When you prepare a student to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, you know it is SO much more than just learning the steps to go to Confession!
You are helping to prepare their minds, but more importantly, their hearts, to understand what is and isn’t a sin, to be truly sorry when they commit a sin, and to ask for and accept God’s loving forgiveness through this beautiful sacrament.
Keep reading for 6 steps to prepare Catholic kids for Reconciliation.
1) Learning Right from Wrong
Before you start diving into the concept of sin, a good place to start with young children is with a mini lesson on rules. Ask them, “Why do we have rules?” Discuss examples from school and the community about how rules help keep us safe and living in a way that is respectful of others.
God gave us rules because He loves us so much and wants us to live in a way that shows love for Him, others, and ourselves. Read the story of Moses and the 10 Commandments to your students. Have children learn the commandments, but more importantly, focus on the meaning of each one as it relates to them. Give specific examples!
Find the printable 10 Commandments matching game (pictured below) HERE.
After discussing the importance of rules and laws, explain to your students that when we break God’s commandments, we commit sin. Introduce the concept of accidents into your lessons. Point out that a person’s intent matters. For an action to be a sin, it has to be a choice. For example, if you bump a glass off of the dinner table and it breaks, that would be an accident. You didn’t mean to for it to break. If you get mad at your brother or sister during dinner and throw the glass out of anger, that would be a sin.
During your sacramental prep class, these concepts should not be limited to one or two lessons, but reviewed as often as possible, giving students many opportunities to understand, share examples, and ask questions.
2) Read Stories of God’s Forgiveness
Children learn best through stories… what better way to learn about God’s forgiveness than through the stories in Holy Scripture! Read aloud, discuss, and complete activities in class centered on different examples of forgiveness in Bible stories, such as the Prodigal Son, the Parable of the Lost Sheep, etc. For scripture stories and activities specifically designed for students preparing for Reconciliation CLICK HERE.
3) Learn the Act of Contrition… and what it means!
Even more important than memorizing the words of the traditional prayer, students need to understand what they are saying to God when they pray an Act of Contrition. Consider having them write an Act of Contrition in their own words, guiding them to 1) tell God they are sorry for their sins 2) promise to do better 3) ask God for forgiveness and help 4) thank God for His forgiveness and love.
Also give students ample opportunity to memorize the Act of Contrition, so that they are comfortable saying it during their Reconciliation. Pray it together in class, send copies home for students to pray with their families, etc.
4) Learn how to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation
The final steps of preparation are actually learning the steps of making a good Confession. Students should be able to examine their conscience using the 10 Commandments as a guide. (**Look for an Examination of Conscience written for kids!) Then, they should learn the sequence of the sacrament.
Make sure they’ve also mastered common prayers given as Penance: The Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be.
5) Practice, Model, Prepare
Help children feel more at ease by showing them what to expect when they go to Confession for the first time. If possible, take them to visit the place where they will receive the sacrament. Let each student go inside the confessional space to see where they will kneel or sit next to the priest.
At one of the schools where I previously taught 2nd grade, we had a wonderful tradition where our parish priest would visit our classes and model the sacrament. A teacher would dress up as a 2nd grader (simple as a school sweater and a plaid bow in her hair) and would play the part of a child going to Confession for the first time in front of the class. It was a great way to ease fears, helping students see exactly what to expect.
6) Celebrate!
Once your class has made their First Reconciliation, don’t forget to celebrate! Give students the opportunity to share how they felt leaving the confessional, knowing their sins had been forgiven and their soul was in a state of grace, in a class discussion or through writing and drawing. Consider sharing a treat as a class in celebration of making their first confession, like popsicles or cupcakes! Remind students that God forgives them completely and bestows grace upon them every time they make a good Confession and to go often!
Find all the activities above and many more at a discounted price in the Reconciliation Preparation Bundle.
“This was an amazing find in a resource. It was exactly what I was hoping for that would guide and assist my students as they learned about and prepared for their sacrament of First Reconciliation. Your tasks and activities supported their learning and gave them confidence in their new learning about their faith. The section on the 10 Commandments was presented in a manner that gave the students success in understanding them and the expectations that they set over our lives. Thank you for your dedication to help teachers to plan and prepare the best learning for their students.” -Yvonne C., 2nd grade teacher
