[StorkWatcher]

Okay - so I'm thinking ahead a little bit. My son is only 9 months old now.

I don't think our parish SRE (I'll always think of Sunday School as CCD in my head - that's what they used to call it, back in the day!) classes start much before kindergarten, unless I volunteer to do a preschool class or they've added it since I taught a grade school class of SRE it 2 years ago.

What types of things can you suggest I do at home to start out our Catholic education a little early? Just looking for fun things. I haven't yet checked our Catholic bookstores (30 - 60 minutes away, but there are 3 in cities nearby) for book yet. We have a kids' devotional book that's cool that he got for his Baptism. And I have children's Bible story books.

I plan to buy some kids' prayer books and will have some special prayers printed out, framed and hung around the house and will be teaching him these when he can talk (right now, I think the only thing he can verbally thank God for is "DOG", and that's not even on command yet). And we have a wall rosary for him.

I hope to use every day occurrences as Christian teaching moments, too. But any suggestions will be helpful!

[Scarlet]

Hi, our little daring is 21 months now. We have been doing a few tings since the very begining. Reading Stories, going to Mass, saying prayers things along those lines. I found some reall nice coloring books at a catholic book store Lives of the Saints and the Rosary. We have a preschool program at our church so at 2 I think she can start going to that.

[redbonec]

When I taught Kindergarten in a Catholic school, we used a weekly magazine with the kids called "Promise." It centers around the Gospel reading for Sunday--with story connections, song, activities, etc. The kids liked it a lot, and I loved teaching with it. I thought it was so good that I remember thinking I would like to use it with my own kids someday.

This year teaching CCE with high school, I used the "Venture" magazine. Lots of good info, interesting, etc.

I looked on the website and there is a weekly magazine for different age groups, beginning with preschool. The preschool publication is called "Seeds."

All of these, including "Seeds" are published by Pflaum.

I would post the link, but I don't know how on here.

If you are interested, go to www.pflaum.com then scroll to Products by Category, then Children's Catechesis, then Pflaum Gospel Weeklies, then Seeds.

[StorkWatcher]

Thank you! This is great info!

[OnTheJourney]

I haven't my own babies yet, but I have been teaching my nephew about his faith since he was a baby. He is now 8.
I found this great book 'Everyday Blessings'. Each day of the year has a page with a simple prayer, little story, color picture, and bible reference so it is aimed at all ages. When he was very small we just looked at the picture, then added the prayer and so on as he grew up. This summer we are starting to refer to the bible passage in his childerns bible. He loves it!
The other thing that has always been a favorite right from the start is the story of creation. I have a very nice picture book that we have read about 500 times and he still loves it!
One other thing we do together is a Christmas Manger. We started with a plush simple one (Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus) he could hold the pieces and play with. We added more pieces every year and told more of the story as he understood more. We now do a full ceramic manger and he tells me the story!

It's lots of fun. I can't wait to share some of these with my own childern!

-M

[StorkWatcher]

M- thank you for the ideas. I'll look for the book. My mom just told me last night that she ordered and has already received A's bday gift - a Little People Manger! SHe got one for my nieces, and they LOOOOOOOOOVED it. They kept it out year round to play with and talk about.

[GCS]

Most of the Parochial schools have preschool and kindergarten programs now. I have a 2 year old and a 4 year old. We read preschool books and my oldest also knows songs about his faith.
Books are great to bring with to Mass as well. Nightly prayers reinforce what we have been reading and learning in school.

Christina

[HBV]

Yet another thing we have in common, Stork! One other thing we've done is keep a little St. Joseph triptych in his room and we say good morning to St. Joseph (patron of adoptive families and children) every day. Thanks for starting this thread--we've been thinking about these issues as well.

[redbonec]

What is a triptych?

[HBV]

A triptych is a little painting that is painted in three parts that fit together, often w/ hinges or pins. When you open it, the side pieces support the center, in kind of a U shape.

[redbonec]

HI! We just returned home a few days ago with our new daughter! Her birthmother gave our baby a wooden rosary. It is colorful, and somewhat bigger than the usual rosary. Her birthmother said she can chew on it while saying prayers!
I also remember that somewhere here at home I have a few books that are for children, explaining Mass, saints, etc. I know there is one that is a children's book on the rosary and the mysteries. These are the typical books found at the Catholic bookstores. I thought I would read it to her before saying a decade. She won't understand now, but I thought it would be a good way for us to pray together and reading the children's book might be a good way for me to meditate on the mysteries.
I am finding that ANY way I can get in some prayer time for me is a good thing now--the day just flys by!

[HBV]

Redbone, congratulations!! That is great news! We got a little rosary in a "MY FIRST ROSARY" box as a baptism gift. Good idea on the meditation---we may have to start that w/ our morning bottle.

[StorkWatcher]

redbone - Congrats, in case I haven't said it somewhere else yet.

Yes, we ALL had the wooden rosaries. It was the gift I requested from my godmother when she asked what to buy A for his baby shower or C'mas. one of my nieces wore hers like a necklace and carried it around for a year, I bet!

They're a little noisy if banging on a wooden pew, but great for use at home.