5 Game-changers for summer Mass with little ones

As summer brings lazy mornings and vacation adventures, it might start to feel like Sunday Mass is an optional extra rather than the cornerstone of our week. But this season of travel and relaxed schedules is actually when our children are watching most closely to see what truly matters to our family.

I'll never forget the impression it made on me as a child when my parents made the effort to find a church wherever we traveled (and in the days before the internet, to boot!). Whether we were camping in the mountains or visiting relatives across the country, we knew Sunday meant Mass. 

Their actions spoke louder than any words ever could. When I grew up and traveled on my own, I made a point of always going to Mass on Sundays like my parents had taught me to do.

Now, as a mother shepherding my own unruly flock in the pews, I know all too well how challenging Sunday Mass can feel with young children. I have plenty of stories that would make you cringe about my kids’ antics in Mass, especially when they were really little.

But I know our efforts to take our young kids to Mass are so worth it. I believe God’s grace is poured out in even greater abundance when we make the effort to show up despite the chaos. 

These five things are helping my family a lot this summer, taking Mass from survival mode to something approaching peaceful participation. I hope they can help you too!

If you’re not familiar with Magnifikid, run, don’t walk, to check it out! This brilliant little publication is such a gift to our family. It gives children their own way to follow along with the readings and go deeper into them with relevant quiet activities during Mass. My kids love Magnifikid, and I find myself wishing I'd had such a wonderful faith resource when I was their age. 

I've tried countless quiet activities for Mass, but nothing — and I mean nothing — has the staying power of puffy stickers. I buy them in bulk ($10 of stickers lasts us months) and bring a few sheets each Sunday, letting the kids stick them all over the bulletin or an old Magnifikid. There's something about the tactile experience that keeps even my most restless preschooler engaged and quiet. It's become my secret weapon.

My work as a Catechesis of the Good Shepherd instructor opened my eyes to how children process big concepts like faith through art. I give my kids small LCD drawing tablets at Mass and whisper, “Draw or write something you see in the church or something about God.” The results amaze me — detailed sketches of the priest at the altar, heartfelt prayers. It’s a beautiful way for them to participate in the Mass and pray in their own way. Here are two things my kindergartener drew in Mass last week:

It's really precious to see how my kids process and pray about Mass in their own ways. And I don't think I would even know all they're pondering if it weren't for the drawing tablets.

The difference between a peaceful Mass and a chaotic one often comes down to preparation. I pack tissues and a water bottle in our Mass bag every single time. My kids who aren’t old enough to receive Holy Communion get a small snack right before we leave home, and we make a bathroom stop before entering the church. On a really good week, we also lay out their clothes the night before.

Have you heard of gamification? It's the art of turning ordinary activities into engaging challenges, and it works beautifully for making Mass a summer priority. I created a church bingo sheet for summer trips, and my kids now look forward to visiting new parishes to enter them on their bingo cards. I’ve enclosed the sheet here so you can print it for your family and enjoy visiting new churches on your summer adventures:

We are using the bingo card to go to Mass a few times a week, and I told my kids that whenever we get bingo, they get to pick out a movie to watch. It’s the perfect blend of summer fun and building habits of prayer. 

When we prioritize Mass during summer's flexibility, we show our children what truly matters to us. Let’s keep building a family culture that puts worship and community at the center, regardless of the season or our location.

Your efforts to bring young children to Mass matter more than you know. Every time you bring your family to Mass, you’re building up their reservoirs of grace and creating a positive ripple effect that will (God willing) last for generations.