🔥 The Little Forge Handbook™

12 Simple Practices to Forge Your Son’s Heart Before Age 10
For Catholic dads who want to raise men—not just boys.

🛠️ FOREWORD (by Elias Forge)

Most men wait too long.

They start “discipling” their sons at 13, when the real formation should’ve begun at 3.

This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being present—with a pattern.

The Little Forge™ gives you tools to build your son’s character, prayer life, and identity from the ground up.

You don’t need a theology degree.
You don’t need to be a perfect dad.
You just need to show up—with a hammer in your hand and love in your voice.

Let’s get to it.

🔨 PRACTICE 1: The Morning Blessing

Start every day by placing your hand on your son's head or shoulder and praying:

“God, make my son strong, holy, and joyful today. Help him be a light in this world. Mary, wrap him in your mantle. Amen.”

Keep it under 20 seconds.
Do it before school, after breakfast, or at the door.

This becomes his daily anchor.

🔨 PRACTICE 2: Knighting Prayer (Bedtime)

Before bed, say:

Dad: “You are my son.
You are brave. You are loved. You are not alone.”
Son: “I am your son. I love God. I do what is right.”
(Make the sign of the cross on his forehead)

Over time, this drills identity into his bones.

🔨 PRACTICE 3: Saturday Strong Time™

One hour a week = dad/son time.

It can be:

• Helping you with a task
• A walk with 3 questions
• A donut run + Saint story
• Practicing a virtue challenge (see Practice 5)

Give this time a name so he knows it matters.

🔨 PRACTICE 4: Name the Weapons

Teach your son that virtues are weapons—and name them out loud.

• Courage is your sword.
• Obedience is your shield.
• Joy is your torch.
• Prayer is your armor.

You can draw them, hang them, or assign one each week.

🔨 PRACTICE 5: Virtue of the Week

Pick one virtue each week. Say it every day. Look for it. Reward it.

Examples:

• Obedience
• Gratitude
• Kindness
• Silence
• Self-control
• Cheerfulness

Catch him using it and say, “That was you using your sword well.”

🔨 PRACTICE 6: The Marian Shield

Hang a picture of Mary in his room.

Say:

“She’s your mother too. She protects warriors.”

Start by praying 1 Hail Mary a night together.

Upgrade to a decade later.

🔨 PRACTICE 7: The Jesus Chair

Set aside one chair in the house. It’s Jesus’ chair.

• No one sits there.
• When you need quiet, go sit beside it.
• When you pray, pretend Jesus is sitting in it.

It gives form to faith.

🔨 PRACTICE 8: Sabbath Shovel

Pick one “man job” for your son every Sunday.

• Sweep the garage
• Carry firewood
• Help set the table
• Pull one weed

After, tell him:

“Men serve. You served well today.”

🔨 PRACTICE 9: Feast Day Missions

Turn saint days into mini-missions.

Examples:

• St. Michael Day → Make a sword and battle pillows
• St. Joseph → Build something together
• St. John Bosco → Act out a skit or joke
• Mary’s days → Pick flowers, sing, or light a candle

Celebrate like a mini-holiday.

🔨 PRACTICE 10: Star Chart of the Forge

Create a simple 3-column sticker chart:

• 🛐 Prayed
• 💪 Helped
• 😄 Showed virtue

Reward = praise or mission upgrade.
Don’t overdo it. Keep it light, visual, and consistent.

🔨 PRACTICE 11: The Five-Minute Field Report

At dinner or bedtime, ask:

• “What’s one thing you did well today?”
• “What’s one thing you need to fix tomorrow?”
• “Did you see anyone do something brave?”

This becomes a micro-examen that builds reflection + gratitude.

🔨 PRACTICE 12: The Little Forge Anthem™

End the day with a father-son ritual.

Dad: “What are you becoming?”
Son: “A man of God.”
Dad: “How?”
Son: “I pray. I obey. I fight for good.”
Dad: “Whose son are you?”
Son: “Yours—and God’s.”
(Fist bump. Done.)

Repeat it until it becomes part of him.

💥 CLOSING WORD

This doesn’t need to be perfect.
It just needs to be real.
Repeated.
And wrapped in love.

Your son will remember what you did far more than what you said.

Start with one practice. Then another.
Let the Little Forge light the fire.

And when he’s older,
he’ll thank you for not waiting.