Blog
Saints at the family table
Practical writing for parents of children aged 3 to 12. Every fact sourced, every legend called a legend.
Advent Lesson Plans for Religious Education: Four 45-Minute Sessions, PreK to Grade 5 Four ready Advent lesson plans for CCD, religious ed or Catholic school, PreK–K and grades 1–5: Year B Gospels, a game, a craft and a prayer for each week. Read → -
Advent with Kids 2026: When It Starts, the Wreath, the Calendar and a Four-Week Plan Advent 2026 starts Sunday, November 29, three days after Thanksgiving. The wreath, the calendar, December 8, and a four-week plan with one activity a week. -
Advent Wreath for Kids: What the Candles Mean, How to Make One, a Prayer for Each Sunday Advent wreath with kids: what the four candles mean, why one is pink, the USCCB blessing for the home, and a short prayer for each Sunday of Advent 2026. -
Bedtime Prayers for Kids: Short Catholic Prayers by Age and a 2-Minute Routine Catholic bedtime prayers for kids: full texts (Our Father, Hail Mary, Angel of God, a child's Act of Contrition), a 2-minute routine by age, and hard nights. -
Bible Stories for Kids: 20 Stories by Age, With Chapter and Verse Which Bible stories to tell kids at 3, 6 and 9, in what order, with NABRE chapter and verse, and where the popular versions add things the Bible never says. -
Catholic Games for Kids: 15 Little- or No-Prep Games for Home, CCD and the Car 15 Catholic games for kids aged 3–12 that need little or no prep: saint charades, Bible 20 questions, a color hunt at Mass, and what each game teaches. -
My Child Doesn't Want to Go to Church: What the Church Asks and What You Can Do Child doesn't want to go to Mass? What the Sunday obligation really says, what hides behind "I don't want to" and what to try at each age, toddler to tween. -
Christmas Carols for Kids: 12 That Tell the Story, What the Words Mean and When to Sing 12 religious Christmas carols for children: the Gospel scene behind each, what Gloria in excelsis Deo, Noel and Emmanuel mean, and which fit Advent or Epiphany. -
Class Christmas Party: A Christ-Centered 60-Minute Plan for School, CCD or Co-op A 45–60-minute class Christmas party for a Catholic school, CCD or co-op: games, safe snacks, Luke 2 in five minutes, gift rules, public-school limits. -
How to Choose a Confirmation Saint (and a Confirmation Name): 24 Saints by Interest How to choose a Confirmation saint: is a new name required, what age in your diocese, who can be the sponsor, and 24 saints matched to a teen's interests. -
David and Goliath for Kids: What 1 Samuel 17 Says and What It Means David and Goliath for kids from 1 Samuel 17 (NABRE): five smooth stones, Goliath's two heights, David's whole life, ready words for ages 3–6 and 7–12. -
Epiphany 2027 with Kids: Chalk the Door (20+C+M+B+27), the Magi and January 3 Epiphany 2027 is Sunday, January 3 in the US. What 20+C+M+B+27 means, the USCCB home blessing step by step, who the Magi really were, and king cake. -
Guardian Angel Prayer for Kids: The Words, Each Line Explained, and How to Pray It The Angel of God prayer in full, what 'to light and guard, to rule and guide' means in a child's words, a 30-second bedtime routine and 'Can I see my angel?' -
Immaculate Conception for Kids: What It Means (and Doesn't) and Why December 8 Matters The Immaculate Conception is about Mary's conception, not Jesus's. What the 1854 dogma says, why Dec 8, 2026 is a holy day in the US, and words for kids. -
The Liturgical Year for Kids: Seasons, Colors, Year B and Every 2026–27 Date in One Table The liturgical year explained for kids: six seasons, what the colors mean, why 2026–27 is Year B, and every date from Advent to Christ the King in one table. -
Mass with Toddlers: How to Survive (and Even Enjoy) Sunday Mass with a 2-Year-Old Taking a toddler to Mass: what the Church asks (no obligation under 7), cry room vs front pew, what goes in a Mass bag, and a whisper script for Mass. -
Nativity Play Costumes for Kids: Mary, Joseph, Shepherds, Angels, Wise Men No-sew nativity costumes for kids: Mary, Joseph, shepherds, angels, wise men, star and animals, what each is made from, and what is Scripture vs. tradition. -
Nativity Scene for Kids: Who's Who, When the Baby Goes In, and Mass with Little Ones Who in the nativity scene is from the Bible, when to add Baby Jesus and the Magi, the four Christmas Masses, and a checklist for Mass with little kids. -
Noah's Ark for Kids: What Genesis Really Says, and How to Tell It Calmly Noah's ark for kids from Genesis 6–9 (NABRE): two by two or seven pairs, the dove's olive leaf, the rainbow covenant, baptism, and a shoebox-ark craft. -
Parables for Kids: 12 Stories Jesus Told, by Age, With One Question Each What a parable is, 12 parables of Jesus for kids aged 3 to 12 with NABRE chapter and verse, one sentence of meaning, one question each, and no lecture. -
Rosary for Kids: One Decade with a Child, the Mysteries by Day, and How Many Beads How to pray the rosary with kids: a 3-minute decade with the prayer texts, the 20 mysteries by day with a line for a child, versions by age, and the 59 beads. -
Saints for Kids: What a Saint Is, 12 Saints to Start With by Age, and How Families Do It How to introduce saints to children aged 3–12: what a saint is in the Church's own words, 12 saints by age with feast days, and what families actually do. -
The Ten Commandments for Kids: in a Child's Words, with the Catholic Numbering The Ten Commandments for kids: the Catholic list, why the numbering differs from the Protestant one, each in a child's words, and one question to talk about. -
Who Was St. Nicholas? The Real Bishop of Myra, and How to Talk About Santa Without Lying St. Nicholas was a 4th-century bishop of Myra. What history knows, what is legend, how he became Santa Claus, and ready sentences for Catholic kids aged 3–12. -
Who Was the First Saint? Three Answers, Because It Is Three Questions First martyr: St. Stephen. First promised heaven: the Good Thief. First papal canonization: St. Ulrich, 993. Sources, a cheat sheet and kid-sized answers. -
A Simple Nativity Play Script for Kids: 15 Minutes, a Narrator and Short Lines A free, simple nativity play script for preschool and church kids: a narrator, 5 scenes, 4 public-domain carols, 15 minutes, parts for 8 to 25 children. -
All Saints' Day Costumes for Kids: 15 Saints You Can Make From Things at Home Easy no-sew saint costumes for kids: 15 saints, the one object each is known by, whether it comes from Scripture or legend, and a line your child can say. -
All Saints' Day vs Halloween: Where Both Came From, and a Calm Holywins Night for Kids Where the name Halloween comes from, whether it really began as Samhain, why All Saints is on 1 November, and three calm options for Catholic families. -
Carlo Acutis for Kids: Who Was the Saint in Sneakers, and What Is He the Patron Of? St. Carlo Acutis told for children aged 3–12: the key facts, his feast day on 12 October, what he is patron of, his last words and an easy costume. -
When Is St. Nicholas Day 2026? Shoes by the Door, Traditions and the Real Saint St. Nicholas Day 2026 falls on Sunday 6 December: why children put out shoes on the 5th, who the real bishop of Myra was, and how he became Santa Claus.