Praying the rosary with little kids

[Anonymous]

If you pray the rosary as a family, how do you keep the kids involved (ie not running around)? I don’t want to turn it into a battle of wills and sour them on the experience (kids are 22 month and 4).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you pray the rosary as a family, how do you keep the kids involved (ie not running around)? I don’t want to turn it into a battle of wills and sour them on the experience (kids are 22 month and 4).

Your kids seem too young to concentrate on a serious task like this. How old were you when you started praying the rosary? Did you do it as a family?

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

That’s mighty young. Maybe give them their own beads (mindful of size, material, etc., especially for the little one) and a rosary picture book? The four year old could sing the “Ave, Ave, Ave Maria” between decades. They could probably both do the sign of the cross at beginning and end. If they’re in the same room with you, they will lick things up gradually. You could use a statue and an (rlectric) candle as a focal point. I agree it is probably unrealistic and unfair to try to make them sit there perfectly still and watch you pray.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That’s mighty young. Maybe give them their own beads (mindful of size, material, etc., especially for the little one) and a rosary picture book? The four year old could sing the “Ave, Ave, Ave Maria” between decades. They could probably both do the sign of the cross at beginning and end. If they’re in the same room with you, they will lick things up gradually. You could use a statue and an (rlectric) candle as a focal point. I agree it is probably unrealistic and unfair to try to make them sit there perfectly still and watch you pray.

They'll pick up something, for sure, but it might not be devotion to the rosary.

[Anonymous]

There are a lot of toddler Rosary toys for kids that age. Even chewing beads for the almost 2 year old. Put on some music, put some Rosary boas books and toys around and only do a decade (if possible). They should be exposed and around it rather than expected to sit and participate.

[Anonymous]

I play a Rosary podcast in the car.

[Anonymous]

^PP My older kids dont pray with me just listen. Maybe this summer we can pray it, thatd be good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^PP My older kids dont pray with me just listen. Maybe this summer we can pray it, thatd be good.

Maybe ask them first how they feel about you - or them - praying the rosary.

[Anonymous]

Try just a decade a day, especially with the kid who isn’t even two yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^PP My older kids dont pray with me just listen. Maybe this summer we can pray it, thatd be good.

Maybe ask them first how they feel about you - or them - praying the rosary.

Maybe raise your own kids and don’t worry about other people’s kids?

You don’t pay the bills in their house, you don’t cook/clean/provide childcare. You don’t take their kids to school or help them do their homework. When their child is sick, you don’t get up at night to give them medication or take them to the doctor or hospital. You don’t have anything to do with how pp takes care of or raises their child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^PP My older kids dont pray with me just listen. Maybe this summer we can pray it, thatd be good.

Maybe ask them first how they feel about you - or them - praying the rosary.

Maybe raise your own kids and don’t worry about other people’s kids?

You don’t pay the bills in their house, you don’t cook/clean/provide childcare. You don’t take their kids to school or help them do their homework. When their child is sick, you don’t get up at night to give them medication or take them to the doctor or hospital. You don’t have anything to do with how pp takes care of or raises their child.

Nobody but OP pays the bills in her house, etc.

Are you saying that OP's question only applies to people who agree with her?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you pray the rosary as a family, how do you keep the kids involved (ie not running around)? I don’t want to turn it into a battle of wills and sour them on the experience (kids are 22 month and 4).

Your kids seem too young to concentrate on a serious task like this. How old were you when you started praying the rosary? Did you do it as a family?

They're way too young! 4 is old enough to start learning the prayers, but not old enough to sit through even one decade of the rosary. 22 months is too young for either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you pray the rosary as a family, how do you keep the kids involved (ie not running around)? I don’t want to turn it into a battle of wills and sour them on the experience (kids are 22 month and 4).

Your kids seem too young to concentrate on a serious task like this. How old were you when you started praying the rosary? Did you do it as a family?

They're way too young! 4 is old enough to start learning the prayers, but not old enough to sit through even one decade of the rosary. 22 months is too young for either.

See response below to the poster who originally suggested that OP's kids might be too young:
"Maybe raise your own kids and don’t worry about other people’s kids?

You don’t pay the bills in their house, you don’t cook/clean/provide childcare. You don’t take their kids to school or help them do their homework. When their child is sick, you don’t get up at night to give them medication or take them to the doctor or hospital. You don’t have anything to do with how pp takes care of or raises their child."

[Anonymous]

Kind of young to participate but as they get older, a coloring page to color the beads is helpful. I also once saw an abacus-looking craft with beads and a string that helped with the sensory idea to move beads as the decades progress.

For now, I agree with the rosary app while in the car or laying down to rest