As the school year winds down and your children begin their well-deserved break from school, it’s likely you already have a busy summer agenda with family vacations, household projects, beach trips, and more. While summertime is an excellent opportunity to slow down, refresh, and unwind from hectic school schedules, it can be difficult to engage little ones spiritually in the same ways they may be used to while attending school at St. John’s. Here are a few practical tips for keeping your child’s faith alive, even when they’re not in school!

Make faith a part of your family’s routine

Children thrive with consistent structure and routine, and adding regular engagement with your faith can be a key way to develop little one’s spiritual wellbeing! Prayer before meals or right before bed can go a long way in building a simple but stable spiritual rhythm for your family. Likewise, if you lead by example by bringing up Jesus, referencing the Bible, or making connections between your faith and the world, your child learns to follow suit!

Maintain church & school relationships

The transition to summer vacation can sometimes be challenging for children when they miss their friends, classmates, and playmates that they may be used to seeing and spending time with daily. Making an intentional effort to maintain church and school relationships, even during off months, can help maintain a sense of normalcy for your child while also encouraging them to foster a deeper connection to their faith! Whether it’s weekly mass, scheduled playdates with other families from school, or joint family daytrips, these interpersonal connections can be a great opportunity to engage with your larger Christian family.

Continue faith-based education

Just because school is out doesn’t mean the education has to end! Much of children’s learning happens at home, and there are many simple, fun ways to teach your child about your faith during the summer months! Reading bible stories, making faith-based crafts, or volunteering together as a family are all great ways to keep your faith central to your family while also helping your child build knowledge and confidence in their spirituality.

While school may be out of session, growing you and your child’s faith doesn’t have to take a break! By prioritizing faith in your daily routines, building interpersonal connections with other members of your faith community, and making an effort to continue your child’s spiritual development in the home, you can help plant the seeds of spiritual growth in your child for years to come!