Creative Ways to Teach Kids Perseverance
- Juanita Isaza
- Jul 14
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 29
✨ Creative Ways to Teach Kids Perseverance
In today’s world of instant gratification, perseverance isn’t always easy to teach, but it is one of the most important virtues our children can learn. As Catholic parents and educators, we’re called to plant seeds of faith that take root in the heart and grow through daily challenges. Teaching perseverance helps children trust God more deeply, face frustrations with hope, and grow in strength and virtue.
The good news? Perseverance doesn’t have to feel heavy or boring. With a little creativity and faith-filled fun, we can help our kids build this virtue in joyful and meaningful ways!
1. Connect with Saints Who Persevered
Children are inspired by real-life heroes and the saints are some of the best! Share simple, age-appropriate stories of saints who never gave up when things got tough. For example:
St. Benedict remained faithful to God even when his cave felt lonely.
St. Mary Magdalene stayed close to Jesus, even when everyone else ran away.
St. Ignatius of Loyola turned his injury into a time of deep conversion.
You can read their stories together, act them out, or create simple crafts inspired by their lives. (Psst… one creative way to teach little kids perseverance, is to color something until it is completely finished. On our website, you'll find free printables every week with stories and coloring pages of different saints from our Catholic Church, designed just for Catholic kids!)
To make practicing this virtue fun and visual, we've also created a lovely printable called "Perseverance Path"
Our Perseverance path printable is a fun way for children to learn how to keep going and finish what they star.
🎨 Kids can use stickers, paint, clay, or drawings to mark their progress
🙏 Includes simple “missions” to practice perseverance in daily life
(You can hang it on the fridge!)
2. Use Simple Chores to Build Grit
Perseverance can grow in everyday routines! Invite children to stick with tasks, even when they’re not exciting. Folding laundry, pulling weeds, finishing a puzzle, or cleaning up after playtime can all become mini lessons in sticking with it.
Make it fun by:
Setting a timer and racing together
Singing a saint themed song while working
Offering up the effort for someone in need (“Jesus, I offer this up for Grandma!”)
Remind them that little things, done with love, matter so much in God’s eyes.
3. Practice Prayer When It’s Hard
Prayer isn't always easy for kids (or grown-ups!). But perseverance in prayer is a beautiful habit to cultivate early.
Try:
Saying one decade of the rosary each night, even when tired
Pray the Angelus every day, greeting our heavenly mother
Dedicate 5-10 minutes daily to pray and do your daily exam. You can use our journal "Bedtime with the Little Flower." In this beautiful book, you can read St. Therese's of the Child Jesus story, receive daily missions, and evaluate your day.
Teaching kids to pray even when they’re distracted or discouraged helps them build trust in God’s faithfulness.
4. Use Art and Crafts to work in Perseverance
Hands-on activities like painting, building, or crafting can naturally lead to conversations about not giving up. When a child is tempted to crumple their drawing or quit mid-project, guide them gently through their frustration.
Ask:
“What would Saint Joseph do if his project didn’t go as planned?”
“Can you say a quick prayer and keep going?”
Our Craft kits are perfect for this kind of learning—offering beauty, patience, and perseverance all in one.
5. Celebrate the “Try,” Not Just the “Win”
Help kids understand that effort matters more than outcome. Celebrate the trying, even when things don’t turn out perfectly.
Try saying:
“I’m so proud of you for not giving up.”
“Jesus saw that you kept going, even when it was hard.”
“That took courage—and God loves that!”
Reward perseverance with affirmations, stickers, virtue charts, or a special prayer of thanksgiving.
6. Anchor Everything in Scripture
Scripture is full of verses that remind us of the power of perseverance:
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” — Hebrews 12:1
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” — Philippians 4:13
“Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” — 1 Corinthians 15:58
Write verses on cards. Tape them to the fridge. Use them in prayer time or memory games. Let God’s Word encourage your little ones to press on with joyful hearts.
Perseverance Is a Daily Yes
Helping our children grow in perseverance is a gift that will bless them for life. With stories of saints, hands-on fun, and encouragement rooted in faith, we can guide them to keep saying “yes” to God, even when it’s hard.
💜 Want more ways to teach this beautiful virtue?
Check out our activity book “Summer and Perseverance” on Amazon for inspiring stories, missions, prayers, word search, mazes, secret messages, drawing step by step, crafts, and recipes and more... designed just for Catholic families. You’ll also love our Craft kits that help kids grow in faith through creativity.
How do you help your kids build perseverance?
Share your tips with us in the comments or tag us on Instagram @vive.withlove!
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