Keeping the Faith Alive This Summer: Fun Ways to Help Kids Grow Spiritually

Anne DeSantis looks at simple ways families can naturally weave prayer, Catholic culture, and spiritual formation into busy summer days. 

Summer is that beautiful time of year when backpacks are emptied, schedules loosen up, and kids finally get space to run barefoot, sip lemonade, and explore. It’s also a season when faith life can unintentionally “go on vacation.” Without school rhythms or parish programs, weeks can slip by without much spiritual structure. Yet summertime is full of moments that invite wonder, gratitude, and connection to God. With a little intentionality, families can actually find that summer offers fresh opportunities to nurture faith in simple and joyful ways.

Include Prayer as Part of the Adventure

Because summer breaks our usual routines, it becomes easier to weave prayer into the natural flow of family life. Saying grace before meals on picnic blankets, in diners, or even at ice-cream stops can help children learn to recognize God’s generosity everywhere they go. Bedtime prayers can continue even on late summer nights, and car rides to swim lessons or day trips offer a surprising space for a decade or two of the Rosary.

Some families choose a “Saint of the Summer” and spend the season learning about their life and virtues, reading a short story, celebrating their feast day, or trying a recipe from their home country. Others create a simple prayer intention jar and add slips of paper for people who are sick, lonely, traveling, or going through a tough time. Kids are often deeply moved when a grandparent or neighbor is prayed for consistently. These small habits remind children that God is close — not just on Sundays.

Plan Summer Field Trips with a Catholic Twist

Summer practically begs families to explore. Beyond playgrounds and beaches, consider adding local Catholic “micro-pilgrimages” into the mix. Many dioceses have shrines and pilgrimage sites that families have never visited, and these can leave a lasting impression on young hearts.

Vacation also becomes a chance to discover new parishes or historic churches. Attending Sunday Mass while away from home or stepping inside a beautiful church for just a few peaceful minutes can spark conversations about reverence, beauty, and the universality of the Church. Even brief visits to Adoration chapels can be powerful, especially when kept short and accessible for little ones. As children witness silence, candles, and sacred spaces, the tangible world of Catholic faith begins to feel real and exciting.

Create a Catholic Atmosphere at Home

Home is where Catholic culture quietly takes root. Summer makes space for outdoor Rosary walks, reading saint stories under shady trees, planting flowers around a Mary statue, or holding a small feast day picnic. Music, too, shapes imagination; placing praise and worship songs between pop and Disney playlists helps children hear joyful faith messaging in the background of ordinary life.

Even a lemonade stand can become missionary when the proceeds are donated to a parish ministry or charity. When faith is woven naturally into summer, it feels less like another task and more like a way of seeing the world.

When September finally arrives, children will return to classrooms not only tanner and taller, but also more aware of God’s presence in the big and small moments of life. Summer does not have to be a break from faith—it can be a season that forms disciples in sandals, sunscreen, and smiles.

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Copyright 2026 Anne DeSantis
Images: Canva