Raising Children in Virtue: A Joyful Path to Holiness
- Juanita Isaza
- Jul 17
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 13
Raising Children in Virtue: A Joyful Path to Holiness
In our Catholic homes, we long to raise children who love God deeply, serve others joyfully, and grow into the unique saints they are called to be. One of the most beautiful ways to guide them on this path is by teaching them about virtues, those habits of the heart that lead us closer to God and help us live our mission here on Earth.
What Are Virtues, and Why Do They Matter?
Virtues are much more than just “being good.” They are holy habits, strengths that God helps us develop so we can make loving choices again and again. When we teach children to be generous, patient, brave, or truthful, we are helping them form habits that shape their souls to love like Christ.
Virtues are not learned overnight. Like muscles, they grow little by little, through practice, example, and grace.
Virtues vs. Values: What’s the Difference?
Many people use "virtues" and "values" interchangeably, but they’re not quite the same.
Values are ideas or beliefs we hold dear; like friendship, health, creativity, or peace. They are often shaped by culture and personal preference.
Virtues, on the other hand, are objective, moral strengths. They help us live rightly in every time and place. They are good always, not just when they’re convenient or popular. For example, kindness, honesty, and self-control are virtues that reflect the heart of Christ.
By nurturing virtues, we root our children in timeless truth, not just passing opinions.
The Types of Virtues
In the Catholic Church, we often speak of three main categories:
The Theological Virtues (given by God):
Faith – believing in God and His promises
Hope – trusting in His plan
Charity – loving God and others as Jesus does
The Cardinal Virtues (built through practice):
Prudence – choosing wisely
Justice – giving others their due
Fortitude – doing what’s right even when it’s hard
Temperance – having balance and self-control
Moral Virtues, like patience, humility, obedience, gratitude, and more, flow from these and can be practiced in everyday life even through play and creativity!
DIY Canvas Painting Set, Theological Virtues.
How Do We Teach Virtues to Children?
Children learn best through joyful repetition, clear examples, and hands-on experiences. Here are some ways we can form little hearts in virtue:
Model the virtue yourself. Children imitate what they see.
Praise efforts: “I saw you were very patient when your sister had the toy. That was beautiful!”
Use stories of saints and heroes who lived the virtue.
Create daily opportunities to practice each virtue: small, simple, consistent.
Sometimes it's hard to find daily ideas for practicing virtues with children. That's why I create activity books for our children and am happy to share them with you. These fun books include activities like mazes, coloring sheets, crafts, recipes, step-by-step drawings, saint quotes, stories, secret messages, and more. They also include daily missions for children to practice the featured virtue each day for a month. The illustrations feature different seasonal themes to reflect the beauty of God's creation.
Our Generosity book is full of delicate spring-inspired illustrations 🌷
Our Perseverance book is full of summer fun ☀️
Our Gratitude Book is full of cute autumn illustrations
Each activity is designed to plant a seed of virtue, and water it with joy!
👉 You can find our books on Amazon, in our Etsy store, or right here on our website. They're perfect for home use, summer learning, parish groups, or Catholic classrooms.
Let’s Walk Together
Helping our children grow in virtue is one of the most sacred and beautiful tasks we have as parents and educators. May each small act of kindness, patience, or courage shape their hearts, and ours, into the image of Christ.
Let’s raise saints together; joyfully, creatively, and with love.
