My son Bean's birthday is coming up in August, and family members are wanting birthday gift requests.The best move we made for Bella's recent birthday was to request some Catholic DVDs for kids. She spends 100% of her life in some costume or character outfit (loosely construed) and taking on the personality of the particular character. "Bernadette: The Princess of Lourdes" and "The Day the Sun Danced: The True Story of Fatima" by CCC of America, two of her birthday gifts, have brought about a blessed shift in her identity. Instead of dreaming up Strawberry Shortcake slumber party plans or attempting a British accent as Wendy Darling, she trots around our local playground proclaiming, "I am the Immaculate Conception." (Not sure about the appropriateness of that one.) And even more, she's particularly into the characters of Bernadette Soubirous of Lourdes and Lucia of Fatima. This has piqued her interest in praying the Rosary, in joining the "girl saints" one day in Heaven, and in loving Jesus like the girls did.
We need more fuel for this fire! Any other recommendations on Catholic DVDs for kids?
5 comments:
We love Bernadette around here. We also like Juan Diego, Our Lady of Guadalupe--put out by the same company.
A few nights ago Mary B was splashing in the bath and saying "it's a miracle, it's a miracle." When I asked her what she was doing, she said "Im Bernadette."
I would also recommend some little books called Catholic Children's Treasure Box. They are sort of dated, but they have great young lives of St. Therese and Our Lady in the first set, and my daughters have really responded to hearing about little Therese's small sacrifices in family life.
Tomie de Paola also writes very sweet saint picture books, and for older children, Ignatius books has a series of short chapter books that are saint biographies.
My son is getting obsessed with baseball, so I am thinking of finally getting Champions of the Faith for him.
Oh, and for the adults, do see Song of Bernadette yourself! And Bella, have I mentioned Bella? Everyone should see Bella, possibly once a year.
Not a video, but just thinking about other Catholic gifts for kids, we gave my daughter the Playmobil Nativity set for her birthday this year, even though her birthday was during Lent (it's what she requested from the Catholic Kids catalog). She loves it. But it does have multiple tiny pieces, so it can be frustrating if you're trying to keep small things out of the way of younger siblings.
Also, there's always veggie tales videos, and if you haven't heard of BOZ the Bear (bozthebear.com), you should check him out too. I don't think the Boz series is put out by Catholics, but they are Christian (I haven't actually seen a whole video, but it seems kind of like an animated Christian Barney).
I have heard good things about the Donut Man videos. I know they used to be a protestant favorite and then the donut man converted to catholicism. But I have never seen them myself, so can't vouch for them. Maybe someone else knows about them?
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