Teaching kids is hard. Teaching kids to say the rosary sounds almost impossible.
Trying to get their attention focused on anything for more than a few minutes is a daunting task on its own. If you’re like most parents, you probably have a heavenly vision in your head of everyone beautifully reciting the rosary with an angelic expression on their face.
Then reality sets in and what should be a holy moment turns into chaos as their concentration wanes and the rosary becomes a weapon against their brother or sister or you spot them wearing the rosary like a necklace, chewing on the beads.
The truth is a rosary requires a lot of attention, something kids aren’t rich in. So if you’re struggling to find ways to teach your young ones this important devotional without a mental breakdown, here are some suggestions to help them learn while having fun.
Colors
Kids are color oriented.
They are naturally attracted to brightly colored items and their behavior is often influenced by the colors around them. Bright reds tend to ignite louder behavior and blues tend to calm.
So when you’re looking for a way to draw out certain behaviors, try it with a color coded system. This Visual Rosary Guide for Children is designed to match the beads and mysteries to a color coded system to help them visualize where they are in their prayers.
By helping them match the color to the prayer, you are reinforcing a concept they can use to follow along more easily. As a bonus, you are teaching them colors as well as prayers.
Music
There’s something inherently musical in all of us.
Music is one of the oldest expressions of faith and even King David loved to play musical instruments and put the psalms to music in the lyre, psaltery and other instruments.
In 1 Corinthians 16:42, God instructed David to establish worship with “the musical instruments of God”. St. Augustine said that “he who sings prays twice”.
So if music was important to two great saints like King David and St. Augustine, then surely it must be good for our souls too.
If you are looking for a way to incorporate music into the rosary, try the Rosary Sonatas.
This beautiful form of prayerful expression was developed by Bohemian composer and violinist Heinrich Ignaz Fran Biber. These sonatas were created for reflection on the Mysteries on the Life of Christ and the Virgin Mary.
Playing in the background while reciting the rosary can help to express the many emotions we feel while meditating on the mysteries.
Break It Up Into Mini Sessions
Anyone with young children knows their attention span is a little…. limited.
Asking a 5 year to sit down for 20-30 minutes in contemplative prayer is like asking a performer to act like a nun. Rather than fighting against the limited nature of their attention, try praying a decade at a time throughout the day.
Make it part of their clean up routine or morning and evening prayers. By incorporating it into a regular part of their day, you are teaching them to develop an ever prayerful attitude. If they are really struggling to pay attention, start with just a few Hail Mary’s until they are able to say 10 at a time.
Continue to build on the prayers by adding in one per day or week. The truth is you probably aren’t going to get a toddler to say a full rosary until they are much older. But there’s no time like the present to begin the teaching process a little at a time.
Try a Picture Book
This interactive book on praying the rosary is an excellent way to help keep young ones engaged in prayer.
The bright and colorful pictures are sure to keep their interest and can also be used as a great learning tool for the life of Jesus and Mary. Written by a Catholic mother for Catholic mothers, this beautifully illustrated book has child-friendly explanations, as well as a chart to show them which set of mysteries to pray for each day.
Statues and Icons
Kids are visual learners.
Talking about Jesus and Mary can be an overwhelming experience for someone who can’t even tie their shoes yet. Display statues or pictures of our Blessed Mother and Savior in an area of the house that can be used for prayer and devotionals. I have this statue of the Virgin Mary at home and I love seeing her face as I pray the rosary.
Teach them to talk to Jesus and Mary and develop a bond with them before jumping into intensive meditative prayer. If they feel like they already know them before praying, this will only deepen that bond as they learn prayer techniques. Praying while looking at their faces will also help them relate the prayer to the person.
Toy Rosaries
Brightly colored rosary beads can be a great learning tool.
Each decade of this painted wooden rosary is a different color, a great way for helping them to see where you are in the prayers. As a bonus, it comes with a special card that teaches them the prayers of the rosary. Try making the rosary a fun activity with color matching, counting, and prayer recitation.
Another fun way to teach children the rosary is with this Wooden Rosary Board. Guide them through each step of the rosary as they carefully place the next wooden prayer item on the board. Each “Hail Mary” has a round ball and each mystery has a wooden disk.
This visually creative toy not only teaches them important prayers, it can also be used as a great learning tool to help strengthen their focus and fine motor skills.
Even babies can join in with their very own My First Rosary Rattle. This brightly colored plush toy can be used to familiarize them with the symbolic cross and beads.
Though they may not be old enough to understand what’s going on, they can be introduced to this devotional with a subconscious understanding of the importance of the rosary.
Cartoons & Videos
YouTube has a great selection of videos that teach kids the rosary.
This animated rosary cartoon by EWTN Ireland is a great learning video for young kids and will help keep them engaged.
This video is another great instructional from EWTN. It’s part of their “My Little Angels” series, a fun and creative way to teach little ones the Catholic faith. The entire series can be purchased on EWTN’s Religious Catalog.
Summary
The thought of teaching kids the Rosary doesn’t have to be filled with anxiety and dread.
Although it is challenging to start them in the learning process, it can be done in such a way that keeps kids engaged while keeping mom and dad sane. With a little creativity, learning the Rosary can be fun while also helping them develop a life-long devotion to our Holy Mother.
Videos, books, toys, music, instructional booklets, and statues are just some of the different ways to approach this challenge. But in the end, the Rosary is simply a way to reflect on the life of Jesus and His mother. So if any of these are more distractions than help, it’s best to adapt to the ways your children learn and use the best approach for them.
Add comment