“We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 NIV. CREATIVITY~Using your imagination to do something unique. First – Fifth grade kids are unique! Turning them loose with their imaginations conjures up all kinds of possibilities. Download some ideas on how to turn that wonderful imagination into the good works, God prepared in advance for them to do! Perhaps, even doing those good works together as a family.
The Parent Cue is just for parents and the God Time activity sheet is just for kids. Keep the lesson from The Cove on Sunday mornings going all week long.
“We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 NIV. CREATIVITY~Using your imagination to do something unique. First – Fifth grade kids are unique! Turning them loose with their imaginations conjures up all kinds of possibilities. Download some ideas on how to turn that wonderful imagination into the good works, God prepared in advance for them to do! Perhaps, even doing those good works together as a family.
The Parent Cue is just for parents and the God Time activity sheet is just for kids. Keep the lesson from The Cove on Sunday mornings going all week long.
A Peacemaker or a Troublemaker?
A good way to help children overcome the problem of anger is to teach them how to be peacemakers instead of troublemakers. Anyone can get angry and most people do. Few are mature enough to be peacemakers.
Being a peacemaker helps to break down anger in one’s self and in others. Peacemakers seek to bring people together in agreement and look for solutions where everyone wins. They think of the needs of others and try to make everyone feel good. A peacemaker honors others and promotes harmony, bringing joy into the family.
So, how can you help children become peacemakers? Here are a few practical ideas. Target your parenting so that children can learn to be peacemakers. Teach children to:
Look for things in common, not differences.
Try to agree, not disagree.
Work toward common solutions where everyone wins, not where one person wins and others lose.
Use love as a motivation, not anger or meanness.
Work to give your angry child a vision for being a peacemaker. It will open up new ways of thinking about offenses and provide opportunities to deal with anger in others as well. That’s why Jesus said, “Blessed (or happy) are the peacemakers,” Matthew 5:9.
Anger is one of the roadblocks to sibling harmony. Being a peacemaker is a demonstration of honor. To learn more about how honor can teach kids to get along, consider the book, Say Goodbye to Whining, Complaining, and Bad Attitudes In You and Your Kids by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN.
A Peacemaker or a Troublemaker?
A good way to help children overcome the problem of anger is to teach them how to be peacemakers instead of troublemakers. Anyone can get angry and most people do. Few are mature enough to be peacemakers.
Being a peacemaker helps to break down anger in one’s self and in others. Peacemakers seek to bring people together in agreement and look for solutions where everyone wins. They think of the needs of others and try to make everyone feel good. A peacemaker honors others and promotes harmony, bringing joy into the family.
So, how can you help children become peacemakers? Here are a few practical ideas. Target your parenting so that children can learn to be peacemakers. Teach children to:
Look for things in common, not differences.
Try to agree, not disagree.
Work toward common solutions where everyone wins, not where one person wins and others lose.
Use love as a motivation, not anger or meanness.
Work to give your angry child a vision for being a peacemaker. It will open up new ways of thinking about offenses and provide opportunities to deal with anger in others as well. That’s why Jesus said, “Blessed (or happy) are the peacemakers,” Matthew 5:9.
Anger is one of the roadblocks to sibling harmony. Being a peacemaker is a demonstration of honor. To learn more about how honor can teach kids to get along, consider the book, Say Goodbye to Whining, Complaining, and Bad Attitudes In You and Your Kids by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN.
It’s Hard to Raise a Leader
Some children are born leaders. They want to control their parents, their siblings, their friends, and even people they don’t know. They have their own agenda and want everyone else to know what it is and how to fit into it. Leaders can be a real blessing in life but they sure are hard to raise.
One of the greatest gifts you can give to your budding leader is the ability to follow. To follow means listening to the needs and desires of others, submitting to someone else’s agenda, and learning how to work cooperatively on a team. All good leaders need to know how and when to follow.
Although you will nurture the leadership gifts your child possesses, it’s also your job to teach him or her how to work with others. The weaknesses of young leaders are demonstrated in negative ways like arguing, badgering, and being demanding or angry. Don’t just brush off these weaknesses as inevitable. Take time to correct, but do it in a way that appreciates the child’s gifts. “Karen, I can tell you’re going to be a leader someday, but remember that good leaders need to think about the needs of others.” Or, “Jim, I like the way you take initiative with your brother. Remember, though, that a good leader is also a good listener.”
It’s Hard to Raise a Leader
Some children are born leaders. They want to control their parents, their siblings, their friends, and even people they don’t know. They have their own agenda and want everyone else to know what it is and how to fit into it. Leaders can be a real blessing in life but they sure are hard to raise.
One of the greatest gifts you can give to your budding leader is the ability to follow. To follow means listening to the needs and desires of others, submitting to someone else’s agenda, and learning how to work cooperatively on a team. All good leaders need to know how and when to follow.
Although you will nurture the leadership gifts your child possesses, it’s also your job to teach him or her how to work with others. The weaknesses of young leaders are demonstrated in negative ways like arguing, badgering, and being demanding or angry. Don’t just brush off these weaknesses as inevitable. Take time to correct, but do it in a way that appreciates the child’s gifts. “Karen, I can tell you’re going to be a leader someday, but remember that good leaders need to think about the needs of others.” Or, “Jim, I like the way you take initiative with your brother. Remember, though, that a good leader is also a good listener.”
“And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” Luke 2:52 This month in The Cove, for 1st-5th graders, as we talk about knowledge, we aren’t just talking about learning more or gathering more information we are talking about really understanding what’s important to know. When we look at the life of Jesus, we believe that there are three main things that we need to know. It just so happens that these things are the foundation of the 252 Basics curriculum that we use. So download the kid’s God Time and the parent’s Parent Cue and join us as we spend some time talking about the basics: I can trust God no matter what. I need to make the wise choice. And I should treat others the way I want to be treated.
For kids, God Time: Download 2A
For parents, Parent Cue: Download 2B
“And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” Luke 2:52 This month in The Cove, for 1st-5th graders, as we talk about knowledge, we aren’t just talking about learning more or gathering more information we are talking about really understanding what’s important to know. When we look at the life of Jesus, we believe that there are three main things that we need to know. It just so happens that these things are the foundation of the 252 Basics curriculum that we use. So download the kid’s God Time and the parent’s Parent Cue and join us as we spend some time talking about the basics: I can trust God no matter what. I need to make the wise choice. And I should treat others the way I want to be treated.
For kids, God Time: Download 2A
For parents, Parent Cue: Download 2B
Helping Kids Deal with Emotions
Many families ignore emotions or view them as a nuisance. But emotions affect children more than they realize. One of the keys to helping children understand emotions is to teach them the difference between the feeling and the response. It’s okay to feel sad, but that doesn’t justify treating people unkindly.
When Joel was thirteen, his dog, Skippy, died. Joel had raised Skippy from a puppy. They played together, slept together, and Joel had taken care of Skippy when he was sick. Now his beloved friend was gone. Joel’s heart was broken. The pain was intense. He spent the next few days bouncing between lashing out at those around him and withdrawing into himself. His heart was working hard to absorb this unwanted new experience: life without his loyal friend.
Mom was patient with Joel, giving him space to grieve and work things out. She initiated conversation with him often and looked for ways to comfort him. Sometimes Joel used his sadness as an excuse for being unkind or disrespectful, but Mom made it clear that grieving was okay; meanness was not. Over time, Joel adjusted to life without Skippy. Mom’s approach was successful because she considered Joel’s heart during that time.
Romans 12:15 tells us to “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” Emotions are a part of life. Children often need help recognizing and dealing with their emotions. They haven’t learned yet how to process all the feelings their hearts experience.
Teaching children about their emotions and the appropriate ways to deal with them will prepare kids for experiencing even deeper joys and sadness in the future. Helping children separate what they feel from how they treat you and others is an important part of that process.
Helping Kids Deal with Emotions
Many families ignore emotions or view them as a nuisance. But emotions affect children more than they realize. One of the keys to helping children understand emotions is to teach them the difference between the feeling and the response. It’s okay to feel sad, but that doesn’t justify treating people unkindly.
When Joel was thirteen, his dog, Skippy, died. Joel had raised Skippy from a puppy. They played together, slept together, and Joel had taken care of Skippy when he was sick. Now his beloved friend was gone. Joel’s heart was broken. The pain was intense. He spent the next few days bouncing between lashing out at those around him and withdrawing into himself. His heart was working hard to absorb this unwanted new experience: life without his loyal friend.
Mom was patient with Joel, giving him space to grieve and work things out. She initiated conversation with him often and looked for ways to comfort him. Sometimes Joel used his sadness as an excuse for being unkind or disrespectful, but Mom made it clear that grieving was okay; meanness was not. Over time, Joel adjusted to life without Skippy. Mom’s approach was successful because she considered Joel’s heart during that time.
Romans 12:15 tells us to “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” Emotions are a part of life. Children often need help recognizing and dealing with their emotions. They haven’t learned yet how to process all the feelings their hearts experience.
Teaching children about their emotions and the appropriate ways to deal with them will prepare kids for experiencing even deeper joys and sadness in the future. Helping children separate what they feel from how they treat you and others is an important part of that process.
