Learn how to make St. Therese sacrifice beads for kids with this easy, step-by-step Catholic craft tutorial. Includes a free printable and ideas for using them at home or in the classroom.
This is a really fun and simple activity I have done with my kids and with my First Communion Prep kids!
How to Make St. Therese Sacrifice Beads for Kids (Step-by-Step Tutorial)
If you’re looking for a meaningful Catholic craft to do with your children or students, making St. Therese sacrifice beads is a wonderful choice. Not only is this activity simple and hands-on, but it also helps kids grow in virtue by teaching them to notice opportunities for small acts of love—just like St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the “Little Flower.”
In this post, I’ll walk you step-by-step through how to make St. Therese sacrifice beads for kids, share a free printable to help you along the way, and give you ideas for introducing this beautiful devotion at home, in your homeschool, or in a classroom setting.
Who Was St. Therese of Lisieux and What Are Sacrifice Beads?
St. Thérèse of Lisieux (1873–1897) is one of the most beloved saints in the Catholic Church. Known for her “Little Way,” she believed holiness is found in doing small things with great love for God.
Her feast day is October 1st, and therefore this tutorial is linked in our October Liturgical Calendar post. If you haven’t subscribed yet to be sent our monthly liturgical calendar, just drop your email in any of the subscription boxes. It is an easy way to stay up-to-date on all my new printables and get seasonally appropriate reminders!
But back to sacrifice beads.
As a child, St. Therese’s older sister gave her a string of beads to help her keep track of the little sacrifices and acts of love she offered each day. Every time she made a sacrifice—sharing a toy, obeying quickly, speaking kindly—she would slide a bead to remind herself of her offering to Jesus.
These beads are sometimes called sacrifice beads, good deed beads, or St. Therese beads. Today, Catholic families and teachers use them as a simple spiritual tool for children to learn generosity, patience, and love in everyday life. They can also double up as a Rosary decade.
“Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love.”
St. Therese
Why Make Sacrifice Beads with Kids
Teaching children about virtue doesn’t have to be complicated. St. Therese sacrifice beads are:
- Tactile: Kids love having something in their hands. The sliding beads make it fun and engaging.
- Visual: Children can “see” their progress as they move beads along the string.
- Practical: The beads are small enough to carry in a pocket or backpack.
- Spiritual: They encourage kids to turn daily challenges into prayers and offerings.
Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or catechist, this project is an easy way to bring faith into everyday life.
Supplies You’ll Need
To make St. Therese sacrifice beads for kids, you’ll need just a few simple supplies:
- 10 pony beads (plastic or wooden, about 6–8mm in size)
- 1 string or cord (nylon cord, embroidery floss, or even ribbon)
- 1 cross or medal (optional, but a nice addition)
- Scissors
- Tape (optional, to help thread beads)
Tip: If you’re doing this as a group project (for a classroom, parish group, or co-op), you can buy beads and cord in bulk to save money
Step-by-Step: How to Make St. Therese Sacrifice Beads for Kids
Instructions
- Fold your cord in half and make a loop on the keychain ring or clip. You can also use a miraculous medal or a St Therese medal.
- You have 10 beads in your main colour. Take one main colour bead and place both ends of the cord through the bead in opposite directions so that the string makes an X inside the bead.
- Pick up your next bead and again form an X with the string through the bead. Pull both cords in opposite directions until the beads are tight against each other. Repeat this step until you have 10 beads in total.
- Leave about 3 bead lengths and tie a double knot.
- Take your last bead (the other colour) and string both pieces of cord through the same side of the bead. Then loop it back on itself and tie a knot.
- Take your cross and string both pieces of cord through the same side of it. Tie a knot.
- Keep this in your pocket or on your backpack to count your sacrifices and acts of love!
Step 1: Prepare Your Cord
Cut a piece of cord about 12–14 inches long. If your cord frays easily, you can wrap a bit of tape around the end to make threading beads easier.
Step 2: Add Your Beads
Thread 10 beads onto the cord. These represent the good deeds or sacrifices your child will offer each day. Don’t worry if they feel a little snug—the idea is that the beads should slide back and forth but not too easily.
Step 3: Add a Cross or Medal (Optional)
If you’d like, you can tie a small crucifix, miraculous medal, or charm at one end of the cord. This makes the beads feel extra special and reminds kids that they are offering their sacrifices to Jesus.
Step 4: Tie Knots to Secure
Tie a knot at both ends of the beads so they don’t fall off. If you added a cross or medal, make sure it is secure inside the knot.
Step 5: Test the Sliding
Show your child how to gently slide one bead toward the cross each time they make a sacrifice or do something kind.
And that’s it—you’ve made your very own set of St. Therese sacrifice beads!
Free Printable for Kids
To make this project even easier, I’ve created a free printable you can download and use with your children. It includes:
- A short explanation of St. Therese and the Little Way
- Step-by-step instructions
- A simple prayer to say when offering sacrifices
You’ll find the download at the bottom of this post!
This printable makes a great handout for parish groups, Catholic classrooms, or homeschool families.
How to Use Sacrifice Beads with Kids
Once your children have their beads, here are a few ways to help them put them into practice:
- Daily Sacrifices: Encourage your child to move a bead each time they do something kind without being asked—like sharing, helping a sibling, or cleaning up.
- Morning Offering: Begin the day with a prayer, asking Jesus to accept all their sacrifices.
- Family Challenge: See if each family member can move all 10 beads in one day!
- Catechism Class: Use sacrifice beads as part of a lesson on St. Therese or virtues.
- Prayer Time: At night, look at the beads together and thank God for each little act of love.
Teaching the Little Way at Home
Sacrifice beads are more than a craft that holds no meaning. Rather, they are a tool for living out the Little Way of St. Therese. They remind children (and adults!) that holiness is found in the small, everyday things:
- Smiling when they don’t feel like it
- Putting away toys without complaining
- Saying something kind to a sibling
- Waiting patiently for a turn
By encouraging kids to notice these moments, you’re planting seeds of virtue that will grow with them for life.
Learning how to make St. Therese sacrifice beads for kids is a simple but powerful way to introduce them to the Little Way. With just a few beads and string, you’ll create a hands-on reminder that small acts of love matter deeply to God.
Don’t forget to download the free printable to guide you step-by-step, and share this activity with your parish, classroom, or homeschool community.
As St. Therese herself said:
“Remember that nothing is small in the eyes of God. Do all that you do with love.”
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