Incorporating Catechism into our homeschool is a non negotiable for our family. To put it bluntly, our children need to be ready to defend their faith boldly, without hesitation. Catechism not only helps children understand the Christian faith but also strengthens their ability articulate their beliefs.
Contrary to what you may have heard, catechism is not just for Catholics. As a Reformed Baptist, catechizing our children simply means teaching truths about God’s word and learning questions and answers about Him.
Whether you choose a catechism from the 1689 London Baptist Confession, Westminster Confession, Heidelberg, or Keache’s catechism, incorporating catechism into your homeschool curriculum is an excellent way to teach your children foundational Christian doctrine.
This post is sponsored by Master Books. My time was compensated however all opinions are my own.
Why Should You Teach Catechism?
There are several reasons why it’s wise to teach catechism as professing Believers. It is a powerful way to provide your children with a deep and lasting understanding of their faith. Learning catechism can be an enriching and enjoyable part of your homeschooling journey.
Foundational Knowledge:
The Catechism provides a systematic way to learn core Christian doctrines, ensuring that children have a solid theological foundation. For example, question 1 of the Westminster Catechism is:
Q: What is the highest and chief end of man?
A: Man’s chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy Him forever.
In what seems like basic knowledge, knowing our highest and chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever puts life in full perspective for us as image bearers of God.
Faith Articulation:
Catechism helps children articulate their beliefs clearly and confidently, equipping them to share their faith with others. This builds up their faith from a young age.
Family Bonding:
Studying the catechism together can strengthen family bonds and foster spiritual growth as you explore and discuss biblical truths.
Biblical Literacy:
The catechism encourages familiarity with Scripture, as each question and answer is supported by Bible verses. In our example above from question 1 of the Westminster Catechism, the supported Scripture for this Q&A is: 1 Corinthians 10:31: “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
Incorporating Catechism Into Your Homeschool
Adding catechism to your homeschool day is not overwhelming. Here are some easy and effective ways to integrate catechism into your homeschool routine and curriculum.
Morning Devotions
Catechism makes the perfect morning basket filler! Starting the day with a brief catechism review during morning devotions sets a positive and spiritual tone for the day. Begin with prayer, review a few catechism questions and answers, and discuss it together. Keeping this session short and focused makes it easy to maintain consistency.
Family Worship
Set aside time during family worship for catechism discussions and review. Since we do catechism during the day, this is a great time for my husband to see and hear how many questions and answers the children have learned and retained. Many times, discussions will take place or one of the children will ask a question and we’re able to dive deeper in these questions and answers together as a family.
Memorization
Repetition is key to memorization. I work on memorization with the kids during breakfast. When we’re learning a new question, I read the question first, then read the answer. Then I have them repeat the answer with me several times. We do this for several days and then I slowly back off with prompts until they can repeat it themselves without any help from me. Once they have it mastered, we move on to the next question and answer.
Weekly Review Sessions
Hold weekly review sessions to reinforce what your children have mastered. Sometimes I review a few questions daily depending on how many we have learned and sometimes we review everything front to back.
Incorporate Into Bible Study
Relating Bible passages with catechism questions and answers reinforces the catechism’s teachings. I love asking catechism questions when it relates to our Bible study reading. This not only deepens biblical literacy but also shows not only how doctrine is rooted in Scripture but also how Scripture interprets Scripture.
Homeschool Curriculum
Catechism fits perfectly into our goal of homeschooling with a biblical worldview and can be a regular part of your homeschooling schedule. Our homeschool schedule is a 4-day week, Monday through Thursday and we do it daily on those days. Whether it’s daily, bi-weekly, or weekly, consistency is key. Catechism can be integrated into a variety of subjects, such as history, literature, apologetics etc.
Master Books’ child-centered, hands-on approach makes this super easy! We’ve been using the Answers for Kids Box Set in addition to our regular catechism book. This box set is part of the Elementary Apologetics curriculum and can be used as a full apologetics course for 4th – 6th graders.
The set includes eight volumes with each book covering 22 questions concerning:
- Volume 1: Creation and the Fall
- Volume 2: Dinosaurs and the Flood of Noah
- Volume 3: God and the Bible
- Volume 4: Sin, Salvation and the Christian Life
- Volume 5: Space and Astronomy
- Volume 6: Babel and the Ice Age
- Volume 7: Evolution and Millions of Years
- Volume 8: Satan and Angels
While we do not use this as a full apologetics course or memorize these as of right now, we do read one or two questions and answers per day and have discussions about them. Our discussions have been so lively and rich and I enjoy them just as much as the children do!
View this post on Instagram
Catechism Songs
Singing and music is a powerful memorization tool, especially for younger children (and me too, actually!). There are a plethora of resources available that set catechism and Scripture to music. You can easily turn music on low in the background throughout the day or listen to it when you get in the car. It’s definitely a fun way to hide God’s truth in your heart!
Do You Include Catechism Into Your Homeschool?
Incorporating catechism in your homeschool doesn’t have to be daunting. With these easy and practical methods, you can seamlessly incorporate catechism study into your daily homeschool routine. Remember, the goal is not only memorization but also fostering a love for God’s Word and a heart for living out its truths.
Comment below some of your favorite ways that you incorporate catechism in your homeschool!
Homegrown Motherhood is dedicated to recommending quality resources to benefit Christian families. This blog contains and is monetized through ads, sponsored posts and affiliate links. For more information, please read our Privacy Policy