Young Children Faith Formation
Early Childhood Programs - Catholic
Seeds - Pflaum Gospel Weeklies Early Childhood
https://www.pflaumweeklies.com/seeds/
Colorful hands-on activities provide a lively way for young children to experience the Gospel. Each week, Seeds will help you teach preschoolers the way they learn best: through talking, cutting and folding, listening—and through singing out with love and joy!
God Made Everything (Loyola Press)
https://www.loyolapress.com/faith-formation/early-learning/god-made-everything-2019
The God Made Everything series, comprised of God Made Me (Age 3) and God Made the World (Age 4), is a comprehensive early childhood program designed to nurture and enrich the faith and spiritual lives of God’s youngest disciples. This program is carefully planned so that upon completion children are ready to continue their faith journey with either the Finding God or Christ Our Life programs. Alternatively, God Made Everything can be used on its own as children engage with their Catholic faith.
Stories of God's Love (RCL Benziger)
https://rclbenziger.com/early-childhood
RCL Benziger’s complete solution to religion readiness education. Stories of God’s Love is available for both preschool (ages 3-4 or 4-5) and kindergarten. It follows the USCCB’s “Guidelines for Pre-School Materials” and was written by a team of early childhood specialists. This program also meets the early learning standards of the National Association of Education for Young Children (NAEYC). Stories of God’s Love serves as the foundational program for ages 3–4, 4–5, and kindergarten for both parishes and Catholic schools. Stories of God’s Love offers:
Allelu! - Early Childhood Curriculum (OSV)
http://www.allelu.com/index.html
Allelu! is an early childhood program with innovations that make it easy to engage every child and build his/her faith! Created by expert catechists and a child psychologist, Allelu! delivers a unique, multisensory experience that is manageable for any catechist—without extensive facility requirements or expensive training sessions. Within this framework, the goals of Allelu! are to:
Discovering God (Sadlier)
https://www.sadlier.com/religion/parish-school/discovering-god-catholic-education
Nurture the Faith of Young Children is organized into age-level kits, this fun-filled preschool program by Julie Brunet and Renée McAlister helps young children explore God's gifts of life (age 3), creation (age 4), and family and Church (age 5). You’ll find:
https://www.pflaumweeklies.com/seeds/
Colorful hands-on activities provide a lively way for young children to experience the Gospel. Each week, Seeds will help you teach preschoolers the way they learn best: through talking, cutting and folding, listening—and through singing out with love and joy!
God Made Everything (Loyola Press)
https://www.loyolapress.com/faith-formation/early-learning/god-made-everything-2019
The God Made Everything series, comprised of God Made Me (Age 3) and God Made the World (Age 4), is a comprehensive early childhood program designed to nurture and enrich the faith and spiritual lives of God’s youngest disciples. This program is carefully planned so that upon completion children are ready to continue their faith journey with either the Finding God or Christ Our Life programs. Alternatively, God Made Everything can be used on its own as children engage with their Catholic faith.
Stories of God's Love (RCL Benziger)
https://rclbenziger.com/early-childhood
RCL Benziger’s complete solution to religion readiness education. Stories of God’s Love is available for both preschool (ages 3-4 or 4-5) and kindergarten. It follows the USCCB’s “Guidelines for Pre-School Materials” and was written by a team of early childhood specialists. This program also meets the early learning standards of the National Association of Education for Young Children (NAEYC). Stories of God’s Love serves as the foundational program for ages 3–4, 4–5, and kindergarten for both parishes and Catholic schools. Stories of God’s Love offers:
- A Scripture-based approach, presenting the Bible as the source for learning about God
- Age-appropriate formation with story leaflets and seasonal leaflets
- Lessons of We Celebrate Holy Days and Holidays; includes a Catholic Prayers page
- Separate parish and school guides that meet the needs of both parish and Catholic school programs with a choice of either single-day or multi-day formats
- A family focus that helps children and their families live Christian values
- Available virtues based magazine for families
Allelu! - Early Childhood Curriculum (OSV)
http://www.allelu.com/index.html
Allelu! is an early childhood program with innovations that make it easy to engage every child and build his/her faith! Created by expert catechists and a child psychologist, Allelu! delivers a unique, multisensory experience that is manageable for any catechist—without extensive facility requirements or expensive training sessions. Within this framework, the goals of Allelu! are to:
- Teach young children about our Catholic faith.
- Familiarize children with the Catholic sacraments, liturgical rituals, symbols, and seasons.
- Help form children’s moral lives, standards and values.
- Teach children how to pray.
- Give children the words and tools they need to talk about God.
Discovering God (Sadlier)
https://www.sadlier.com/religion/parish-school/discovering-god-catholic-education
Nurture the Faith of Young Children is organized into age-level kits, this fun-filled preschool program by Julie Brunet and Renée McAlister helps young children explore God's gifts of life (age 3), creation (age 4), and family and Church (age 5). You’ll find:
- Faith-focused activity pages with language and listening skills practice, simple games, and more
- Read-to-Me pages with age-appropriate Scripture-based and theme-related stories, poems, chants, finger plays, and movement activities
- Prayer experiences to foster and nurture children’s prayer life
- Special celebrations to engage children in prayer and rituals for holy days and holidays
Baptism and Post-Baptism Resources (Catholic)
The Birth & Baptism Experience
dynamiccatholic.com/baptism
The birth of a child is an incredible opportunity to re-engage parents in their own spiritual journeys. This free program will give parishes the resources they need to prepare parents and godparents for the baptism of their child, and it will teach parents how to raise dynamic Catholic children—because every child deserves to discover the genius of Catholicism.
We Believe and Celebrate: Baptism (Sadlier)
www.sadlier.com/religion/sacrament-preparation/catholic-infant-baptism
This beautiful, engaging program, in a flexible one- and two-session format, is designed to guide parents, godparents, and families as they prepare for the baptism of a child or godchild, celebrate the sacrament together, and continue to nurture the faith of the child. The Family Book enriches the celebration and becomes a keepsake, helping parents, godparents, and the family to: Learn more about the meaning of the sacrament, Explore the rite of baptism, Find preparation resources.
Parent Letters (OSV)
www.orderosv.com/product/parent-letters-revised-c-2010
Completely updated with a vibrant design, fresh content, and all-new parent gifts, Parent Letters is better than ever! This series of 7 post-Baptism mailings makes it easy to engage new families and keep them inspired in the Faith! Starting right after Baptism and every 6 months thereafter, Parent Letters delivers the Catholic wisdom, support, and encouragement parents need to nurture their child's spiritual growth as well as a FREE gift for every mailing!
Resources for Baptism and Young Families (Growing Up Catholic)
http://www.growingupcatholic.com/baptism--young-families.html
dynamiccatholic.com/baptism
The birth of a child is an incredible opportunity to re-engage parents in their own spiritual journeys. This free program will give parishes the resources they need to prepare parents and godparents for the baptism of their child, and it will teach parents how to raise dynamic Catholic children—because every child deserves to discover the genius of Catholicism.
We Believe and Celebrate: Baptism (Sadlier)
www.sadlier.com/religion/sacrament-preparation/catholic-infant-baptism
This beautiful, engaging program, in a flexible one- and two-session format, is designed to guide parents, godparents, and families as they prepare for the baptism of a child or godchild, celebrate the sacrament together, and continue to nurture the faith of the child. The Family Book enriches the celebration and becomes a keepsake, helping parents, godparents, and the family to: Learn more about the meaning of the sacrament, Explore the rite of baptism, Find preparation resources.
Parent Letters (OSV)
www.orderosv.com/product/parent-letters-revised-c-2010
Completely updated with a vibrant design, fresh content, and all-new parent gifts, Parent Letters is better than ever! This series of 7 post-Baptism mailings makes it easy to engage new families and keep them inspired in the Faith! Starting right after Baptism and every 6 months thereafter, Parent Letters delivers the Catholic wisdom, support, and encouragement parents need to nurture their child's spiritual growth as well as a FREE gift for every mailing!
Resources for Baptism and Young Families (Growing Up Catholic)
http://www.growingupcatholic.com/baptism--young-families.html
Latest Books on Family Faith Formation
- Dear Parent: A Guide for Family Faith Formation. Laura Keeley and Robert J. Keeley. Faith Live Christian Resources, 2019.
- Faithful Families: Creating Sacred Moments at Home. Traci Smith. Chalice Press, 2017.
- Faith at Home: A Handbook for the Cautiously Christian Parents. Wendy Claire Barrie. Morehouse Publishing, 2016.
- Feeding Your Family's Soul: Dinner Table Spirituality. Donna-Marie Cooper O-Boyle. Paraclete Press, 2016.
- Holding Your Family Together. Rich Melheim. Regal Books, 2013.
Early Childhood Websites (most are specifically Catholic resources)
- Building Faith - Young Children Resources: buildfaith.org/?s=young+children
- Catholic Mom: Catholic Mom, Catholic Mom - Family
- The Catholic Toolbox: https://catholicblogger1.blogspot.com
- Family Resource Center at Loyola Press: Family Resource Center, Catholic Kids, Catholic Teens, Family, Faith, and Fun, Holidays and Special Occasions, Praying as a Family
- Growing Up Catholic (families): http://www.growingupcatholic.com
- JellyTelly Media - Family: www.jellytelly.com/blog + 5 Minute Family Devotional: www.youtube.com/ channel/UC_oVYDT613F6viE3JENV-Yg
- Storypath: Connecting Children’s Liturgy with Storybooks http://storypath.upsem.edu
- Strong Catholic Family Faith: Strong Catholic Family Faith
- Vibrant Faith at Home: www.vibrantfaithathome.org
Advent Resources Advent Calendar: https://www.loyolapress.com/our-catholic-faith/liturgical-year/advent/calendars/advent-calendar-for-adults
- Dynamic Catholic - Best Advent Ever: https://dynamiccatholic.com/best-advent-ever
- Catholic Relief Services: https://www.crs.org/resource-center/advent-resources-your-parish
- USCCB Advent: http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/advent/
- USCCB Daily Readings: http://usccb.org/bible/readings/111418.cfm
- Busted Halo: https://advent.bustedhalo.com & https://bustedhalo.com/ministry-resources/advent-busted-halo
- St. Mary’s Press Resource Center: https://www.smp.org/search/?s=resources&q=ADVENT&x=0&y=0
- Living Faith - Catholic Daily Devotions: http://www.livingfaith.com
- Catholic Apostolate Center: https://www.catholicapostolatecenter.org/advent-resources.html
