Catholic Family Fun (Pauline Books and Media)

Catholic Family Fun. At first glance, it seems like those words don't all belong together, or maybe it's the answer to a Before and After puzzle on Wheel of Fortune. In reality, this is a book from Catholic super-blogger Sarah Reinhard. I first heard of this book in 2012, but I am ashamed to admit, I didn't do much with it until recently, because I didn't have a family yet. Presently, my family is still small, and my 9 month old son isn't capable of appreciating these activities yet, but I know our whole family will in the coming years.

Catholic Family Fun is divided into four parts - "Are we Having Fun Yet?," "At Home," "Out and Around," and "Faith and Fun." In each of these sections, you will find ideas to help your children spice up a boring day as well as grow in their faith. Some of the activities included are singing silly songs, creating skits, scavenger hunts, and Eucharistic adoration. Almost all of the activities are low in cost and low in prep time. This is a big selling point as you don't want to sink a lot of time and money into an activity that your kid might show no interest in.

Maybe I'm holier-than-thou or maybe I'm just looking for a way to increase in holiness, but I really liked the "Ways to Serve" chapter. As Sarah points out at the beginning of this chapter, "Service was the core of Jesus's ministry, and it is integral to who we are as Catholic Christians." Let's look at her ideas for pregnancy centers. She suggests hosting a diaper drive at your church where people can donate diapers. You could also do a fundraiser where you pass out baby bottles and get families and friends to fill them up with dollars, coins, and checks. I've seen that work at my mom's Baptist church. What's great about these ideas is that they are both fun AND helpful. It is also a way to include not only your family, but the Church family as well. So whether you are a parent, grandparent, teacher, or catechist, you will find this 5-star book to be invaluable for many years.

This book was provided to me for free by the author in exchange for an honest review. Check out the Facebook and Pinterest pages for Catholic Family Fun for new ideas for you and your kids! If you found this review helpful, please click the link and hit Yes!