How to Pray the Rosary with a Child

Blue Rosary

Praying the rosary with your child helps connect your child to the Catholic religion and helps him learn the importance of prayer. It is also a great way to connect with your child on a personal level as you take the journey of praying the rosary together. It's important to introduce rosary praying in a child appropriate manner in order to keep their interest and to ensure it is at their level of understanding. It can also be a time of enjoyment and peace as you pray the rosary together or as a family.

Things You'll Need

• Rosary

Instructions

1. 

   Sit down with your child and explain the importance of praying the rosary. Rosaries can be prayed for a special intention and is a way to give reverence to God for all that He does for us. Rosaries can be prayed for positive experiences in school, for the health of a loved one who is sick or for other little children all around the world. You choose the intent and use rosary time to focus on that.

2. 

   Explain the meanings behind the Mysteries of the Rosary. On Sunday and Wednesday are the Glorious mysteries. On Monday and Saturday are the Joyful mysteries. Tuesday and Friday are the Sorrowful Mysteries. Thursday is the Luminous mysteries. These Mysteries of the Rosary are a series of mysteries that celebrate and honor the life, passion and death of Jesus Christ.

3. 

   Make rosary time a routine. You can choose bedtime to pray the rosary in addition to bedtime prayers. Allow your child to choose an intent for their rosary or offer suggestions for the day. Make this time a peaceful one and set aside time for it on a nightly basis.

4. 

   Extend the significance of the rosary beyond the prayer itself. Print up coloring pages from the Internet on the mysteries and have your child color these before the rosary. Or you can purchase a rosary mystery book from a Catholic store that contains activities for children.

Tips & Warnings

• If your child is bilingual, teach the rosary in both languages and perhaps switch between the two nightly. It might be a fun idea to watch an instructional video on how the two of you can create your own rosaries.

• If your child is too tired at bedtime, this might not be a good time to introduce the rosary as he or she will not be receptive to the activity. In this case, choose a more convenient time for the both of you.

Resources

• Rosary Reflections Workbook for Children