Children love pretend play and it is essential for early childhood learning! Do you remember playing “house” and “store” and dress-up? More memorable still, for us Catholics, was playing Mass
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Try pretending the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass this week with your child!
It is easy, fun and very memorable! Imagining and pretending Church with you will grow your child’s understanding and awareness of the awesome gift of the Mass and will help focus their attention on the events of Mass when we are once again able to attend Mass.
What you will need.
A Crucifix, an altar (a small table), tabernacle (cardboard box with a door), a chalice (fancy goblet), paten (plate), vestment (old cloth or plastic table cloth with a hole cut in for the head to fit through), hosts (crackers or bread cut in small circle-shapes), holy water font (dish with water). Optional: small chairs with kneelers (thin throw pillows), and lectern with lectionary (table with a Bible).
What you can do.
Just like all dramatic play, you can play together, simply in the “church” in whatever way that your child imagines it. Try to follow your child’s lead. As you continue in play, you can add to their growing knowledge by adding some of the Mass responses and a little guidance, such as; “The Lord be with you, And with your Spirit”, “Lord, have mercy”, “Glory to God in the Highest” and “Holy, Holy, Holy”. Include some familiar church songs, a short bible story (told or read), and lots of receiving of Holy Communion!