Rosary Beads as a Toy?

I think it is disrespectful, but it wouldn't "upset" me, but I do find it kind of creepy. I was raised Catholic, and the thought of wearing a dead body nailed to a cross around my neck or that of my daughter, would be enough reason for me to take them away :)

I am pretty sure that my Mom would feel the same way you do- Rosary beads are not a toy. However, in my simple mind I imagine how Mary would feel about it. I beleive that she has a tender attitude and she loves the sweetness of children. They are a special blessing. God gave them imaginations and joy. Perhaps you can try to look at it as wearing it keeps the Rosary close to her heart. I imagine that God/Mary would look down at a 2 year old and smile at the sweet nature and thankful that she has Rosary beads around her neck instead of a Disney character.

Find what works for you but consider that her cognitive level is not yet capable of understanding the true meaning of a Rosary.

Good luck. Thanks for making me imagine Mary looking down at a 2 year old. I will try to pull up that image the next time my little guys are irking me!!!

I grew up a Catholic. I went to a Catholic grammar school and an all girls private Catholic high school. My mom was devoted to Mary. I went to Novenas and prayed the rosary often with her. I remember as a kid having plastic rosary beads (they were green and white) and I often wore them as a necklace. Your daughter is only 2 1/2...learning the full meaning of the rosary comes with time. All I can remember is that by the time I made my First Holy Communion in second grade, there was no more wearing of the rosary beads as a necklace. I always knew that they were not a toy but having them around my neck was just a phase, I guess. If my mom was upset or felt it was irreverant at all, I would never have been allowed to do such a thing. My biggest concern for your 2-1/2 year old would be if she puts them in her mouth it will be very easy for her to bite into the beads an she could possibly swallow one. I would have to bet at that age, she will no doubt, at one point or another, put them in her mouth.

I was raised Catholic and was taught a Rosary was not a toy, but to help to remember to say your prayers. Each bead is a reminder to say "Hail Mary", "Our Father", etc. I have a friend who's mother makes a point of making a daily 'lap around the beads' so to speak. And it's great if you can start her learning her catechism by saying the prayers with her now (almost like nursery rhymes) so she starts memorizing them. She'll be all set for Sunday school and well prepared for First Communion. So don't take them away, but start showing her how to use them. Make a game of it, but also show her she needs to treat them with respect.

My daughter had a plastic pair of rosary beads when she was little that she did play with as a necklace. At 2 yrs old it is hard to understand the difference. You could let her know that the ones you use to pray with are not toys, only the one she has can be played with. If you continue to talk about your religion and explain things to your baby, she will get it eventually, as she grows older. It is okay for now, just keep explaining it to her the real purpose of the beads.
Good Luck and God Bless!!
D.

hello

I think if anything they are a choking hazard and for that reason alone, I would take them away from her. Why risk it.. .
As for them being a toy, if concerned , do ask your church about it and see what they think. My personal opinion however is that they are considered sacred in the same way that other religions have their sacred items, When I have gone to the Buddhist Temple where one, you Don't wear shoes due to it being a sacred place, you also don't leave any of the Dharma on the floors, this includes their books, fliers and or other things THEY consider sacred. Of course, it's all about intentions and your child has NO bad intentions here when playing.. no child does. BUT.. it's never too early to also teach a child respect of that which is sacred to others and other people's cultures..
best of luck

At her age, I don't think that it's really disrespectful. In fact, my only concern for her age is a choking hazard. I know that they do make much larger beads that ARE intended to be used by children (not for toy purposes, but to begin teaching them the prayers of the Rosary.) You might want to get one of those so that you can provide her with a SAFE Rosary and you can also use the opportunity to teach her about why we even have Rosaries in the first place. (I would point it out to your MIL as well, in a nice way.)

I too thought that giving rosary beads to a child to play with was inappropriate, but my Grandmother, who goes to mass every single day and prays all the time, lets my 2 yr old play with rosary beads and never explained to her what they were for. Also, I have been at Sunday mass and have had ushers come over and give my kids rosary beads to play with, this has happened several times. Your daughter seems to have some idea of what they are used for and as long as you tell her that they are special I don't really think it is that big of a deal; her play is totally innocent.

I don't like it when parents give kids rosarys as a toy, but there have been a VERY few times that I have done it with my kids to keep them from crying at Mass. That's a hard one to really know the "right" answer.... I think you just need to do what you think is right. :)

I'm not Catholic, so I don't have an answer, but if you're uncomfortable with this, why don't you ask your priest what he thinks? He may ease your mind about it.

you should tell your daughter how "Lucky" she is that grandma gave her some rosary beads of her own and then make a big deal of saying the prayers with her and then putting them in a special place. don't do the whole "oh you can't play with those" that will make both her and your mother in law feel bad. rather than do that make it a special thing to do each day.

I understand...I am Catholic and this would bother me too.
Is your MIL Catholic?

No, they are not a toy or even a car decoration...it really bothers me when I see them hanging from mirrors in cars, even though that's not as bad as playing with them.

Well I am Catholic and Catholic or not giving anything for that would be a possible strangle device for a young child I think is a horrible idea. Now my older child received rosary beads for his first communion. Which was fine but I had to put them away since I had two much younger children at the time.
Now maybe this is something she could just bring to church with her. Keep it out of reach until church.

It really depends on how YOU look at it. Rosary beads are basically just a neckalace to me, but im not catholic. I expect a catholic woman would NOT want her baby to play with rosary beads the same way a baptist woman would not give her baby a bible to play with and rip pages out of.