A child's baptism is one of the most important events in his or her life. These traditions will help emphasize its value and celebrate that decision whether you're a parent, Primary teacher, ward missionary, or anyone else involved.
1. Prepare them for baptism.
This should start months before the baptism will take place. Make opportunities to discuss the meaning of baptism and what covenants your child will make, take them to the baptisms of friends and ward members, or ask the missionaries to come over. Here are a few more ways to help them prepare for their big day:
- Read a book about baptism, like this one by Michelle Leigh Carnesseca.
► You'll also like: 9 Books to Help Prepare Children for Baptism
- Have a special family home evening lesson about baptism.
Try this one, this one, and this one.
Or pick up this book full of FHE lesson ideas:
Available at Deseret Book
- Use treats and handouts, like this clever (and delicious!) Kit Kat mnemonic device. Get the PDFs for it here.
2. Take special photos.
This is one of the most important events in your child’s life. The same way people take senior pictures or engagement photos, take time to take some photos. This will allow your child a chance to shine and feel special, and it will also impress upon him or her the importance of this event. Here are some of our favorites:
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| Photo from Jamison Photography. | Photo from Cornerhouse Blog. |
Photo from C.Love.
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| Photo from Pinterest. | Photo from Great Ideas. |
3. Help kids feel individual at the baptism service.
When I got baptized, we had a special Saturday service just for me alone. But when some of my younger siblings got baptized, they did so in a much larger event with all the other kids in their stake who had turned eight that same month. I remember feeling sorry for them that some of that specialness had been taken away. But there are still ways to highlight the uniqueness and spiritual experiences of each child there. This spotlight from Over the Big Moon is a great start, and they also have some great baptism printables if you follow the link.
4. Give kids something to commemorate the experience.
Young Women receive their medallion when they complete the program to show a rite of passage and their spiritual progression. I wear a ring on my left hand that reminds me each day of the love I have for my husband and the commitments we have made to each other. This isn’t a birthday celebration and we shouldn’t give gifts just for fun, but a couple meaningful items could help your child remember the covenants he or she has made and hold close to them. Here are some great suggestions.
- CTR rings (Here are a few of our favorites.)
- Poems
Some of us received this exact framed poem and image of "My Three White Dresses"as a present from our Primary teachers. You can read the poem here. You can also get a book version of this poemand one for boys, "White Shirts."
► You'll also like: 14 Perfect Baptism Gifts for Children
- Scriptures
A lot of children get their first set of scriptures at age 8.
► You'll also like: 16 Scripture Totes + Study Accessories Your Whole Family Will Love
5. After your child is baptized, don’t suddenly stop talking.
Remember that the #1 item on this list was to help them prepare for baptism, but just because they’ve now made that commitment doesn’t mean it’s okay to suddenly stop and move on with life as usual. The reason for a gift to commemorate their baptism is to help remind your child of the experience, and continued conversations are also crucial to helping your child consistently remember the importance and value of their baptism. Here are some books that might help with this:
Available at Deseret Book.
Available at Deseret Book.
