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UK Mum
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| Posted: Jan 21 2008 at 11:53am | IP Logged
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my husband has brought to my attention that he is not in favour of the way i sometime teach the children about the whole bible story.My husband is not involved with our devotions or prayer. We have devotions each morning at breakfast, & we have just finished (what i thought was) an excellent book 'leading little ones to God' (we are not Catholic) my girls are aged 5 & 2. He is concerned my our talk of Satan. He feels they are too young & the focus should be upon God. Satan has only been mentioned a few times (as our tempter, & at the fall, etc etc.) So, i was wondering how you ladies address this topic with your own youngsters. Also with lent soon upon us, in what depth do you address Jesus suffering on the cross with little ones? I was interested in purchasing The way of the Cross for children by Kathryn Mulderink. Would this be age appropriate. I do believe little ones should be taught the truth, but at the same time, I do not wish to go against my own husbands feelings. Advice please!
Lynn
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LucyP
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| Posted: Jan 22 2008 at 1:28pm | IP Logged
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Hi Lynn, I am another UK mum! Well, I don't know about the book you mention. We have "The Story of the Cross" by Mary Joslin and illustrated by Gail Newey, published by Lion. It has a an introduction that goes from nativity to the arrest of Christ, and adds a 15th station (Jesus rises from the dead) and a bit at the end about the story being told by the disciples etc. The pictures are simple, colourful and not distressing - ie for the 11th station you see silouhettes of the crosses in the distance, for the 12th part of the shadow of Jesus' cross - you don't see any dead bodies or blood. I think your dh would like it for your children.
I don't know what to say about satan. Our son who is 4 has known about him since he was first told the story of the Bible - around 18 months. We just don't make a big thing of him per se, more of our need for Jesus to help us be God's friends again. Our son is very sensitive - he always wants to know who it is that St Michael is spearing etc!
Our son knows the facts of the crucifixion - ie, Jesus was nailed and yes, it hurt him badly - only Jesus was strong and loving enough to do such a thing for us, and even He asked God if He could be spared it. We talk about it in a more general sense, not really stirring up his imagination to imagine the sufferings of Christ and Mary, but he will make a connection and we will run with it - as when he said how sad it was for Mary to see her little boy being hurt, and we were able to talk a little about Mary's role at the crucifixion. He has seen the large crucifixes at church and the pieta, and the size of the nails and the blood etc, but we always try to acknowledge the pain and suffering and lead it on to how that proves how great Jesus' love for us is and how wonderful it is that He came back to life and is in heaven in glory.
I said a prayer for you. It is a real responsibility, to share God with our babies.
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happymama
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| Posted: Jan 22 2008 at 3:05pm | IP Logged
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As Catholics, we have several crucifixes in our home. (Actually, last time we moved, I hung one in each room and then decided it was time to donate the rest!) So my boys daily see Jesus on the cross. It sparks a lot of questions from them. I make a point (quite naturally, I find) to always talk about the Resurrection each time we talk about the crucifiction.
We pray nightly to our angels, and my sons (3 & 5) know that there are good as well as bad angels. We call the bad ones demons, and they sometimes get brought up. Again, I always lead these conversations back to the strength, power, and victory of Jesus. I don't think a child of any age is too young to learn about suffering & evil.
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Sarah M
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| Posted: Jan 22 2008 at 4:36pm | IP Logged
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Hmmmm... I'm reading A Landscape With Dragons by Michael O'Brien right now, which deals with the issue of whether or not we should introduce our children to the fact that there is indeed evil in our world. The writer obviously believes that it is important to teach our children about evil from a young age- that being said, I'm pretty sure I don't agree. But I'm not saying that I couldn't be convinced (which is why I'm reading the book!  )
My kids are 6,4, and 2, and they have never even heard of Satan. They haven't heard any scary Old Testament stories, either. They know that God made everything. They know the New Testament Stories and we have crucifixes up in our house. But, like is done in the Catechesis of the Good Sheperd, we dwell on Jesus as our Good Sheperd. That is enough for now, I think. As they get older, we will teach them all of it- Satan and all. But I remember as a child being terrified of evil spirits, and having a hard time understanding what was real and what wasn't.
Just my 2 cents.  I very well may change my mind as I grow in wisom and experience.
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isjalu0826
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| Posted: Jan 25 2008 at 3:35pm | IP Logged
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My son, 5, has never heard of Satan either. I just have never felt the need to bring him up (or evil, for that matter)... We talk about Jesus, Mary, the Saints. "
I honestly don't feel the need to bring him up at all. I guess that shows, though, that we haven't done much Old Testament yet :-) I tend to focus on the Life of Jesus.
I do pray to St. Michael (because though I don't talk about evil with my son, I know it is all around us) and have wanted to get a statue or picture of him, but have not yet precisely because most have him standing on the serpent or a very scary looking devil... So... Just goes to show I haven't brought S up yet and don't plan to, really, any time soon, that I don't even want an image of it around.
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CathinCoffeland
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| Posted: Jan 26 2008 at 4:00pm | IP Logged
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My kids know about these things. I hadnt planned on it but at 2 dd became attached to a pic of the Sacred Heart. Very bloody, very graphic but all she saw when she focused on it was the Love of our Lord.
Ds is 3 and loves the Fatima prayer- "save us from the fires of hell" it is not a scary thing for him but a powerful image -legions of angels fighting the devils for the souls of men. He is a boy  It has great appeal for him.
I thinks there are so many references to evil/devil in the world that kids are going know more than we think and I wanted my dc to have my thoughts first.
Yes its real -Satan is not a cute amusing creature with horns you see on cards and cartoons. He is evil but we have an all poweful all loving recourse-Christ's loving sacrifice.
I asked dd who is six what she thinks this is what she said I just think that its not very nice to think about. But its nice to think about the Good angels who chase away the devil.
Its important because you cant just say "Ican do anything and no one can stop me" You dont want to got to hell by accident because you dont know about the devil-so it is impotant to know about the devil.
He is not scary because I know Jesus is here and that St. Micheal fights the devil.
I know I was very scared as a child because I felt powerless-I was presented evil/devil as a myth.
I saw bad things/ heard about bad things but felt no hope that things could be better.
My children know that evil can be defeated- they see the statues of st micheal of our Lady treading on the snake/devil at church.
They have heard the story of Adam and the apple and of the temptation of Christ. We have talked about how the devil lies and evil actions can seem pleasing.
Do they get it all? No but they will understand more as they grow. And everything is presented in the context of "God is bigger" "God is love" with stories and Good Shepherd presentations.
That being said every child has different things they can handle at different ages .
I know with dd we avoid dicussing holy innocents/slaughter of males in moses except in vague terms.
I would say handle it the way you would handle the birds and bees.
answer questions- dont avoid it but dont offer too much at once.
oh dear the baby just "leaked" on me better go
Maggie
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UK Mum
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| Posted: Jan 28 2008 at 9:42am | IP Logged
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LOL @ maggie!
Sarah, i see your point...it is where dh comes from....I do feel however, that God is bigger than that...this is how i a trying to teach my little ones, anyway. However, i do need to respect my dh's veiws....Lucy, thank you for the book rec. i have loaned it from the library.
sorry everyoe for the rubbish post...nursing a very wriggly toddler 
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KathrynTherese
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| Posted: Jan 30 2008 at 8:24am | IP Logged
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Lynn,
I think there is a balance in how we present these ideas to our children, and the whole reality is always better than partial reality. The devil is real; he is in the Gospel. We can't ignore that.
Just like we encourage and praise our children, but at the same time we remind them that there are consequences for their bad behavior, the reality is that God loves us and gives us everything and cares for us... but there is evil in the world and there are consequences for our bad choices. It wouldn't be fair not to let children know that. One side of the truth isn't really truth.
Maybe if you point this out to your husband, he will begin to see this. Maybe he has bad memories from his own childhood that he is trying to spare the children; if he sees that they are receiving a balanced view, he may have fewer objections.
As for Kathryn Mulderink's Way of the Cross, I highly recommend it
If you go to the Lulu site and click on the book, there is a preview that should help you decide. I think the illustrations are very child-friendly.
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KathrynTherese
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4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: Please may i ask advice...
