Perhaps you’re thinking, “This seems like a really cool idea, but how do I use this with my kids?”

We get it–this program is BIG with lots of resources and ideas.

I want to share 4 Ways to use the Very Young Catholic Project with your kids.

But first, I want you to hear from Emily about the overarching theme of this Project:

This Project captures your child’s imagination for the Church!

It breaks down the Nicene Creed and teaches each aspect of it through the stories of Catholic kids all around the world…just like them!

But that’s not all–this Project is SO MUCH BIGGER than just theology.

Emily breaks it down even further, sharing even more topics that will be covered:

In addition to the tenets of the Catholic faith, this online program will cover:

• Geography
  • Time Zones,
  • Continents,
  • Climates,
  • and so much more!
• Natural World
  • Mammals (so many mammals…),
  • Sea Creatures,
  • Plants,
  • Oceans,
  • and so much more!
• History and Culture
  • Pilgrimages around the world,
  • Devotions unique to specific countries,
  • Liturgical Year Celebrations
  • Saints,
  • and so much more!

Now, here are 4 ways you can use the Very Young Catholic Project with your kids:

Read Aloud Time

Imagine reading aloud a story that YOU the parent enjoys and that leads to fascinating conversations with your kids as they begin to grasp the depth of their Catholic faith.

In her article for Aleteia, Cecilia Pigg writes, “So far, all we’ve done is read the books aloud…reading and seeing how other families live the Catholic faith has helped me tremendously, even though the books are especially geared towards the 5-12 age group.”

Other parents have echoed this sentiment, saying,

• “At the moment, we treasure them at dinner or over lunch at home”
• “there are so many great topics that can be discussed after or during reading, using this as a read-aloud has generated fantastic conversations.”

With the Very Young Catholic Project Online, some months will include read aloud portions of the books (to give your voices a rest). Plus–you will be able to “hand off” some of your kids’ questions to Emily with our monthly “Ask Emily” column!

Geography

This is the #1 way that families tell us they are using the Very Young Catholic Project.

Instead of using a textbook, give your children stories so engaging that they won’t even realize how much they are learning!

Families have told us:

• “We are adding this to our geography curriculum. What a bonus to have a faith filled geography supplement!”
• “I like the information about the geography of the place plus the different expressions of the Catholic faith in different countries. It makes me feel more connection with Catholics around the world.”
• “Beautifully written for children – and they highlight very simply how faith and everyday life are lived all over the world – faith and life are coherent – what a fantastic geographical lesson.”
• “We were studying Iceland so this book went right aong with that. So it was interesting to see the Nordic storytelling traditions evident in that Catholic family. And edifying to read about Catholics in another part of the world!”

Geography is one of the focuses of the Very Young Catholic Project Online! Each monthly, you will receive additional printables, videos, photographs, and more to help “dive deeper” into regions of the world! This is a great supplement to (or even replacement for) your geography–choose a week every month to dive into all the Very Young Catholic resources!

But don’t wait–only a few more days left before enrollment closes.

Social Studies

Close behind geography, families are so excited to have an engagin yet authentically Catholic resource for social studies!

Families have told us:

• “They show normal children doing everyday things, and their Catholic faith is just seamlessly integrated into their lives.”
• “They are well done and there are so many ways you could incorporate them into a homeschool curriculum.”
• “They show similarities in the way children all across the globe live out their Catholic faith and also tell a bit about how children in those countries live in general and things that are unique to their culture.”
• “Kids are fascinated by the lives of other children and the faith component is a great plus.”
• “The stories and photos are beautiful and relatable. Kids will relate to the kids in the book and can learn to appreciate everyone as they are, similarities and differences. These books present an opportunity to also incorporate social studies/geography/cultural learning. Spend a day with each one- reading, doing an activity or recipe, and have great discussion with your kids!”

We are already working to gather a huge range of additional materials for the Very Young Catholic Project Online! Families in the books are sharing their family recipes, we are creating book lists to help you dive deeper into each country, and so much more!

I can’t wait for you to see everything we have created so please, join us!

Finally–a special note for Charlotte Mason homeschoolers

Here is a special tip for you from the family of the Very Young Catholics in Canada book! As Charlotte Mason homeschoolers, the mother told us:

Everyone does Charlotte Mason a little bit differently. But there are a couple ways a family could use them for CM or for any other geography component in my mind. 

In Charlotte Mason, most families between grades 1-3 are looking to do a travelogue each term and want to introduce their children to little people of many lands as best they can. These are a perfect way to do that! This might include:

• Having the books available as a once-a-week leisure read!
• Read it aloud as part of a 10-week term (which we have 3 times a year). We would read 7 pages approx from a book depending on its size each week and the child would narrate back to me what they saw and heard in the book and perhaps draw a picture to accompany their reading.

You can use these books in map drill time or map work time! You could be to learn where each country is located on the map and the various features that can be found in each country. The first few weeks might just be looking at a map in your book, then building toward drawing it by tracing, and finally drawing it from memory. Ideally the last week they could do a large part of this from memory entering the main cities and features and saying or writing a little bit about it at the end.

These are great living books for geography! Working through each book with the above activities and building in connections to the greater globe by looking at trade routes, how we locate any place on a map, including the place you are looking at and perhaps keeping a large world poster map to keep track as you read through the series is perfect for geography lessons.

Finally, these books are a wonderful way for kids to learn about Catholics all around the world! We introduced a Rorate mass at Advent at our parish last year, partly inspired by the story from Austria!

PS–still have a few questions?

Check out this list of frequently asnked questions to learn more!