CELEBRATING A CHILD’S BAPTISMAL ANNIVERSARY:
FOR PARENTS AND GODPARENTS

Child			________________________________________

Date of Birth		________________________________________

Date of Baptism	________________________________________

Church			________________________________________

Godparents		________________________________________

This is a sheet to introduce you to ways of celebrating baptismal anniversaries with your child or godchild.  On the date of their baptism, you can use any of the following ideas or make up your own to celebrate their special day, just as you would their birthday.

PRAY FOR YOUR CHILD OR GODCHILD EVERY DAY

Preschool:

1.	Do activities together in the water like playing in the pool, running through the lawn sprinkler, or playing in the bathtub.  You may want to purchase water toys such as: bathtub toys, pool or beach toys, make puppets out of washcloths, or give some type of natural bubble bath to your child.
2.	Consider making or buying a “church bag” which contains quiet items such as books of saints or great Christians, lacing, paper and markers, or other items with religious themes.  This bag then will be brought only to church on Sunday (so the child doesn’t get bored with it).
3.	Another idea is to give a toy that is to be played with only on Sunday.  This way, the idea of setting aside a day that is special will make the toy more attractive to play with and will be remembered years later as their “Sunday” toy.

Grade School through Junior High:

1.	They, too, love water gadgets like goggles, fancy soaps, or squirt toys.  Or take them to water places like the pool or beach.
2.	Other ideas for presents are the following: candles, anything with the child’s name on it, Christian books, videos, or music.
3.	Light their baptismal candle and look at pictures for their baptismal day.  Share a prayer and make the sign of the cross on each other’s forehead saying, “Remember your baptism. You are a child of God.” Or “You are baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
4.	If possible, attend your godchild’s first communion.  Let them know that as a member of the family of God through the works of baptism, they receive forgiveness through the bread and the wine of the Lord’s Supper.
5.	Read together, watch a movie, play games together such as “Ungame” or “Scriptionary” where thoughts, feelings, and values are shared or “Bible Challenge” which is a Bible trivia game.
6.	Draw or paint together, send letters back and forth or e-mail, fax, or telephone each other if you can’t be with one another.  But, remind them continually that they are part of the family of God and are cared and thought of specially year round.
7.	Some families, at the time of Confirmation, burn their children’s baptismal candle down.  This signifies that the child has now started down the road of Christian responsibility and it will be up to them to continue their own growth and learning supported by their parents and godparents.

Ideas adapted from The Godparent Book by Elaine Ramshaw, 1993, Liturgy Training Publications.