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aussieannie
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| Posted: Jan 15 2008 at 1:50am | IP Logged
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Not a very good title - a bit vague, but I didn't know what else to write in such a short space...
What I'm really asking is this. We all know that daily meditation (15-20mins per day) is such an important thing, when wanting to really draw closer to God and to increase in grace and holiness - you read about it in books like "The Soul of the Apostolate" and the likes. I feel very blessed to have access to Helen's Mary Vitamins - putting all the hard work into the structure for individual, daily Marian meditation - such a blessing, beyond measure!
So now my question is this. Can a very simplified version of meditation be taught/encouraged with children? Children who have reached the age of reason, I mean. Or is this asking too much from them? If a mother could create a daily structure, similar to Helen's Mary Vitamins for their own children, maybe formatting them to follow the saints of the year, is this really a feasible thing to ask of the children or is it best left till they are much older? This question intruiges me as I've never really seen any books for children teaching them to meditate daily in this manner...(or maybe there are books out there, or articles that talk about it being done.)
If anyone could help me here, I'd be very grateful to hear your thoughts.
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Becky Parker
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| Posted: Jan 15 2008 at 6:33am | IP Logged
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I am of no help but I do hope someone replies to this! My ds (14) could really use some help with something like this. He has "quiet prayer" in his daily schedule, but I don't think he knows what to do.
Then there is my 8yo dd. She prays her rosary daily on her own, and loves to light a votive candle and kneel to pray whenever the idea hits her. I am inspired by her! I think she would really benefit from something like this.
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JennGM
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| Posted: Jan 15 2008 at 9:18am | IP Logged
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Now I'm just a neophyte with my family, but here's what I think. What adults do for meditation is too much for younger children, at least at first. I think one has to dissect meditation and also give some "hands-on manipulatives" at the beginning to ease the children into a habit. I'm talking tiny baby steps, maybe just a minute working up to a longer time.
A few thoughts come to mind. Catechesis of the Good Shepherd presentations has quiet time for the child to contemplate the wonders they have been shown. After a presentation has been made, a child is free to go back to the materials and "work" with them. When the child does work with the materials, such as the Good Shepherd, Baptism, Mass, etc., this is meditating. They are using manipulatives, but contemplating the mystery. Another way is giving some time to draw or color, pasting, or other ways to reflect on what they have been learning. Many times it's structure free, so the child is spontaneous reflecting.
I think using art, either child made or viewing it is a good way to give time for meditation. During rosary time, display pictures of the mystery. Announce the mystery, perhaps read a short story or meditation, and then give a quiet period for the family to take in the words and picture and meditate. This would be baby steps in showing how to meditate.
A final thought is perhaps guiding them through meditation, like narration. Give some key questions, spaced out, to help guide some thoughts. I don't want to say do this always because meditation is certainly something deeply personal. But the structure is usually have a short reading and then think and pray. Usually at the end is a personal resolution. Religious many times write during their meditation time, maybe at the end to remind themselves of resolutions, and/or at the beginning, marking down key thoughts to prod them through the time.
A walk through nature is a great meditation time. Think of how many retreat houses are set in a beautiful rural setting, so that retreatants can contemplate indoor and out.
I guess I'm thinking having 15-20 minutes of quiet time is intimidating, even for an adult if one hasn't been given smaller chunks and helpful hints.
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Betsy
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| Posted: Jan 15 2008 at 9:35am | IP Logged
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Anne,
I think that what you are asking has been done/attempted in the idea of Childrens Adoration. Fr. Antoine of the Brothers of St. John has developed a wonderful program, where he guides children through an hour of Adoration. He keeps the time moving by breaking up the time into small segments of scripture reading & explanation, singing, meditation, Rosary or Chaplet of Divine Mercy, petitions, etc.
I think if you wanted this model in your home you could do the same idea by leading the child in small discussion about Saint of the day, scripture, hymn, etc. and then have 2-5 minutes of quite meditation, and continue this gently back and fourth a few times without trying to disturb the meditative nature.
I have tried to do that with my 7yo and it had worked nicely...but my 5 and 2yo are less than compliant. So my struggle is finding a time to work!
Betsy
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LisaR
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| Posted: Jan 15 2008 at 11:02am | IP Logged
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ditto what Betsy said!
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MaryatHome
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| Posted: Jan 15 2008 at 2:04pm | IP Logged
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"In My Heart Room," by Sr. Mary Therese Donze, is a small book of 21 guided meditations for children. It is focused on a classroom setting, but I had no trouble using it one-on-one.
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Betsy
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| Posted: Jan 15 2008 at 2:44pm | IP Logged
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Here is something that I printed up a long time ago...this might help as a spring board.
Betsy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ten Easy Steps To Guide Children Into Prayer
1.Make the Sign of the Cross with Love.
2.Close your eyes—this is very important—and ask the Holy Spirit and Our Lady to help you to forget all of your worries so that you can think of Jesus.
3.Imagine your favorite picture of Jesus. Picture it in your mind. Tell Jesus you love Him. If you are distracted, repeat His Name until the distractions go away.
4.When you are calm, thank Jesus for His blessings. Be specific (my family, my friends, my health, etc.)
5.Ask His forgiveness for the ways you have disappointed Him since you last prayed. Be specific (an examination of conscience.)
6.If you have a question or you need help with something, tell Him now. Expect Him to give you an answer. When you have told Jesus what is on your mind and it your heart, be still.
7.Be quiet with Jesus. Keep your favorite picture of Him in your mind. Do not talk to Him anymore. Just be with Him, love Him, and listen to Him. If you begin to have thoughts about something that you asked Him about, pay close attention to them. See Note.
8.If Jesus puts a thought in your mind to do something good, do it! If Jesus gives you a directed, a good thought, follow His direction! The more we follow God’s direction in little things, the more He will be able to show His love for us and through us, and the more we will learn to trust Him in return. If we are not sure that an inspiration is from God, we should ask our pastors and/or spiritual director to help us to decide. God will always bless for us being obedient to the people He has placed over us--as long as they do not ask us to commit a sin.
9.Thank Jesus for being with you. Ask Him to bless you as you go about your day.
10.Expect God to speak to you during the day--through other people, through nature, through your thoughts through all of your experiences. Remember that there is no such thing as a coincidence for the person of faith. God is everywhere, and He is always speaking to us if we would only listen and learn to recognize the many ways He uses to communicate with us.
Note: If while you are listening to God, you find it impossible to concentrate, do what so many Saints have done over the centuries: talk the Bible, open it to any part of the Gospel, and read what it says. Keep reading until something strikes you or catches your attention. Then stop and think about that part. God will often speak directly to you through that passage.
Source: www.mostholyrosary.org
(I didn’t currently see this on their site but that is where I got it)
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Maria B.
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| Posted: Jan 15 2008 at 3:55pm | IP Logged
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Betsy, this is wonderful. Thanks for sharing.
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CKwasniewski
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| Posted: Jan 15 2008 at 4:28pm | IP Logged
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In addition to the great suggestions by Betsy, 
I'll add that in Mary Reed Newland's book, How to Raise Good Catholic Children she has a really good chapter on teaching prayer(ch. 2) and also chs. on Mass (9) and Rosary (6).
Among other things, she says that they have a family prayer time at the end of the day where they do all four forms of prayer: 1) examine conscience, say sorry 2)thank, 3) praise and 4)ask for what they need. And they always ask to become saints!
We have long done this at night, cudddled together, by candle light and often thought about a mystery or discussed some theological point which the kids asked about. Its been the best thing we've ever done as a family....and the best catechesis time!
How to Raise Good Catholic Children
I highly recommend the book for this chapter and all the other good advice in it!
Blessings,
CK
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4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: Supporting children's spirituality...
