Sleep, my child and peace attend you, all through the night. I who love you shall be near you, all through the night. — "Sleep, My Child," Hymn 409 in Singing the Living Tradition

Sophia L. Fahs identifies the discovery of one's own birth as one of 12 main types of experiences that are connected with natural religious development in young children. Celebrate new babies, as well as the growth and development of the preschoolers, who have changed so much since infanthood. Take this opportunity to help the children know that child dedication ceremonies are an important ritual of our faith.

Activity 5, A Visit from a Baby, requires you to invite a parent/family with a baby to attend part or all of this session.

Goals

This session will help preschoolers:

• Understand a love of babies and the practice of a child dedication ceremony as part of the congregation
• Experience the Chalice Children group as safe and caring
• Feel a growing sense of belonging to and identity with a Unitarian Universalist congregation.

Learning Objectives

Participants will:

• Learn an important ritual of the congregation, the child dedication ceremony
• Understand that the child dedication ceremony is an expression of love
• Appreciate how much they have grown since they were a baby
• Feel a sense of accomplishment as they see how much they have learned since they were a baby.