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Praying with Your Children contains many creative strategies
for praying with children from infancy through high school. Five different
age levels are treated in separate chapters. The author gives dozens of
concrete holistic strategies that are sensitive to the physical, psychological
and spiritual development of children. This book is specially designed
for family or catechetical use and includes handouts to give to each child.
Patricia Fosarelli, MD, DMin, is a pediatrician and serves on
the part-time faculty of the department of pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins
School of Medicine. She is also a professor of spirituality and practical
theology at the Ecumenical Institute of Theology at St. Mary's Seminary
and University. She is currently a pastoral associate at Corpus Christi
Catholic Church in downtown Baltimore.
Special bulk prices for Praying
With Your Children
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Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1: What is prayer? (Introduction)
CHAPTER 2: The Prayer Life of Parents
CHAPTER 3: The Prayer Life of Children - An Overview
CHAPTER 4: The prayer life of infants and toddlers
CHAPTER 5: The prayer life of preschoolers
CHAPTER 6: The prayer life of early-mid elementary school-age children
CHAPTER 7: The prayer life of preteens and early adolescents
CHAPTER 8: The prayer life of older adolescents
CHAPTER 9: Special Circumstances
CHAPTER 10: Conclusion
Preschoolers' Brochure
Elementary School Brochure
Preteens and Young Adolescents Brochure
Older Teens Brochure
Excerpt
What are some of these special circumstances that evoke
special family prayers?
Joyful events include the birth of a new baby; the
adoption of a child; a birthday; a baptism; first communion; a promotion
(adult or child); a graduation (adult or child); a wedding; a great report
card; reception of an award, championship, or scholarship; national holidays;
and church holy days.
Sadder or more serious events include the death of
a loved one; a terminal illness; the loss of a pet; a move that is not
welcomed (either a family's own move or the move of someone with whom they
have been close); personal tragedies (such as a major injury or house fire);
and local or national tragedies, such as 9/11/01.
Some strategies for family celebrations of joyful
events:
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Encourage everyone to attend and to have an active role. That includes
both parents in two parent households.
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Allow the children to have some role in the crafting of the prayer service,
but maintain oversight. You will want to make sure that the service has
some structure to it.
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Select a time that everyone will be able to be together.
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Choose a location that makes sense given the reason for the prayer service.
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Depending on what the service is celebrating, try to have the person being
honored present. If that is not possible (because the person is a relative
who lives far away, for example), then display a picture of the person,
preferably one with your family members in it.
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If the event is a great report card or the receipt of an award, display
the item. If the event is a national holiday, have some token of that holiday
on display. If it is a religious holiday, display something that will remind
all in attendance what the day is all about. This is easier to do on a
day like Christmas (when you usually have a manger scene in the house)
or Good Friday (when you can show a crucifix) than on a day such as the
Immaculate Conception or All Saints' Day, although even these days can
be imaged concretely. Remember, younger children need tangible reminders
of the purpose of the day. Be creative!
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Remember to include candles, which remind us of God's presence. They are
wonderful, concrete objects for the younger children, and, if you use scented
candles, their aroma will be another tangible part of prayer.
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It is always a good idea to begin a service with the sign of the cross,
the most concrete sign of our faith in Christ. It is a prayer that even
young children know.
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