Florida Catholic | Hebrew Catholics

Productive Lenten activities for families

Originally Published 03.06.06
Re-published: 02.22.08

Lent can be an affirmative experience for all family members. Heidi Peckham, secretary for pastoral ministries for the Diocese of Orlando, offers ideas for parents and children to make the most of this time of renewal. Peckham advises trying only one idea per week.

• Talk to your children about Lent. Ask them what they would like to learn to do without. Ask them what “new life” they would like to see in your family. You may be very surprised with their response. Post on the refrigerator.

• Talk to the children about prayer. What prayers would they like to learn? Post on the refrigerator. Practice each evening.

• Talk about penance. How do they say, “I am sorry?” Take the opportunity to model an apology for the children. Have everyone take a turn saying, “I am sorry” for some behavior.

• After supper one night, have children decide on one word they would like to hear more of during the week. And one word they would like to hear less of during the week. Post on the refrigerator. Discuss each night.

• Have children create paper bag Easter baskets for friends or family. Once a week, say a prayer for each basket owner and write the owner a note and place it in his or her basket. If children are old enough, they can do little tasks or chores in secret, make a note of it and place it in the basket. (This teaches children that as long as they can pray, they always have something to give. It is also a great low-cal Easter gift.)

• Move children into gratitude! At the end of the day, have children draw a picture of something they are thankful for and create a “Gratitude Wall” in the hall.

• Start a “Gratitude Journal.” (Send an e-mail to the Family Life Office familylifeoff@orlandodiocese.org and we will be glad to send you a starter.) Each evening record one item that you are grateful for, but do not repeat. How quickly can you get to 100?

• Choose someone who has taught you, and write that person a “letter of thanks.” Maybe someone in your parish has exhibited love or hospitality in a special way. Take the opportunity to say thanks. I cannot tell you how many people have responded with, “You do not know how much I needed that note.”

• Visit that neighbor you have been meaning to get to know.

• What do “poor people” look like? Investigate people who have less than you do. Do your children know about our sister diocese in the Dominican Republic?

• Pray the rosary. (If you have forgotten how, call or e-mail us and we will send you the information.) If your children are too young to pray the entire rosary, start with one decade.

• Write thank-you notes to each other for being who you are.

These tips originally appeared in the Florida Catholic’s March 6, 2006, Orlando edition.

Productive Lenten activities for families

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