understanding symbols and significance of Baptism)
• Early Literacy (storytelling, sequencing)
• Practical Life (filling, pouring, dressing, undressing, etc.)
• Focus (concentrating on pouring and on remembering sequence)

Notes

Nina Anointing Baby with Oil

• Of course, open flame can be dangerous around young children.  Use matches and candles with caution.  Do not leave the matches out to be used without supervision.  Depending on the children you are working with, you may wish to use battery-operated “candles”.
• The paper circles we used got wet and had to be recycled fairly quickly.  You may wish to use cloth ones or to have another tray nearby for tracing and cutting paper circles, which would be a great go-along for fine motor work.

Homeschool Method/Approaches Connections

• Montessori:  Our tray was directly inspired by Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and Godly Play, which are both Montessori-influenced faith formation programs

• Unschooling:  When/if children ask about Baptism – its significance, what actually happens at it, etc., you could easily put together a tray like this to help them discover answers.

• Reggio:  Skip the demonstration, leave the tray out at as a provocation/invitation and see where the children take things.

• Sensory Smart:  This tray inherently contains strong tactile and olfactory input.  Depending on how a particular child reacts to the sensation of getting wet, or to the scent you choose for the oil oil, this activity can be used as a calming and focusing one or as an alerting one.

Inspirations

Jack Concentrating on Pouring the Baptismal Waters Three Times.

• Moira Farrell's Home Catechesis Manual
• a wonderful Godly Play Baptism Script pdf that I found after scrolling though this page
• various online images and blogs; some of which I pinned for my future reference and for yours, if you like.
• a helpful pdf on Baptism from the Sacred Heart of Jesus parish in Hopedale, MA which I can no longer find online

How do you teach little ones about the Sacrament of Baptism?
I’d love to hear about it or to have you share links in the comments here.

Want to be inspired with others' Montessori ideas and work?  Click on over to Montessori Monday and enjoy.

 

(If you receive this post via email and cannot see the linky, be sure to actually click over to the blog to read browse the rich catalog of ideas there.)

Baby Steps to Better Breakfasts: Produce Power! (with Free Printable 3-Part Fruit Cards!)

Three years ago, I began using “Fruit first!” as a motto with my children to encourage them to choose produce before anything else in the morning.  To help them with this choice, I sometimes even greeted them first thing in the morning with a variety of fruits to nibble on or to squeeze the juice out of.

Likewise, I started the 2013 calendar year off with an effort to instill a “Raw Foods First” habit for myself – reaching for raw nuts, seeds, fruit or veggies first thing in the morning.

Both of these initiatives worked for us for a time. 

However, somehow, towards the end of last month, I noticed that our healthy habits had slipped.  We were reaching less and less consistently for Produce Power first thing in the morning.

That’s not good.  I thought to myself.  Time to make it better!

So, just before September began, I shared my observation with the kids and asked them what they thought would help us all focus on Produce Power first thing each morning.

Luke’s suggestion was, “First we eat all the starch in the house, then all we’ll have left is the protein...then the produce... then we eat our whole house.  Every wire.  Every battery.  Every chair.  Every crumb.  Every ant.  Every mouse.  Every shelf.  Every book.  Every tile.  Every pot.  Every pan.  Each other...”  Yep.  That’s my Luke.  My carb-(and apparently non-food-item-) loving boy with a great imagination who gets more and more ridiculous with every giggle he is able to elicit from his younger siblings.

Jack of course burst forth with many giggles as Luke went on and on, and, then, dovetailed his own suggestion on Luke’s, saying, “Eat the ceiling and the couch... and the tree....and a mouse.... and a squirrel ... and a chipmunk...”  (Oh, if only the mimicking could be the opposite way around, with big brother modeling after little brother in eating habits.  Then, my entire Produce Power campaign would be a non-issue since Jack happily chooses more fruits and veggies than either of his siblings ever do!)

Lucky for me, Nina’s suggestion was far more practical and succinct than either of her brothers’ had been: “Buy fruits that we like.” 

That was a baby step this mama could handle.  Done and then some!

The children and I created a list of fruits that the kids like.  I went out an purchased a variety of them.  The kids enjoyed strawberries and Asian pears first thing the next morning and we’ve been going strong ever since, with at least a little bit of fruit each day before the rest of breakfast.

Then, because the turning of the calendar page to September has had me in a mode focused on consciously encouraging independence and learning for my kiddoes, I took things a step further:  I made some Produce Power (Fruit) cards for us, which I am sharing here in case anyone would like to use them for pocket chart menus, encouraging healthy eating or early language lessons with their children.

On the cards are fruits my children favor as well as some that I am working on getting them to accept.  If any of your children’s favorite fruits are not included and you would like me to make additional cards, just list the fruits in the comments and, when there are eight of them, I will make an additional page to share.

Enjoy!

What baby steps towards better breakfasts are you taking this month?

This post is being shared at Living Montessori Now's Montessori Monday.  Check out other helpful Montessori ideas there.

A Quick and-Easy Craft for the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Plus Some Ideas for Mary's Birthday Today!)

As my children and I sculpted with packing peanuts, water and toothpicks the other day, exploring all the different ways we could use the materials, one of us spontaneously made a cross shape and others followed.

Later, as I looked at the calendar and realized September 14 is the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Triumph of the Cross or Feast of the Cross – whatever you want to call it), which is a feast we have not yet really celebrated in our home, I thought, What a perfect activity to reprise on that day! I also thought, I just have to share this simple, eco-friendly idea in case anyone wants an inexpensive, easy, open-ended activity to enjoy as a family on the Exaltation of the Cross Feast Day.

Truly, you cannot get much easier than this one.

How to Make Packing Peanut Crosses

 Simply set out a pile of some of modern packing peanuts (the kind made out of corn, not styrofoam) and place some toothpicks and some shallow dishes of water next to it. Then, let imagination take over.

Dip the peanuts into water and squish them gently together with other peanuts. Use toothpicks and peanuts together. Mold some peanuts into a ball shape to represent the world and sculpt a cross on top of it. Go as simple or elaborate as you wish!

A Caveat

Just don’t try to eat the peanuts as a tweezer-wielding kiddo of mine did. For although the peanutes are made from corn, and have a distinctive (and apparently appealing to young lads practicing fine motor skills) aroma when they are wet, they probably are not the most nutritious thing in the world!

What is fortifying, though, is our heritage and faith. So, once your children have sculpted crosses, you may wish to allow them to play and create freely with the remainder of the peanuts while you chat about the significance of the day, pausing at times to pray.

A Quick Nativity of Mary Round Up 

I wasn't thinking ahead last week, so I did not share ideas for the Nativity of Mary -- which is today!  So, I thought I'd close today with a quick round up of past ideas for those that would like some last-minute ones or those that want to continue the celebration throughout the week.

•  Nativity of Mary Workbox ideas
• last-minute, on-the-fly Nativity of Mary ideas
• Life of Mary 3-Part Sequencing cards
• Simple Happy Birthday Mary tea

 

What crafts and traditions does your family enjoy for the Nativity or Mary and the Exultation of the Cross?

 

(If you receive this post via email and cannot see the linky, be sure to actually click over to the blog to read browse the rich catalog of ideas there.)