Global Vision...Three Year Old Style

My three year old has always loved maps, directions, details. A few weeks ago she received a terrific gift- a beach ball globe! She constantly wants to learn new countries and somehow learns little tid-bits about each country...Dora, the Explorer lives in Mexico; the Eiffel Tower is in France, Iceland really is green and not so icy, China has the most people, Italy looks like a boot and they make pizza and spaghetti there.

Then last Sunday my little toddler came home from Sunday school saying she wants to pray for Africa. They apparently had talked about various countries around the world that have children who need Jesus. She went right home, pulled out her globe and wanted to know all about the people in Africa who needed prayer.

Simple concept. New vision.

Why not combine the everyday learning of little inquisitive minds around us with a "global" vision of shining the light and love of Jesus?! What an ammazing opportunity we have as parents and leaders to cultivate in our children a heart eager for prayer and spreading the Good News!

Fun Family Printables

One question I get a lot from parents is how to keep up on the extra-curricular activities their children do throughout the week, so that they can get a better handle on what their kids are exposed to.... things like internet, TV, video games, hanging out with friends, etc. One website I use a lot is imom.com. There are a lot of printables for families to use in their home with their kids. I've linked some of my favorites, but there are a lot more to choose from... anything from lunch notes, kid coupons, chore charts, etc. These printables may work perfectly for your family, or they may just spark conversation between each of you on what is expected in your family.

Family Internet Contract

This is a great contract to fill out to make sure that your entire family is on board when it comes to the computer rules of the house.

Screen Time Tracker

This is another great resource for parents needing something to help them know how much screen time their kids are getting.... TV, movies, computer, etc. 

Conversation Starters for Kids #1

Conversation Starters for Kids #2

These are wonderful questions to ask during meal time to get everyone talking. You would be surprised how these simple questions get the conversation going. You could even have the kids come up with their own 

questions to ask at the next meal time.

Family Meeting Worksheet

This little guide will help you when your family needs to sit down and make a decision.

*** Find all of the imom.com printables HERE ***

Teach us to Pray...

While preparing a lesson on prayer for class, I came upon the following article which not only talks about teaching our kids to pray, but also includes many resources with ideas to help incorporate prayer into their daily lives: 

click HERE to read.    



What We Believe

As we go through the Who Is God series the next couple of months, a book that would be amazing to read with your kids at home is:

 Who Is God and Can I Really Know Him? Biblical Worldview of God and Truth

By: Johny Hay and David Webb

 

The back cover describes this book as a family inclusive study of biblical worldview introducing young children ages 6-14 to the basic truths of the Christian faith.

Another (Free) Resource is the website dg4kids.com (Discover God for Kids). They have family ways to discover, teach and review the different attributes of God at home. The family adventures include: 

	Activities … Family Night Fun!
	Bible Times … Exploring God's Word together!
	Influencing Others … Making a difference!
	Drawing/Drama … Express who God is creatively!
	Experience … Capture the teachable moments!

 

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. 

Proverbs 22:6

Scripture Scavenger Hunt

I love scavenger hunts.

They are the perfect opportunity to teach kids about God and His amazing creation... actually they are a good reminder to us, as well. One of my favorite things to do with my kids is a "Scripture Scavenger Hunt" and the autumn season brings the perfect weather for it! 

Here is an example of one I use... but you could make your own using anything you want them to find! Also,  for older kids you can just give them the scripture reference and have them look it up on their own to find the nature object.

NATURE ITEM #1
“You must build an altar for Me made out of DIRT… and I will come to you and bless you.” {Exodus 20:24}

NATURE ITEM #2
“...there is a friend who will STICK closer than a brother.”
{Proverbs 18:24}

NATURE ITEM #3
“Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my ROCK of refuge, a strong fortress to save me.” {Psalm 31:2}

NATURE ITEM #4
“If that is how God clothes the GRASS of the field... will he not much more clothe you?” {Matthew 6:30}

NATURE ITEM #5
“...righteous people will flourish like a GREEN LEAF.”
{Proverbs 11:38}

NATURE ITEM #6
“He will cover you with his FEATHERs, and under his wings you will find refuge. His truth is your shield and armor.” {Psalm 91:4}

If your kids are a little young to look up scriptures, you can always do a "God's Treasure Hunt" with them around your neighborhood or the local park (all you need is a bag or container, construction paper and glue). It worked really well with my kids last spring... check it out here.

What does God look like?

Today was the start of our Who is God series. We did an opener that I thought would be a great activity and conversational starter to do at home with kids. 

Start by having your kids take turns drawing on a big art easel what they picture God looking like. Here are some of our results....

 

Then read what the Bible says about the appearance of God.....

1 Timothy 6:16 No one has ever seen God

John 4:24 God is spirit

Gen 1:27 We are created in God’s image

Numbers 14:14 God appeared as a pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire at night 

Matthew 3:16-17 The trinity - Father God's voice, Jesus in human form being baptized, and the Holy Spirit as a dove

Exodus 3 - God spoke to Moses through a burning bush 

John 1:18  No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

In these 2 passages, we get an interesting picture of God....

Ezekiel 1:26-28 Above the expanse over their heads was what looked like a throne of sapphire, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him.
Revelation 1:14-16 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.

Try it at home and see what your kids picture God as and why. It can serve as a great opportunity to discuss who God really is and all that HE is to us! 

The Princess and the Kiss

Raising 3 girls in a world that promotes anything but purity can be a challenge today. From a young age I have always stressed to my daughters the need to keep their hearts pure. One tool that I have found to be useful is a simple story book titled The Princess and the Kiss: A Story of God's Gift of Purity by Jennie Bishop.

It is a story about a young princess, who at birth was given a very special gift from God, the gift of her first kiss. This gift was to be saved for the man she would someday marry. The princess wondered if that day would ever come. She learned that a wise girl waits for the man God has planned for her, the one man that is worthy of her gift. Of course, at the end of the story she finds her prince and he too has a very special gift to give to the princess, his first kiss.

There is also a life lessons devotion guide that can be used with the book. The daily devotion guide includes Jewels of Truth (scripture), Royal Reminders (thought provoking questions that relate to the store) and Creative Focus (craft ideas). 

There is also a similar book written for boys, The Squire and the Scroll: A Tale of the Rewards of a Pure Heart.

Prayer Charts, Piggy Banks, & Bedrooms...

If you are anything like me - you may enjoy finding new ways & ideas to teach the kids (whether your own or in the classroom) about the things of God in a way that gets their attention.  For me, it's an added bonus when said "new idea" is in chart-form...it's the little things that make me happy!!!  Tonight, during prayer, the kids came home with this prayer chart.  I don't know who was more excited - me or the kids!!!  It is simple, fun, and obviously purposeful...the kids couldn't wait to hang them on their bedroom walls and get started.  Thank you, Pastor Pat!!!  

Since we're talking about the Lord, the kids, new ideas & fun stuff...

I came across this 'Globe Piggy Bank' at Target today.  I love it!!! I had recently placed cups on the kid's dressers that are labeled 'Tithes', 'Giving', and 'Saving'.  In keeping with that same idea, I thought this bank would be a fun place to put the money for 'giving' while talking about and praying for the needs of those around the world - whether in our own community or across the globe.   

and finally, since we're talking about the needs of those around the world...

I want to share one more thing that I came across recently.  I came upon the following book while reading an article on Yahoo...

The author, James Mollison, embarked on a 2 year journey around the world to photograph children and their bedrooms.  As stated in the synopsis, 

... with the support of Save the Children, the book is written and presented for an audience of 7-11 year olds setting out to interest and engage children in the details of the lives of other children around the world, and the social issues affecting them, while also being a serious photographic essay for an adult audience.

I personally was drawn to these photos and enjoyed Saturday morning devotions with my family as we read the article, looked at the photos and prayed.  Our kids (ages 3 & 5) were very interested and surprised when they saw that other children's bedrooms were very different than their own. 

Click HERE to read the article and see a few photos from the book.

Well, that is all for now.  I am exhausted from all this excitement!!!