In a series of 1943 lectures we now know as The Abolition of Man, C.S. Lewis argues that children must be taught “just sentiments” or the ability to respond to situations or things in a properly ordered way.

Lewis believed children needed to be trained “to feel pleasure, liking, disgust, and hatred at those things which really are pleasant, likable, disgusting, and hateful.”

While developing this argument, Lewis realized something very specific–that STORIES are the key to instilling “just” or rightly ordered sentiments in children.

While philosophy (and theology) are important, stories have a way of capturing the imagination of children like nothing else.

Rather than TELLING children that Jesus is the fulfillment of the foretold Messiah, we can SHOW them through the stories of the Old Testament.

The story of Salvation History will present your children with the prefigurement of Jesus, the Mass, Our Lady, and so much more. Walking through the Old Testament will open your child’s mind through God’s incredible storytelling to how well He prepared the way for Jesus.

This Advent give your children the blessing of the Jesse Tree as you prepare for Christmas.

Oh, can I offer one more insight from Charlotte Mason?

Another of my educational heroes, Charlotte Mason, wrote:

“We are apt to believe that children cannot be interested in the Bible unless its pages be watered down — turned into the slipshod English we prefer to offer them. . . The Old Testament should be read to the children...it is a mistake to use paraphrases of the text.”

If you are intimidated by reading the Old Testament, our Jesse Tree videos use the real Scripture. You can watch these videos for free when you sign up for Advent Adventure.

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