I was mortified.

But I’ve learned a few things about myself and my children as I continue to bring them to Mass every Sunday. There will still be moments that are not perfect, but I will not stop bringing them. And neither should you.

Explaining the Catholic Mass to Toddlers

One of the biggest things I’ve learned about toddlers is that they thrive on talking about something before it happens. Explaining to them about what the doctor will do with the stethoscope, talking about library store time, and even what happens at Mass.

Do this BEFORE you start going to Mass. Show them books about church so they know what they are looking at.

My two favorite books are

• A Missal for Toddlers – it follows along with the Mass in a simple way for kids to flip through during Mass.
• Look and Learn – Toddler Edition – it teaches first words for Catholic kids. My kids love looking at the pages then at the altar to see what they can find.

And talk to them about appropriate behavior. You can even practice with stuffed animals at home. Watch a YouTube video of a Mass to highlight the parts of the Mass. Have them sit, stand, and kneel with their stuffed animals.

The more you talk about it beforehand, the more they will be prepared for what to do.

Have Realistic Expectations

Bringing a toddler to Mass is not going to be like going to Mass pre-kids. You will not get to hear every word during the Liturgy. You may not even be in the pews for the whole Mass. Your mind may be more focused on them than the Word of God at some times. All of this is OKAY. 

God made you a parent. Jesus loves children. He delights in you bringing them to Mass. Your role as a parent is to care for your children, nurture them, and teach them to love Jesus. That requires doing this at Mass, too. 

I am grateful to be at a parish where our priest actually says during the dismissal “We love hearing your children during Mass. Keep bringing them. If the church isn’t crying, it’s dying.” 

Where to Sit with Kids at Mass

I used to think sitting in the back of church was easiest. We had a quick getaway when my toddler would literally get out of the pews and start running. 

However, I never have and don’t plan on using the cry room. That just lets your toddler know that it is okay to have a separate room to play and be loud. We all know toddlers are working on developing habits. Help them to develop the habits appropriate for sitting in a pew.

Now, I try to sit closer to the front (except when in the middle of potty training!). I am always pointing out the color of the vestments, the statues, and what the priest is doing during the Consecration. My kids are paying more attention and looking more at the church now.

Quiet Activities for Kids at Catholic Mass

I see some parents bring absolutely nothing for their kids to do, and honestly I admire that. I wish I would have started that sooner. But I also know my own children. If I want them to understand what is going on, I need to have a few items in my quiet Mass bag to occupy them.

I learned that less is more. When I first started going, I packed that bag with all different kinds of toys: teethers, coloring books, reading books, snacks, little figures. It was a complete distraction. Now, I have 2 books about Mass for kids and some worksheets that I make to help them understand the current liturgical season, feast day, or Mass. 

Here is a FREE set of resources for Mass that my kids love to use when learning about Mass. I use it at home to teach about the items at church, but I also bring some of the worksheets to Mass to let them color and fill out. It helps them “participate” in Mass in their own way.

My kids also love using these interactive “What I See at Church” books before going to Mass and even during Mass. Each page has an interactive element to keep them focused. Plus, the I Spy pages are really fun for little eyes!

Give Yourself Grace

This is the biggest and most important tip. What you are doing – bringing your toddlers to Mass – could not be more important. You are giving them the greatest gift. 

That alone should be all you need to know, but there will be moments that creep in… He won’t stop squirming. She keeps poking him. We stood in the vestibule for more than half of Mass today. Did I even hear the homily?

All of that is 100% okay. You will get back to a season where you hear all of the liturgy and are fully present, but right now? This is God’s plan for you and he is so happy to see you bring your toddlers to this beautiful celebration of the Eucharist each week. 

What other advice would you add to the list?

The post How to Bring Toddlers to Catholic Mass (Without Losing Your Mind) appeared first on Heart + Host Catholic.

When I became a mom, I began to see my faith in a new light. I had always been Catholic, I was born and raised Catholic. I attended Catholic elementary school and then CCD classes until confirmation. But I never really “knew” Jesus. I was going through the motions. But raising my own children made me realize how deeply I wanted them to know and love Jesus—especially in the Eucharist. 

I experienced a deep encounter with Christ during my college years through campus ministry, where I truly began to know Jesus and love Him. Thanks to a great priest, I attended FOCUS conferences and weekly Wednesday night dinners where we heard inspiring stories of faith. I became Community Service Chair, and eventually Vice-President of our Catholic Campus Ministry.

But motherhood made my faith feel even more urgent and personal. Suddenly, the responsibility of passing on the faith was no longer abstract—it was right in front of me in two little souls entrusted to my care.  This realization became even clearer when I attended a Homeschool and Young Mom’s Retreat in my diocese in 2026. One of the speakers said something that shook me to my core: “Only YOU are responsible for your children’s salvation.” Not their teachers. Not their friends. Nobody but me. 

I was already incorporating the faith into our family life. Going to Mass, having a nightly prayer routine, praying before meals, learning about the saints, and trying my best to live the Catholic faith at home. At the time, my 3-year old son and I were doing homeschool preschool lessons a few days a week to learn the ABCs. With every letter, I tried to teach about a corresponding saint or Catholic element. I found myself creating more activities than I was finding in all my online research.

Creating classroom resources isn’t foreign to me. As a former Spanish teacher who loved creating meaningful learning experiences, this felt right at home for me. Since 2016, I have been supporting Spanish teachers through my blog and store Llearning Llama.

So, naturally, I used my teacher and resource creator experience at home. I was looking for ways to make even my little toddlers know Jesus in an accessible, meaningful way. I was creating saint coloring pages, matching games, weekly Sunday Mass activities, and more.

Heart + Host grew out of that search—a place to create faith-filled resources that help families nurture little hearts for Christ, centered on the Eucharist. And I’m so glad you’re here. I want to share what I create for my kids with your family. It is my hope that these resources and ideas will bring you and your family closer to Jesus. 

I’d love to connect with you to hear how you are raising Catholic children, living liturgically, and keeping your little ones’ attention during Mass. You can follow me on Instagram or Facebook. 

The post Why I Started Heart + Host appeared first on Heart + Host Catholic.