Dear Jesus, Dear Child: Guided Meditations for Young Children

Children have many fears, many questions, and many concerns. Dear Jesus, Dear Child was designed for caring adults to help children acknowledge their feelings and concerns, and to answer them with love.

The twenty topics in this book address some of the most common feelings and situations young children face–jealousy, fighting, love, fear, separation, and pain–as well dealing with seasonal holidays. Each subject features a letter from a child to Jesus and a reply from Jesus to the child. A guided meditation follows, which gives children the opportunity to quietly focus and find Jesus within. Finally, each topic has its own coloring page with space for children to write their own prayer to Jesus.

Dear Jesus, Dear Child is suitable for use in the home, classroom, or parish. The content is geared toward children in grades pre-K through third.

"What a creative and charming way to make children aware of God's loving presence As they hear their real concerns and fears voiced in letters to Jesus and listen to his response, they receive insight into their problems. More important, through these letters and the guided meditations that follow, children come to know Jesus as friend and helper. They will be more likely to turn to him spontaneously for the rest of their lives."

Sr. Kathleen Glavich General editor, Christ Our Life series

"Having worked in preschool and kindergarten religious education, I know the importance of early religious attitudinal development. We must help children touch Jesus at an early age, and this book provides an excellent tool for praying with young elementary school children. Dear Jesus, Dear Child takes their own experiences and helps them find Jesus present here and within themselves.

Adults using this book with their students will be touched with the Spirit of Jesus too. To become 'as children' and to relate to Jesus in the childlike manner set forth in this book will serve to begin or deepen the adult's relationship with Jesus. As always, when 'teaching' children, one learns much more than one imparts

I look forward to using this resource in our parish's elementary religious education program."

Karen Leslie DRE and author, Faith and Little Children: A Guide for Parents and Teachers

"To trust the spirit of our loving God deep within is a lifelong process. Dear Jesus, Dear Child is a wonderful guide that helps children grow in this process. Deborah Roslak and Linda Orber have provided an appealing guide by which children are led to prayer; they are encouraged to listen and speak honestly not only in letter form, but in quiet meditations where they are 'in touch' with their friend Jesus. I recommend this book not only as a fine resource for parents and teachers, but as background for homilists addressing children."

Bernice Stadler Co-author, Celebrations of the Word for Children