When to tell son about God and Jesus

Married39 · #1 May 28, '12, 9:33 am

Hello Everybody.

My son is 3 and has a broad imagination. He likes Disney movies, Thomas the Train, Bugs Bunny and the usual stuff kids that age like.

He is enrolled in a Catholic School this fall and am wondering, when do I start telling him about God, Jesus, Mary and everything else that is important.

It is up to me since my wife isn't religious so what books are good for him to start understanding the foundation of our faith and existence? I don't want to bore him and I don't want things to go over his head.

We go to church on occasion, not as much as I would like but I do want to start going more often since I enjoy attending mass.

Thanks,

Chris

EasterJoy · #2 May 28, '12, 10:19 am

Now is a good time. Pray with him, teach him the sign of the Cross, tell him Bible stories, take him to church, find some religious art for him. When I was a child, we had a picture (that turned out to be famous) of two frightened children crossing a bridge, and behind them was a guardian angel, kind-faced, tremendously beautiful, and obviously very powerful, guarding them.

Other than the Glory Be (an excellent prayer for automatic catechesis) this was probably the first prayer I learned, by having my mother recite it with me at night:

Angel of God, my guardian dear,
To whom God's love commits me here,
Ever this night*, be at my side,
To light, to guard, to rule and guide.
Amen.

*for a morning prayer, use "day" instead of "night"

As for things going over his head, be open to questions. Children are used to lots of things going over their heads, but the truth is that their lack of rigidity in thinking helps them a great deal. Young kids are capable of simply accepting facts as facts without a lot of argument. Sometimes they know things are going over their heads, sometimes they don't, some times they are curious, sometimes they're not. At three, let him let you know what he wants to know. If you don't know, don't make something up. Tell him you don't know, or don't know exactly how to explain it. You can tell him you'll get back to him, or you can explain that while the question is excellent, the answer is something you know from experience is easier or better learned when one is older. My kids were always OK with that.

When you go to church, try to sit in the very front. Mass can be very interesting to kids, if only they can see what is going on. Our kids had to be reasonably quiet or we told them we'd take them to the back where they wouldn't distract other people. This was motivation enough for them to be reasonably quiet.

Allegra · #3 May 28, '12, 10:38 am

You should start immediately. Teach through example by living your faith. Attend Mass. Pray together. Talk about our faith's traditions and why they're important. The really big questions you can answer as you go with him.

Aggies08 · #4 May 28, '12, 11:24 am

You start now- he should easily be able to pick up the sign of the cross, if he doesn't already know it- as well as "prayer hands," and be able to learn many of the shorter prayers with you.

As he asks questions, you answer them.

When he asks why the priest does this or that, let him know. Tell him "Time for the BIG PRAYER, Father is consecrating the bread and wine into Jesus!" etc. If he's ready for simple kid's bible stories, you can connect them- Remember how people were asked to give their best to God? We still do this- this is why Father is collecting money in baskets, so you can help the church like in the story we read yesterday" etc etc

Maria1993 · #5 May 28, '12, 11:45 am

I can't remember how my mom started to teach my little sis, lol. She is also 3. But she likes praying the Rosary with my mom and us, she calls it "Circles" cause of the rosary beads

. We have a lot of religous images in the house. And i like to ask her "who is that?" and she replies "Jesus"

Or when she gets hurt, I tell her Jesus will make ot better.

Usige · #6 May 28, '12, 12:01 pm

Start now. It's never too early. Our 2 and 4 year old both know who Jesus is. We have pictures of the Blessed Virgin and the Holy Family in the house so when my daughter was 18 months old and started pointing at a crucifix, St Mary, etc. we would name them just like if she pointed at a tree. When she was older and asked why Jesus was on "that wood" thing we would talk about how Jesus loved us and died for us being "naughty". You don't have to go into great detail, but keep it at a level he can understand. You'd be amazed at what they pick up. Our 2 year old tries to cross himself and his sister ties to help him. Do they fully understand the trinity; no, but it's a place to start the conversation on our faith.

On a side note, start taking him to mass regularly (i.e. ever Sunday). Being surrounded by expressions of the faith will lead to more questions (i.e. we have a stained glass windows with events from the gospels and the kids are fascinated with the colors and ask what the picture is about - great introduction to stories in the gospels).

GraceDK · #7 May 28, '12, 12:29 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Married39

Hello Everybody.

My son is 3 and has a broad imagination. He likes Disney movies, Thomas the Train, Bugs Bunny and the usual stuff kids that age like.

He is enrolled in a Catholic School this fall and am wondering, when do I start telling him about God, Jesus, Mary and everything else that is important.

It is up to me since my wife isn't religious so what books are good for him to start understanding the foundation of our faith and existence? I don't want to bore him and I don't want things to go over his head.

We go to church on occasion, not as much as I would like but I do want to start going more often since I enjoy attending mass.

Thanks,

Chris

Quote:

Originally Posted by Married39

Hello Everybody.

My son is 3 and has a broad imagination. He likes Disney movies, Thomas the Train, Bugs Bunny and the usual stuff kids that age like.

He is enrolled in a Catholic School this fall and am wondering, when do I start telling him about God, Jesus, Mary and everything else that is important.

It is up to me since my wife isn't religious so what books are good for him to start understanding the foundation of our faith and existence? I don't want to bore him and I don't want things to go over his head.

We go to church on occasion, not as much as I would like but I do want to start going more often since I enjoy attending mass.

Thanks,

Chris

You pray with him every evening the Our Father, you speak about Jesus with your wife and child as though he is a natural part of your family. Your child will see you praying together, reading Scripture, kneeling, making cross signs, speaking about and to Jesus in your daily life and saying grace before meals as a most natural thing... and of course you live a sacramental life of repentance and living faith and in love and unity with your wife.

This will make your child believe in God and respect him without some artificial lessons in religion, which might seem ackward to you both. The more natural it is to you, the more natural it will be passed on. If you lack faith as an also outward experience in your family its never too late to start introducing new good habits.

I remember when I was a little girl my mom prayed the Our Father with me every evening... never ever did this habit leave me as a teen or adult. The day was not complete without the Our Father before sleeping. And she read to me the Childrens Bible when I was little. My parents both always had their Bibles each at their night table.. and they lived a life of Christian virtue in the way they treated each other, how they spoke etc.
The example is of utmost importance.
However, they did pass onto me a kind of ackwardness in Christian matters. They were too private about their faith, too embarrased about many things spiritual and ethical to share them openly. This neglect of clearly shared Christian identity and love of Christ caused me some trouble in my teenage years.

Only as an adult, when I had my own conversion experience did I understand that people cannot pass on what they do not have. My parents are wonderful believers, but they didn't run over with the love that comes from strong personal conviction and the fascination with Jesus which stems from personal relationship with him and an active prayerlife.

In order then to give spiritual nourishment to children and others we must be our selves steeped in Christ, in prayer and Scripture.
Thats my advice.. at least some principes to follow

**1ke** · #8 May 28, '12, 1:20 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Married39

He is enrolled in a Catholic School this fall and am wondering, when do I start telling him about God, Jesus, Mary and everything else that is important.

Birth.

Seriously. You need to LIVE your faith, every day, all day. You say prayers at meal time, go to Mass, say prayers before bed, pray as a family, do the rosary, etc. Even my 2 year old niece already knows to bow her head during meal prayers because we say gace at every meal.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Married39

We go to church on occasion, not as much as I would like but I do want to start going more often since I enjoy attending mass.

This is the first thing to change. You need to go to mass every weekend. First because it is your solemn obligation to do so, and secondly to set a good example for your child.

DoGodsBidding · #9 May 28, '12, 4:30 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Married39

Hello Everybody.

My son is 3 and has a broad imagination. He likes Disney movies, Thomas the Train, Bugs Bunny and the usual stuff kids that age like.

He is enrolled in a Catholic School this fall and am wondering, when do I start telling him about God, Jesus, Mary and everything else that is important.

It is up to me since my wife isn't religious so what books are good for him to start understanding the foundation of our faith and existence? I don't want to bore him and I don't want things to go over his head.

We go to church on occasion, not as much as I would like but I do want to start going more often since I enjoy attending mass.

Thanks,

Chris

As the father of three grown children I will remind you that parent's are the first teachers of our faith. You can find books for children on line or at Catholic shops, and you should discuss what what your son learns in school each day. Going to chucrh weekly will also set a good example for him.

DGB

Moore11 · #10 May 28, '12, 5:09 pm

You missed the starting gate by Three years. But not to worry that can be corrected immediately by praying and talking openly of God and Jesus.
My 2 year old can say the divine Mercy Chaplet. It isnt about who's kid can say what but about the relationship they see you having and they can have with God. Pray, daily and multiple times. Tell stories of how Jesus helped you that day.

perro sarnoso · #11 May 29, '12, 5:36 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Married39

Hello Everybody.

My son is 3 and has a broad imagination. He likes Disney movies, Thomas the Train, Bugs Bunny and the usual stuff kids that age like.

He is enrolled in a Catholic School this fall and am wondering, when do I start telling him about God, Jesus, Mary and everything else that is important.

It is up to me since my wife isn't religious so what books are good for him to start understanding the foundation of our faith and existence? I don't want to bore him and I don't want things to go over his head.

We go to church on occasion, not as much as I would like but I do want to start going more often since I enjoy attending mass.

Thanks,

Chris

Does your 3 year old see you praying the Rosary in front of that picture of the Blessed Mother and Baby Jesus?

Does your 3 year old see you kissing the crucifix that hangs on your wall.?

Does your 3 year old feel the preparation on Sundays going on in the house to go to mass and not be late?

Does your 3 year old hear that you are going to Confession and will be right back?

Does your 3 year old know that before any meal.....any meal! one should pray to Jesus and thank Him for this or that meal?

Don't wait for someone or something else to tell your child that Thor or Aliens or Witches are the thing to follow and aspire to.

Corki · #12 May 29, '12, 5:46 pm

You are a bit late getting started but you can catch up. By three, most Catholic kids with parents who are practicing the faith, should know the Sign of the Cross, a basic bedtime prayer, a simple meal-time prayer and be starting on the Hail Mary (so that he/she can participate in the Rosary). While many three year olds don't sit quietly through a whole Mass, they should know that being quiet in Church is what they are supposed to do and that the reason for this is that Jesus is there and all the people are praying. If you are not bringing him to Mass (and, yes, it's hard when only one parent is there), try bringing him to Church to pray at other times.

You should also stop by your local Catholic book store. There are lots of kids books with Bible stories, prayers, lives of Saints and basic Catholic teaching that are age appropriate for pre-schoolers. Keep some of these in his "go" bag and in the car.

Make sure you are up to speed yourself on the basic teachings of the Church so you can answer questions as they come up. But don't be afraid to say "I am not sure" and then make it a project to look it up together.