Making the Sign of the Cross

The best way to teach making the sign of the cross is for it to be your own personal habit first, for children naturally want to do the things that their parents do. Even before our children were able to make the holy sign, we would make the sign of the cross on their bodies at the appropriate times in prayer or in the liturgy. The way we teach our children to make the sign of the cross is to have them make their hand into a "goose" shape with fingers and thumb touching. Then as we say "In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.", they first place their hand at their head, then heart, then shoulder to shoulder. In a very simple way, it shows children that Christ guards their minds, hearts, and their whole body.

It is a good thing to include in bedtime rituals, since it reassures them that they are looked after even when Mommy and Daddy are not in the room. (Well, that and the multiple reassurances that their guardian angels will defend them from the "robots pulling me out of bed" - Evelyn's chief concern, which she has dutifully passed to her little brother who now shares the same concern! But I will have to share more of our evening prayer escapades later...)