What age for catechism memorization?

MMasztal · #1 (**permalink**) 01-30-2008, 08:08 PM

We have adopted 8 yr old twin boys (adopted a nearly 6 yoa- both ADHD, but fairly intelligent). They regularily attend Sunday school/church, but I'd like to have them memorize a catechism. The one I'm thinking of using is Great Commission Publishers, "First Catechism". It contains 145 questions and was what we used when I was in the OPC in Georgia.

My wife remembers memorizing a catechism when she was about 9, but can't recall how many questions there were. I grew up R.C. alterboy and memorized the mass in Latin (didn't know a thing I was saying though)

If/when they do memorize the questions, is it customary to have them recite all 145 questions to the pastor in one sitting? I just seems like a lot. Or maybe I expect too little from my guys.

Thanks for any input.

Barnpreacher · #2 (**permalink**) 01-30-2008, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MMasztal

We have adopted 8 yr old twin boys (adopted a nearly 6 yoa- both ADHD, but fairly intelligent). They regularily attend Sunday school/church, but I'd like to have them memorize a catechism. The one I'm thinking of using is Great Commission Publishers, "First Catechism". It contains 145 questions and was what we used when I was in the OPC in Georgia.

My wife remembers memorizing a catechism when she was about 9, but can't recall how many questions there were. I grew up R.C. alterboy and memorized the mass in Latin (didn't know a thing I was saying though)

If/when they do memorize the questions, is it customary to have them recite all 145 questions to the pastor in one sitting? I just seems like a lot. Or maybe I expect too little from my guys.

Thanks for any input.

That's the catechism we use for our three year old. She knows 50 of the questions. The beauty of it is that I'm her pastor so she can tell them to me every night a little at a time instead of all 145 at once.

westminken · #3 (**permalink**) 01-30-2008, 10:18 PM

My pastor is teaching a catechism class for 7-10 year olds right now. He is having the kids memorize 2-3 questions a week and they seem to be doing well. You might want to use the same approach and have it part of your family worship time. I think 2-3 questions a week is pretty doable for kids that age.

SolaScriptura · #4 (**permalink**) 01-30-2008, 10:34 PM

We have 3 kids doing catechism... their ages are 7, 5, and 3. My oldest knows about 70 or so, the middle knows about 45 and the youngest is a young 3 year old, just starting, and he knows about 10.

Our nightly family devotions are LONG... about 45 minutes of singing, prayer, Bible reading... and then we get to catechism. Going through each question would simply be too much. So... I usually pick one question per page just to keep things fresh in their mind... plus the act of giving them the question out of order prevents them from slipping into "auto pilot" mode. On Fridays we have a "challenge" game where I ask a question and the first one to raise his/her hand gets to answer and at the end of the game the one with the most points gets a special daddy tickle/munch session. (Conversly, the one with the worst score gets a severe beating.)

(Just kidding about that last sentence!)

toddpedlar · #5 (**permalink**) 01-30-2008, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SolaScriptura

We have 3 kids doing catechism... their ages are 7, 5, and 3. My oldest knows about 70 or so, the middle knows about 45 and the youngest is a young 3 year old, just starting, and he knows about 10.

We have the same ages, plus a 4 month old who isn't QUITE ready for catechism yet... we too use the First Catechism (or rather a version that has somewhat older wording, but essentially the same questions, called the Catechism for Young Children). We're just building ours up - eventually I suspect (though it would be LONG) our girls will be able to state every answer; but the way we do it is about 10 questions each, each night, and I just shuffle along with each one individually, adding a new question every other night or third night depending. This works out to about 3 new questions each week.

The 3 year old we've just started with, and she's only got the first three down, and I expect the progress in adding new questions will be somewhat slower with her.

We do this before our family worship time, which is simple - prayer, short bible passage, and singing, about 20 minutes.

Kevin · #6 (**permalink**) 01-30-2008, 10:54 PM

My oldest two have already said the (childrens) catechism & are working on the shorter.

We have used the Haddington House edition & I would be glad to send a copy of it to any one who asked for it. Just PM me with your postal info & I will send you a copy.

The age at which they can say it will vary from child to child. However every child (born in a christian home) should begin the process of memorizing it as soon as they can. My 2 year old can give the first several answers without really understanding what he is saying. He is the child who says that "poly, poly, poly" is his favorite song! By which he means that great protestant classic "Holy, Holy, Holy".

When my mom babysat the kids a few weeks ago she was at six's & seven'
s when putting them to bed because our Alex kept asking her to sing the "Poly Poly" song.

Kids can learn more then you think. Give them the blessing of a good catechism.

SolaScriptura · #7 (**permalink**) 01-30-2008, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin

My 2 year old can give the first several answers without really understanding what he is saying. He is the child who says that "poly, poly, poly" is his favorite song! By which he means that great protestant classic "Holy, Holy, Holy".

Amazing!!! Reading this was like reading about my just-turned-3-year-old!

toddpedlar · #8 (**permalink**) 01-30-2008, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SolaScriptura

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin

My 2 year old can give the first several answers without really understanding what he is saying. He is the child who says that "poly, poly, poly" is his favorite song! By which he means that great protestant classic "Holy, Holy, Holy".

Amazing!!! Reading this was like reading about my just-turned-3-year-old!

We had been working slowly with our now 7 year old, when she was about 3, and I'll never forget the sadness with which she shook her head, giving the answer "Noooo....he sinned against God"

Cheshire Cat · #9 (**permalink**) 01-30-2008, 11:10 PM

I'm 20 and I know 1 from the Westminster shorter catechism. #4 to be exact. You can never start too late

.

theologae · #10 (**permalink**) 01-30-2008, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cheshire Cat

I'm 20 and I know 1 from the Westminster shorter catechism. #4 to be exact. You can never start too late

.

Hey, I'm sure you know the first!

Barnpreacher · #11 (**permalink**) 01-30-2008, 11:34 PM

Wow, all I can say is praise God for Christian families that take part in family worship. This is an element of worship that has been taken away from the church for far too long now.

It's threads like this that let me know and proudly say that I'm just a pilgrim and a stranger in this land, and it sure is comforting to know I'm not alone on this journey toward a better city. Thank you brothers!

SueS · #12 (**permalink**) 01-31-2008, 07:03 AM

Our church does the "Kid's Quest" catechism club every week where the children learn several questions as well as receiving teaching connected with them. The classes are divided into the little guys, ages 4-6, and the older ones up to ages 9/10. A couple of weeks ago my 33mo grand daughter sat in on the littles group which was being taught about Abraham's obedience in following God's word and the accompanying lesson about obeying parents. She has begun asking her mommy, "Am I obeying?" almost every time she does what mommy asks her to do. It's amazing what God's Word will accomplish even in such a young child!

MMasztal · #13 (**permalink**) 01-31-2008, 09:51 AM

Thanks everyone for you responses.

ChristopherPaul · #14 (**permalink**) 01-31-2008, 10:00 AM

Children are capable (much more so than adults) at memorization at early ages. We started using the Children's First Catechism when our first children were younger, but switched all of them to the Shorter Catechism including our three year old. She learns the "Who Made You?" type questions in Sunday School but we only teach her the WSC at home. She is not as fluent with the questions and answers as our six and five year old, but she certainly picks up on it and can recall them with some help.

jaybird0827 · #15 (**permalink**) 01-31-2008, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChristopherPaul

Children are capable (much more so than adults) at memorization at early ages. We started using the Children's First Catechism when our first children were younger, but switched all of them to the Shorter Catechism including our three year old. She learns the "Who Made You?" type questions in Sunday School but we only teach her the WSC at home. She is not as fluent with the questions and answers as our six and five year old, but she certainly picks up on it and can recall them with some help.

We did the same with our son. Early exposure goes a long way. If they hear it repeatedly over time, it facilitates the later task of memorizing.

non dignus · #16 (**permalink**) 01-31-2008, 10:21 AM

We started our kids on 'Catechism for Shorties' (87 Q.) at Pre-K and 1st grade. Now, at 2nd and 4th grade, we are on Heidelberg 19. I've memorized up to Heidelberg 66.

reformedcop · #17 (**permalink**) 01-31-2008, 11:18 AM

We are doing the WSC with our 2, 5 and 8 year old boys. Tim, my oldest and Steven, the middle put me to shame as far as the precise memorization of the questions and answers.

Cheshire Cat · #18 (**permalink**) 01-31-2008, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theologae

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cheshire Cat

I'm 20 and I know 1 from the Westminster shorter catechism. #4 to be exact. You can never start too late

.

Hey, I'm sure you know the first!

Correct. So I guess I know 2!

Joshua · #19 (**permalink**) 01-31-2008, 04:10 PM

I began teaching Chloë the GCP First Catechism when she was 2. She picked it up quickly. I have some funny stories from the past 3 years.

Pergamum · #20 (**permalink**) 01-31-2008, 10:16 PM

Don't you all think that many of the catechism questions are still too hard for children? Not too hard to memorize because kids can memorize almost anything....but so can a parrot. The key is not memorization-ability, but understandability.

What I mean to say is that most children's catechisms are too lingo-ridden.

I.e. covenant of life....What does THAT mean?

MY 3 year old can memorize it, but it really does no good to memorize holy sounding
words if he does not understand it (the Penny-Costals shout Prasie God all the time and pepper their speech with lingo, but they are no more holy for it).

I have reworked the catechism so that my 3 year old son knows what is being actually taught and can talk about it and even give me examples himself:

Who made you
God
What else did God make
everything
Why did God make you
For His Glory (or...He loves me)
Where do we read about God
In the Bible
What keeps man away from God
Sin
Is sin good or bad
Bad
Who saves us from our sin
Jesus

At each point I ask him about what these questions mean and he goes into mini sermons...."Yes, daddy, god made birdies, God makes lizards, God makes the trees..."

And then he can talk about what sin is and give me examples ("being bad" "taking stuff" "hurting people").

He knows the Jesus can make "bad guys" into "good guys" and etc.

He does not yet know a whole lot of holy jargon, however, and I think this is a strong point. Nor does he know a lot of quantity (i.e. 150 questions and answers).

Many people learn the words of salvation without truly knowing what salvation is. I want a little bird that can explain back what the answers really mean instead of parrot back an answer through rote memory.

Not that any of you do this...but I have seen some who want their kids to church out answers like a little machine and the kid actually has no clue about the content of the questions.

Quickened · #21 (**permalink**) 01-31-2008, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pergamum

Don't you all think that many of the catechism questions are still too hard for children? Not too hard to memorize because kids can memorize almost anything....but so can a parrot. The key is not memorization-ability, but understandability.

What I mean to say is that most children's catechisms are too lingo-ridden.

I.e. covenant of life....What does THAT mean?

MY 3 year old can memorize it, but it really does no good to memorize holy sounding
words if he does not understand it (the Penny-Costals shout Prasie God all the time and pepper their speech with lingo, but they are no more holy for it).

I have reworked the catechism so that my 3 year old son knows what is being actually taught and can talk about it and even give me examples himself:

Who made you
God
What else did God make
everything
Why did God make you
For His Glory (or...He loves me)
Where do we read about God
In the Bible
What keeps man away from God
Sin
Is sin good or bad
Bad
Who saves us from our sin
Jesus

At each point I ask him about what these questions mean and he goes into mini sermons...."Yes, daddy, god made birdies, God makes lizards, God makes the trees..."

And then he can talk about what sin is and give me examples ("being bad" "taking stuff" "hurting people").

He knows the Jesus can make "bad guys" into "good guys" and etc.

He does not yet know a whole lot of holy jargon, however, and I think this is a strong point. Nor does he know a lot of quantity (i.e. 150 questions and answers).

Many people learn the words of salvation without truly knowing what salvation is. I want a little bird that can explain back what the answers really mean instead of parrot back an answer through rote memory.

Not that any of you do this...but I have seen some who want their kids to church out answers like a little machine and the kid actually has no clue about the content of the questions.

At my church the children there go through the different questions. One group is small probably around 3-5? The other group is older yet still single digits. At first i was really impressed with the memorization skills. But one thing really stuck out in my mind and i think this post really touches on that.

I noticed that some answers the kids gave back were robotic. That showed me that there was memorization but lack of understanding. I think when someone really "gets it" they can put it in there own words.

After some thought i would encourage a mix of both. Nothing wrong with memorization at all! Good for the mind methinks. But i think to incorperate a way for the kids to put things in their own words. Encourage those "mini sermons". Let them think and reason and guide them and assist them when needed. I think a proper mix of those things is necessary.

ChristopherPaul · #22 (**permalink**) 01-31-2008, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pergamum

Don't you all think that many of the catechism questions are still too hard for children? Not too hard to memorize because kids can memorize almost anything....but so can a parrot. The key is not memorization-ability, but understandability.

Yes, and the goal is simply to get the kids to memorize... nothing more.

It is part of the classical philosophy of learning (or teaching) in that children are highly capable of memorization at young ages, but not so much comprehension. So while they are young we focus on simply getting the information into their minds, then later when they develop and mature we work on that same information that is already there and work on comprehension and then after that application. This does not mean we ignore explanations of concepts and terms at young ages, but we do not expect them to understand it all, but we do expect them to memorize it.

All kids memorize information at young ages that they will not understand until they are older, but the goal is to get the right information in "there" so they will have something worthwhile to meditate on when those times come.