Parents,
Please be sure to watch the introduction video that is linked to the left!
Please pray the Angel of God prayer with your little ones as you tuck them into bed at night, say grace before meals together (beginning with the Sign of the Cross), and get your family to Mass. This is the biggest prayer yet.
If you are not able to physically attend due to health concerns, please join the Mass virtually via our Facebook page! https://www.facebook.com/SsCosmasandDamian
Throughout this whole month, help your child to notice and watch things in nature…go outside together when it gets dark and look at the stars, stop and smell the flowers, watch the squirrels, etc., help him/her to be amazed!
Week 2: Creation
Watch
Watch video of Creation story “The Seventh Day” by Deborah Bodin Cohen, illustrated by Melanie Hall, and talk about it together, discussing:
~God created everything in nature.
~Everything that God created is good!!
~Talk with your child about his/her favorite things that God created.
~Help your child to experience the pure wonder and awe that comes from gazing at the beautiful, natural world around us and realizing that God did all of this! This is a holy thing, to think about God, our Creator!
Create
Help your child put together a “Days of Creation” booklet –You can print out the pages here. If you prefer to pick up the pre-printed pages, please call the parish office, and we will arrange that for you. Children will color and decorate the pages, and you can help them with the words. Please KEEP this booklet, as the children will need them later this month!
OPTIONAL: Create a masterpiece depicting God’s beautiful garden as God created it – before sin entered in. You will find a few ideas as to how to do this attached. Please contact the parish office if you need any supplies. Here is a link to an instructional video, prepared by one of our catechists, just for you!
Encourage your child to use this craft to re-tell the story to you and others!
Joyful Praise
Joyful Praise – let your child watch and sing along with the Joyful Praise video found here. You will get one each month, although they may be very different from one another!
Pray
Practice being still and quiet for prayer. Start learning and practicing your prayers, including Sign of the Cross, Our Father, and participating in the Holy Mass.
Week 3: God Created Human Beings
Main Ideas
- God made me; God loves me. God made me good. (TOB 1)
- God made me a boy/girl.
- God gave me parents and family who love me. (TOB 2)
- I am part of a human family. (TOB 3)
- God gave me feelings; I can recognize my feelings and communicate them in a positive way. (TOB 4)
- I can be respectful of other people; we are created to love, by love, and for love. (TOB 5)
- Life is a gift (from God) and each person is created as a gift (to other human beings, and to the world.) (TOB 6)
Watch
Watch the Lukas Storyteller video on formed.org, “Catherine of Sienna: Joy of Living”.
Ask your child to draw a picture of him/herself doing their favorite thing with Jesus. (i.e., swinging on the playground, playing catch, reading, etc.) Placing this picture near the child’s bed will remind him/her to talk with Jesus in prayer each night and every morning!
Create
Create a “family photo” using any art that you’d like. Child should draw/paint/color a picture of him/herself in the center of the page. Then, add family members around the child. However, the child wants to do this is OK. Encourage his/her creativity – just be sure that everyone is included. Feature your child’s “family photo” in a prominent place in the house for a given time.
Pray
Practice prayers, including:
~The Sign of the Cross
~Our Father
~Participating in Holy Mass
Week 4: Spend Time in Nature!
Enjoy the Outdoors!
Go play! Enjoy some time as a family enjoying nature, whether for a short walk in the park after Mass on Sunday, or a trip to the zoo for a whole day. This activity can be moved to another week if more convenient!
Pray
Practice prayers, including:
~The Sign of the Cross
~Our Father
~Participating in Holy Mass
Week 5: Did Adam and Eve Work in the Garden, or Was Work Punishment for Sin?
Main Idea
- It was a joy and a privilege for Adam to tend God’s beautiful garden – even before sin entered in.
Family Sharing
Parents – tell family stories about how you met and fell in love, or how excited you were when your child was born and became part of your family. Be sure to include pictures of his/her baptism, which makes us part of God’s family! Photo albums are a bonus! Consider asking grandparents or aunts/uncles to be part of story time this week, sharing their family stories, too.
Pray
Practice prayers, including:
~The Sign of the Cross
~Our Father
~Participating in Holy Mass
Retelling
Have your child practice telling the story of God’s creation of the world by using his/her “Days of Creation” book that they created earlier this month. After helping your child practice, encourage him/her to tell YOU the story, while you listen as if hearing it for the very first time. Consider sitting on the floor, while your child sits on the chair or couch to tell you the story from an adult perspective while you take the child’s perspective. Maybe there are family members that they could tell the story to via Skype or facetime!
Feedback
Email me your success stories!