How to Help Your Kids Pray, Fast and Give Alms This Lent| National Catholic Register

When we show our children how the Lenten pillars work together, we help them have a fruitful season where they have a chance to grow closer to Christ, become aware of the needs of others, and eagerly await Easter.

As a parent, I’m always looking for ways to model the faith for our children and also to help them take ownership of their faith. A necessary framework for that is with the three pillars of Lent: prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

Here are some ideas to get you started. You can adapt these to your kids’ ages and maturity levels.

Prayer:

• Attend daily Mass once per week with them, even if it’s not at your home parish. In your diocese there likely are an      abundance of options for morning, noon and evening Masses that will fit into your schedule. As a mom of four young children, I’ve found daily Mass to be a peaceful experience, and our kids usually focus better due to fewer distractions, shorter duration and a better view.
• Add an extra devotion to your daily prayer. The Chaplet of St. Michael, the Litany of the Precious Blood of Jesus, or the      Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows of Mary are great options for Lent. While your kids may be unfamiliar with the devotion at first, they’ll catch on quickly over the course of the 40 days and will do just fine.
• Pray the Stations of the Cross each Friday in Lent. I recommend using The Way of the Cross with Mother Angelica if you’re praying the Stations of the Cross by yourself or with your family. Kids can take turns leading each week, and even the youngest kids can journey the Way of the Cross. 
• Visit Jesus in Eucharistic adoration. Almost all of Jesus’ friends abandoned him at his crucifixion. Will you and your family keep him company this season? Even if a full Holy Hour isn’t possible, strive to make the trip to church.
• Commit to an extra 15 minutes of reading sacred Scripture. This can be with a lectio divina (prayerful reading of Scripture) kids’ resource, independent reading, or your family reading a Bible story together. I know younger kids have short attention spans, so settling for less than 15 minutes while making an honest effort goes a long way.

Fasting/Abstaining:

• In addition to abstaining from meat on Fridays (which is mandatory for Catholics ages 14-65), add one more meatless meal      during the week.*
• Abstain from condiments, dressings, extra seasoning and your favorite toppings. Whenever you and your kids think about how much you miss your ketchup, ranch (I’m from the Midwest) or cheese, offer a quick prayer for the souls in purgatory. 
• Abstain from dessert. This one might be hard for kids, but how Jesus will love their little sacrifices!
• Eat your meals cold (provided they are safe to eat cold. Please use common sense.).
• Abstain from fast food or coffee shops. If you’re a tired parent like me, you know that it’s enough of a penance to faithfully cook dinner every night and resist the urge to order pizza or takeout.

Almsgiving:

• Do a “family pledge drive” for a good cause. Similar to typical pledge drives, each member of the family pledges a certain amount of money to donate during Lent (above the normal amount). Write down the numbers and keep them where everyone can see. Collect the pledges and donate the money to a cause that’s special to your family.
• Put the money earned by doing extra chores around the house to good use. The money they earn can go to a cause of their choice.
• Pause streaming subscriptions or memberships. Again, that money can go to a worthy cause.
• Donate dry goods to a local food pantry. Invite your kids to shop with you for groceries, paper goods and hygiene products to give to those in need, together performing an important corporal work of mercy.
• Have Masses offered for special intentions. Our family frequently requests Masses through the Seraphic Mass Association, and whether you’re requesting Masses for loved ones (to whom you also can send a very nice Mass card), or for unnamed souls in purgatory, making a donation to communities like these ensures the spiritual needs of many souls are provided for.

The Lenten season involves more than giving up candy or pop. (We call soda “pop” in the Midwest.) When we show our children how these three pillars work together, we help them have a fruitful season where they have a chance to grow closer to Christ, become aware of the needs of others, and eagerly await Easter, Christ’s triumph over death.

*Note: If you are pregnant, nursing a baby, or have certain serious health conditions, you are not obligated to fast. Please consult your doctor and/or pastor if you are unsure, and know that the Church does offer reasonable exceptions to fasting and abstaining.