4Real Forums: Advent Readings for Preschool Children

Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.

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Topic: Advent Readings for Preschool Children

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Waverley
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Posted: Nov 12 2006 at 5:25pm \| IP Logged

I am looking for a book that has Advent readings designed for pre-school aged children. I don't really need any more advent activities. I just want the liturgical readings summarized and/or rewritten so that my husband and I can read them directly to our children each night when we light our advent candles.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Waverley

JennGM
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Posted: Nov 13 2006 at 8:08am \| IP Logged

Hi Waverly...I notice this is your first post! Make sure you introduce yourself in Fireside Chat "Introduce Yourself" thread so we can get to know you better!

This is a good question...and I've been mulling it over all night. How old are your children? I don't know of one resource for preschool children, but I ask about the ages as some readings can be presented in original form, and discussion afterwards about the meaning helps.

I was looking through the Liturgy of the Hours, and either the Morning Prayer or Evening Prayer Readings all through are short and simple and really express longing. There is repetition in the readings...which kids love.

Also, you could just use the antiphons, either from the Mass (like Entrance Antiphon, Communion, Alleluia Verse) or from the Liturgy of the Hours again...during the O Antiphons (Dec 17-23) I would definitely recommend reading those...or singing them (O Come, O Come Emmanuel).

The other option I was thinking is taking the Jesse Tree figures throughout Advent (of your choosing), and then finding a child's Bible stories you like and read the appropriate story for the Jesse Tree figure of the day.

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Waverley
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Posted: Nov 13 2006 at 9:11am \| IP Logged

Thanks Jenn,

I will head over to the Fireside Chat and introduce myself.

I will also look into your suggestions for Advent readings. Thanks for giving it so much thought. My children range in age from 13 to 3. I feel comfortable with the Advent readings we do with the older children, I just wanted something more meaningful for my 3 and 5 year old.

Thanks,

Waverley

JennGM
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Posted: Nov 13 2006 at 9:15am \| IP Logged

Waverley wrote:

I will also look into your suggestions for Advent readings. Thanks for giving it so much thought. My children range in age from 13 to 3. I feel comfortable with the Advent readings we do with the older children, I just wanted something more meaningful for my 3 and 5 year old.

3 and 5 are good ages!

What readings do you do now? Are you planning on using two different readings when you do candles?

I'm just wondering if you stick to what you have and just use illustrations or talk about them for the littles.

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Jennifer G. Miller
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'03 & ds2

'07
Family in Feast and Feria

Dawn
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Posted: Nov 15 2006 at 3:31pm \| IP Logged

Hi Waverley, I have been thinking about this too. My younger boys are 4 and 7. I saw this neat sticker book at Amazon: 30 Days with Mary and Joseph but unfortunately it looks unavailable.

It sounds really nice - a daily reading from the nativity story, a short prayer and meditation.

Does anyone know this resource - or anything else like it?

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Waverley
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Posted: Nov 17 2006 at 2:52pm \| IP Logged

Sorry its taken me so long to get back to y'all. I really appreciate your thoughts and feedback. We have thought about it a lot and have decided to to use the book "The Jesse Tree" by Geraldine McCaughrean. There are 24 chapters in the book and we will read one chapter a night before lighting our advent candles. Because the book is written as a story, I think it will keep everyone interested. After the little ones are asleep my husband and I will read and discuss the advent liturgy readings with the older ones. I think this will meet everyone's needs. We'll see!!

Waverley

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