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Teaching a Toddler about faith

I have a new 2 year old (27 months) and since she was born we have been taking her to mass and praying at least part of the rosary with her nightly, morning, night prayers and grace etc. For a while probably when she was about 22 months old or so she would attempt to stay still during the prayers, fold her hands and make the sign of the cross and even attempted the response portion of the hail mary.

Just recently she refuses to make the sign of the cross, doesn't want to say grace or sit relatively still (as still as a 2 year old can). We always pray 1 decade and night prayers together at night before she goes to bed and recently it has seems to be a battle and I don't want her to associate a battle with prayers or be forced into her love for God. I try to sit and read religious books with her and we pick flowers from our garden for Mary when we have them. How do I encourage her love for God/Mary and our Faith? How do I help HER to want to talk to God?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Loretta Shekleton on September 1, 2009 at 3:08pm

Jessica - my son is 26 months and has just started the same behavior. I'm not stressing about it too much. They are still at a stage of modeling behavior - so I try to stay consistent with my own behavior. If Gabe doesn't want to say grace, I still say it out loud (he'll generally join in on the last Sign of the Cross.) I let him see that it is important to Mom, and Mom does it, and I trust that this is a developmental stage for him.The good news is that our kids don't have to have their faith figured out - they and we are on a journey, and like any journey, there are ups and downs. I think we have to give them the space to have those so that they have an authentic faith.

Hope it helps - Loretta

Permalink Reply by Jessica Kendel on September 12, 2009 at 4:38pm

That is a good idea Loretta! We are trying to lower the bar for her and just continue praying and setting an example for her.

Permalink Reply by Jessica Kendel on October 19, 2009 at 7:10pm

Just an update. I guess all in all it was a phase because she is back to at least trying. A friend told us that another family she knew did a rosary chair...which is a chair the child has to sit in for the rosary. We started trying that with her highchair and although she isn't crazy about it she cooperates and looks at books while we pray. We pray the rosary every night, but we were not always doing it with her present. So for consistency we are now praying it nightly with her. I have been trying to make comments throughout the day like "Thank you God for my little girl!" or "Thank you God for the nice sun to warm us!" I know it may sound cheesy, but I think it helps her and me think of God throughout the day. There is a house in a neighborhood that has a life size statute of Mary in the front yard and every time we leave the neighborhood we have to drive by the house and I have started saying "Good Morning Mother Mary" or "Hello Mother Mary" and if I forget now she will say hello or one day she said "Here comes Mother Mary!" Like you said Loretta, I know she will have her ups and downs I just pray I know how to guide her each time she has a down.

Permalink Reply by AngelaC on November 18, 2009 at 8:02am

I read a story once that made a big impression on how I will teach my kids the faith. The writer was describing how his family decided to do a daily advent prayer at dinner time. At first they tried to force their young son into sitting and praying with them. After a few days of battling, they gave up and just let him play with his trucks on the floor next to the table. They were disappointed that he wasnt' participating, but not sure what to do. A couple weeks later, they overheard their son reciting the prayers on his own while playing with his trucks. kids pick up so much, and I agree that modeling is the best way to get your kids to love prayer. Take advantage of the moments when your daughter is really engaged...and if she's not interested don't push it. I think forcing prayer is probably more damaging than helpful.

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