Catholic Activity: Motivating Children to Perform Good Deeds

These two activities aid the mother in teaching her children the importance of performing extra good works during Lent.

DIRECTIONS

To make the good works of Lent more specific, the mother write down a series of chores to be done and virtues which should be observed. Each member of the family, parents included, draws a slip after evening prayers and the specific chore is his special good work for the next day; or if they have chosen a virtue, they work particularly hard on practicing that virtue the next day.

Another method of stimulating good works, especially when the children are young, is to give them a seed to put into a jar for each special good work they do during the day (beans or corn can be used). The seed symbolizes us and our good works; but unless it is planted (dies and is buried as was Christ), it cannot grow into a new plant (the new life of the soul made possible by Christ's resurrection).

Activity Source: Lent and Holy Week in the Home by Emerson and Arlene Hynes, The Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minnesota, 1977