Kindergarden children’s capacity to receive and return love is immense. The announcement of God’s love for them and respect for their capacity to love God is essential to their proper formation. Children are nourished by the very basic, but rich, announcements of our Faith. These are announcements that can be returned to again and again, constantly enriching the relationship between Jesus and the child. They include:
the gift of creation
God saves Noah and his family
God reveals His Law to His people
the birth of Jesus
Jesus as the Good Shepherd
Jesus’ love for people - Miracles
the death and resurrection of Jesus
the True Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist
Jesus as the light of the world
Baptism as the gift of our receiving the risen life of ChristThree and four year olds can pray with joy and simplicity. Praise and thanks come naturally to them in short phrases, song, and repetition of words like “Alleluia,” as well as in their art and their work with materials.
Kindergarten children, when their relationship with Jesus is both respected and nurtured, experience deep joy. They believe Jesus is their Saviour and in knowing that He loves them, they have a sense of great peace.
The four-year-old child, in order to develop holistically (spiritually, emotionally, physically, intellectually, socially), needs to be recognized, valued, praised, and accepted for the unique and special person he/she is.
This child needs to feel loved by God and loved and appreciated by others. She/he needs to experience a sense of security and belonging which is essential to growth and healthy expression.
The Kindergarten child needs to see and experience how to share. She/he needs models from real-life, Scripture, the lives of saints, and especially from familiar adults in his/her life. (Justice, Fortitude) (Moral training)
This child needs to experience a climate in which self-discipline (Moral training) is fostered by giving him/her real responsibilities and allowing him/her to experience that all actions have related consequences, either positive or negative. (Justice, Temperance)
The catechist helps the child to choose the good for its own sake.
The catechist is encouraged to involve the child in group prayer and related religious activities. She/he can be introduced to brief moments of silence in which to communicate with God, to wonder and to imagine. She/he may describe what God has communicated to them.
The Kindergartener’ capacity to receive and return love is immense. The announcement of God’s love for them and respect for their capacity to love God is essential to their program.
These children are nourished by the very basic, but rich, announcements of our Faith. These are announcements that can be returned to again and again, constantly enriching the relationship between God and the child. They include:
• the birth of Jesus
• the kingdom of God present in creation
• the work of the Holy Spirit at the Incarnation, Eucharist, and Pentecost
Through parables and signs (liturgical colours, gestures), young children are able to move from the visible to the invisible reality, deepening their understanding of God while working with concrete representations of the parables or signs.
Three- and four-year-olds can pray with joy and simplicity. Praise and thanks come naturally to them in short phrases, song, and repetition of words like “Alleluia,” as well as in their art and work with materials.
The joy of Kindergarten students whose relationship with God is both respected and nurtured, is deep and calm. In God they find a love which matches their own love, meets their unique needs, and feeds their wondering hearts and minds.