7 Ideas for Kids when you still can’t go to Mass

In order to better serve our audience, we sent out a survey to hundreds of Catholic families across the country and asked what their parish re-opening plan was for the fall. 

We found some interesting results–

Only 5% of the respondents have Sunday Mass available without restrictions.

The remaining responses varied–

23% of families are still not attending Masses in-person.

67% of families responded that “it is still uncertain” as to how Sacramental prep will happen.

The goal for families throughout the next few months is to ensure that kids remain engaged in the Catholic faith, even as normal schedules, Faith Formation classes, and weekly Mass attendance are not options.

Here are 7 suggestions to help you keep your kids engaged during this challenging time:

1. Focus on the Liturgy of the Word

When attending a normal Mass, it can be easy for kids to gloss over the Liturgy of the Word as they focus on the more “active” parts of the Mass. While you are celebrating Sundays at home, this is a perfect opportunity for your family to delve into the weekly Mass readings!

Have your kids take turns reading the First and Second Reading while Dad reads the Gospel. Since you are not confined to the regular rhythm of the Mass, stop after each Reading and talk about what was just read. See if you can find themes between the First, Second, and Gospel Readings. You can also use the weekly Sunday Mass Quiz from our Sunday Mass Prep program to help your family remained focused during the Liturgy of the Word!

2. Read Books about Mass

Especially with young children, it can be difficult for them to remain interested in the Mass after months of absence. While in their little minds weekly Mass attendance may be a thing of the past, there are fun and creative ways for you to get them excited about (hopefully) returning to this summit of the Catholic faith in the near future.

One great way to do this is through picture books that celebrate the Mass from a child’s perspective. The Weight of a Mass is a beautifully illustrated book (and a favorite in our house) about the unmeasurable importance of a Mass. An Alphabet of the Altar can be incorporated into your homeschooling plan for pre-k and kindergarten as a gentle way to familiarize children with both the alphabet and various aspects of the Mass.

3. Dress Up on Sundays

All dressed up with nowhere to go? While this may seem pointless, continuing to dress up in your Sunday best will help young children understand that even at home, Sundays are still important!

And–since you won’t be seeing anyone nor will you be physically going to a Church–this is also an opportunity to allow children to “style” their own outfits!

4. Engage Children with Toys

Children like to imitate things they experience in real-life–playing family with their dolls, playing traffic with toy cars—to help them process and understand them better. You can utilize your children’s play by adding Catholic toys to their collections!

There are lots of children’s Mass Kits that can be used to play Mass at home with siblings and friends. The Fr. Leopold Celebrates Mass LEGO set allows kids to build “Catholic LEGOS” and then use Fr. Leopold to act out the Mass, providing hours of fun! Here is what one Mother said about the Fr. Leopold LEGO Set:

“My children have struggled to have a positive experience with Mass because of all the pandemic health requirements. We’ve had to switch to just video Mass for the three-year-old as she was starting to cry every time we mentioned going to Mass (required hand sanitizer with her eczema plus a mask felt like a punishment). We really wanted her to continue to participate in the Mass somehow, and it was a struggle. Now that both girls get to “play Mass” with this set, she is following along the Mass and paying attention pretty well for a three-year-old. We even personalized it more by building “St. Therese Parish” around the Mass set that came with this.”

You can also incorporate other Catholic toys into your children’s “Mass” play—for example, Catholic blocks are a great way you can add statues to the Church your kids create!

5. Visit Your Parish During the Week

Though your parish may not be offering public Masses yet, you may be able to visit the Church privately. Even if you are not able to go to Church for Mass, it can be helpful to bring your children for a quick visit during the week. A quick visit when you are the only people in the Church can reignite your children’s attention!

Walkthrough the Church, pointing out statues and windows your children have not seen in-person for a few months. Point out various parts of the Church that they will remember from the books and toys at home. Make this visit short and sweet so your children can have a positive memory of your Parish in mind when you are able to return again for in-person Masses.

6. Watch Masses from Churches Around the World

With so many churches now streaming Masses, there are a plethora of options available for Sunday Masses. If there is a Church you have always wanted to visit, google the website and see if they have a Mass streaming option for the upcoming Sunday!

This is also a great way to introduce your children to the idea of a universal Church! Share the beauty of being apart of a Church that spans across countries, cultures, and languages by watching a Mass from a beautiful Church somewhere else in the world.

7. Celebrate the Liturgical Year

While not able to attend Mass, there are still many other ways you can participate in the Liturgical Year from home! There are so many feasts and liturgical celebrations you can incorporate into your day with crafts, meals, and books. This is a way you can incorporate both fun and religious education into your family’s schedule simultaniously.

Psst–Are you unsure how to explain the Liturgical Year to small children? Here is a board book that can help you and it has the Catholic Writers Guild Seal of Approval!

Before you get overwhelmed by all the suggestions on Pinterest, read this blog post about the Catechism of the Catholic Church’s statement about the purpose of liturgical living.

Looking for more suggestions for handling Sundays and lack of access to public Masses? We have another blog post from March with more suggestions!