Photo from Catholic Company

Photo from Catholic Company

Brother Peter Yungwirth, a Dominican friar, calls the Rosary “a powerful tool in truly establishing a culture of life and a civilization of love.”  But how do you get your kids involved?  And how do you keep them interested?

Catholic Culture provides some background about the Rosary in a Mary Reed Newland excerpt.  Her main advice: help them to take an active role.  Let them read meditations, announce the mysteries, pretend they are there.  Use art, nature, and even (when appropriate) acting to make the mysteries come alive.

Kathryn Marcellino offers additional suggestions.  Knowing, as Fr. Patrick Peyton said, “the family who prays together stays together” she suggests the following tips for making it a habit.

1.  Choose a regular time that works best for all.

2.  Get everyone their own rosary and pamphlet with pictures/explanations of the mysteries.

3.  Light a candle or incorporate their other senses to help them stay focused.

Sure, you say.  The Rosary is great in theory.  But what if you have a really (I mean REALLY) kinesthetic learner?  A child with special needs?  How can you keep them involved?

These incredible moms show you how.

At Pondered In My Heart, Kimberlee explains her approach.  She crocheted 10 red roses and 1 white, for each Hail Mary and Our Father in a decade.  As she prays, Kimberlee’s daughter places the roses in a basket.  For the next decade, she transfers them to a second basket.  And back and forth as they go.

These Thy Gifts shares another approach.  Children physically construct a rosary as they pray, laying out beads and laminated cards of each mystery.

Two wonderful approaches to help all different kinds of learners engage with the prayer.  Yet another reason why I’m grateful for the Catholic blogosphere.