Review this week’s lesson by asking your little ones the following questions:
PRAYER TO READ WITH YOUR CHILD:
God, You keep all your promises. Thank You for never breaking a promise to us. You are a good God whose way is perfect. Help us to keep our promises, too. We love You. Amen.
This week’s lesson was from Genesis 8 and 9. Your preschoolers learned how God told Noah, his family, and the animals that they could get out of the boat. Then God made a promise and God ALWAYS keeps His promises, because God’s way is perfect! Watch the video with your child here:
Watch the video here
Several years ago, our team was asked to design a program to help public schools teach kids character. One of the tools we provided was a “Value-able” card to award a child with free ice cream when they did something that demonstrated respect, responsibility, or kindness. We gave out enough cards so teachers could catch every kid doing something right at least once a month. But at the end of the first month, 90% of the cards had not been given out. We realized that a lot of teachers, much like many parents, were so programmed to correct kids behavior that they had never learned how to pro-actively acknowledge positive behavior. So, the next month, we included a few tips to help teachers look for specific ways to catch kids doing it right. These Value-able cards became one of the most used tools in the character education program. Teachers loved giving them and kids loved getting them. Here are a few of the tips that we have learned working with teachers and parents who want to help kids know how to reinforce positive behaviors.
It’s easy to say something general to a kid like, “you have a great attitude” or “you’re a good student.” But when a compliment is too general, it doesn’t mean as much. Kids want to know you care enough about them to notice specific things they do. So take the time to point out something that is definitive, especially if you hope they will repeat it.
Look for ways to praise kids for improving in an area or because they worked hard at something. When you encourage effort or determination, you are helping them build a strong work ethic. Don’t just compliment for compliment sake. When you compliment your kids for just being “great” kids or for things they really didn’t do, then you run the risk of creating an inflated ego like Gaston in Beauty and the Beast.
I know a mom who used dinnertime once a week to tell her kids something positive she had noticed in them that week. One of her sons secretly told me it was his favorite time of the week. That’s because most of us crave affirmation at some level. Sometimes it helps to establish routine times when you know you will have a consistent opportunity to affirm your kids. That doesn’t mean it has to feel routine. It just means you will create a rhythm for complimenting your kids to make sure that it actually happens frequently.
Words are more powerful than most people imagine. So what we say to our kids over time really does matter. If you are not a verbal person, try using a starter phrase. The right phrase can keep you from getting stuck and never saying anything at all. Hallmark has built an entire industry around the idea.
Here are a few phrases to get you started. Just add a personal or specific sentence and practice motivating and encouraging your kids to keep moving in a positive direction. Put these somewhere (like on your phone or computer) where you will see them and use one of them each day of the week.
You have really improved . . . (It will encourage them to keep growing.)
I love the way you . . . (It will encourage them to celebrate their uniqueness.)
I noticed how you . . . (It will encourage them to demonstrate character.)
Thank you for . . . (It will encourage them to express gratitude.)
I can tell how hard you worked . . . (It will encourage them to develop responsibility)
I bet one day you will … (It will encourage them to find hope.)
I like hanging out with you because . . . (It will encourage them to value relationship.)
You have helped me learn . . . (It will encourage them to show respect.)
You can add your own, but here’s the point:
Start being intentional and use words over time to effect the direction of your kids future.
Reggie Joiner is the founder of the ReThink Group, a nonprofit organization providing resources and training to help churches maximize their influence on the spiritual growth of the next generation. He is one of the founding pastors of North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, GA, where he served as the executive director of family ministry for 11 years. Reggie and his wife, Debbie, live in Cumming, Georgia and have four grown children. Follow him on Twitter, @ReggieJoiner
This past weekend your little ones in the Backyard and Clubhouse sang “Who Knows Best” by Amber Sky Records. You can purchase this song on iTunes (link found on our Music tab).
Our team of high school students and adults are leaving Hurricane, WV to go back to their lives in Illinois. Though they’re going back home, they are leaving changed. And the community of Hurricane will never be the same.
For three days, our team built floors and wheelchair ramps, painted houses and porches, and loved on under-resourced people in western West Virginia. If you talk to our team members, they’ll tell you about the home owners who showed their appreciation through tears and countless “thank yous.” They’ll also tell you about the 72 year old homeowner who celebrated her birthday with a bunch of teenagers doing construction on her house.
The trip was a special experience for everyone.
Reframed
Our team’s trip was organized by Group Missions, an excellent organization that facilitated our worksites and provided morning and evening worship experiences.
In our worship times, the theme was Reframed – Jesus reframes the way we view ourselves, each other, and the world. Central to this idea is Peter, the disciple who denied Jesus three times only to be forgiven by the very man he disowned.
The truth is that we’re all just like Peter. And, because we’re flawed, it’s easy for us to define ourselves by our mistakes. But, Jesus reframes the way we should see ourselves. He sees us as loved, beautiful, and forgiven. We are His children.
Are we still messy? Of course.
But, we are loved children of God.
If we can grasp that truth, the way we view others and the world gets reframed as well.
Pray for our team
Because our team is coming back from experiencing God in new ways, we ask for prayer:
1. That God would continue to mold our students and adults into kingdom workers in whatever context they find themselves
2. That God would continue to bless the homeowners our team was able to meet
3. That our students and adults would see themselves, others, and the world in the same way Jesus does.