June 2016
Help Kids Find Their Worth in Jesus
The self-esteem movement has slowed, Christian self-concept, they must see POWERSOURCE with experts now emphasizing the themselves as God does: as his importance of failure and risk-taking. But beloved children. ASK GOD: healthy self-esteem is still a positive Help your kids root their worth not in 1. To help your children base their trait. looks or performance but in their relationship with Jesus. value on God’s view of them, not Children who feel good about the world’s. themselves tend to be responsible, Let children know that God loves 2. To assure your children of tolerate frustration, accept challenges, and values them. Remind them that God’s—and your—love for them. and work happily alone. By contrast, Jesus died for their sins so they can those with low self-esteem are more go to heaven with him. 3. To instill gratitude in your kids for likely to feel insecure, blame others for their God-given gifts and talents. personal weaknesses, make self- Celebrate each child’s God-given demeaning comments, be easily strengths. Instead of praising your influenced, and avoid anxiety-producing kids all the time, thank God for giving situations. them talents to serve him.
Self-esteem based on other people’s Teach children to accept failure. view of us or their praise may waver When problems arise, don’t jump in from day to day. Yet God’s view of us to save the day. Pray for guidance remains constant. For children to have a together, and remind kids that God is always in control.
You Are Precious to God!
It’s clear from the Bible that Jesus values children. But children don’t always feel valuable. As they become exposed to advertising, media, and now social media, kids start comparing their looks and abilities, often coming up short. Self-esteem especially takes a hit during early adolescence. Help meet preteens’ unique needs by banning the use of putdowns, being quick to ex- press and ask for forgiveness, seeking kids’ opinions, encouraging friend- ships with Christian peers, promoting teamwork not competition, and helping kids give and receive compliments comfortably. Use these ideas to nurture healthy self-esteem in children of all ages.
Positioned for Success—Create letters to or draw pictures for achievable yet challenging tasks for residents. children. If your child is shy, for example, help him or her take some Yarn Circle Make a yarn circle on TEACHABLE cookies to a neighbor. Then gradually the floor that all your family members encourage your child to try can stand in. Have everyone stand MOMENTS increasingly difficult tasks, eventually several steps away from the circle.
Kids of the Kingdom without your help. Say: “If you can answer yes to a question, take a step toward the You’ll need paper plates, markers, tape, Marble Roll Gather marbles, water, circle.” Ask: “Does God love you? Is and craft sticks. Have each family flour, and a tabletop. Dip the marbles there something special about you? member draw a self-portrait on a plate. in water and roll them back and forth Do you like to laugh and have fun? Turn it into a hand-held mask by taping a to each other. Ask: “What was it like Do you make mistakes sometimes? craft stick to the back. Then have each to roll and catch the wet marbles?” Are you a good friend?” Encourage person write (or draw) on the back three Then dip the wet marbles in flour and family members to move forward things they like about themselves. try rolling them back and forth. (Make with each question. When sure there’s enough flour to cause everyone’s in the circle, say, “You Put all the masks in a pile on the floor. resistance.) Ask: “What happened are all so special to God!” End with a Have each person choose a mask that’s when we changed one thing with the group hug. not their own. Take turns reading the lists marbles? How does the way you feel aloud and guessing whose mask each about yourself change as you grow Crowned With Glory Gather a person is holding. up?” Have an age-appropriate Bible, some garland, and Mylar discussion about good and bad streamers. At dusk, go outside and Ask: What made it easy or hard to list changes that affect self-esteem. ask: “When you look at the world things you like about yourself? What Remind kids that no matter what they around you, what reminds you of makes each of us special? do, their value always comes from God’s greatness?” Read aloud God, who loves them unconditionally. Psalm 8:3-5. Ask: “Why do you think Read aloud 1 Peter 2:9. Ask: What does people are important to God? How this verse say about who you are? Say: The Last Shall Be First Serving has God shown you that you’re We’re chosen by God! We’re royalty! gives children an indestructible, important to him?” Read verse 5 Think of that the next time you need to independently rechargeable self-worth again. Say: “God must think pretty feel better about yourself. Close in boost. Create opportunities for kids to highly of us to treat us this way.” prayer, thanking God for making each of share their God-given talents with Make shiny crowns with the garland you special in his eyes. people in need. For example, they and streamers. Then say each can read aloud, sing, or play music at person’s name, followed by “…is a nursing home. They can also write important to God.”
“The very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.” —Luke 12:7, NLT
MEDIA MADNESS
CULTURE & TRENDS MOVIE BOOK Parents and Pot? As the push for Title: Finding Dory Title: Roller Girl marijuana legalization gains Genre: Animated comedy adventure Author: Victoria Jamieson ground, more parents are admitting Rating: Not yet rated (likely G or PG) Synopsis: This heartwarming graphic they get high—and some claim it Cast: Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks, novel—a Newbery Honor winner and helps them be better parents. Diane Keaton, Ty Burrell, Eugene Levy New York Times best seller—is about BabyCenter.com now has a forum Synopsis: Pixar’s follow-up to the friendship, girl power, and surviving the for pot-smoking moms, who 2003 hit Finding Nemo features the transition to middle school. When her compare their habit to having a lovably forgetful blue tang fish. After best friend signs up for dance class, 12 glass of wine at the end of the day. recalling some childhood memories, -year-old Astrid chooses roller-derby Dory sets out with Nemo and Marlin to camp instead. Can their relationship Social Media Shaming Moms are find her family. They head to a marine- survive? Is it okay if it doesn’t? taking to Facebook to vent at life institute and meet a colorful cast of Our Take: This book emphasizes people who’ve body-shamed their sea life. perseverance and doing what you love, kids. They often call out store Our Take: Despite the 13-year gap regardless of what others think. In a clerks by name for mocking a between these films, expect Dory to world trying to push girls into pretty child’s size or abilities. ride the waves of the original film’s pink boxes, Astrid hip-checks those success. As in Nemo, scenes of peril labels and works to discover who she may frighten younger viewers. After really is. A word of caution: Mean kids viewing the movie, talk to children at school make a crude nickname out about the meaning of family. of Astrid’s name. QUICK STATS
Games, Sites & Apps Quiet Down! Noise is more distracting to a child’s brain than to Sustainaville HowStuffWorks.com LumiKids Park an adult’s, according to Players can make a When summer doldrums This free, award-winning researchers. This can affect kids’ difference in the real hit, keep kids learning app is geared toward ability to learn, because their brains world with this free, about topics that interest kids ages 2 to 5. It fea- have a tough time processing charity-driven game them. This site is full of tures a colorful play- speech and background noise. from Save the Children. useful knowledge about a ground with games that (scienceupdate.com) They build virtual villag- wide range of topics. develop players’ cogni- es and help communi- Children will especially tive skills (memory, sort- Strong-Willed Perks A 40-year ties overcome famine enjoy learning about ani- ing, coordination, prob- study of 700 subjects found a and natural disasters. In mals, health, and sci- lem-solving, etc.). Par- correlation between strong -game donations go ence. (Other topics are ents can receive weekly behavioral traits in children—such directly to save real-life geared more toward updates on their child’s as defiance and stubbornness— kids. adults.) progress. and success later in life. (time.com)
This page is designed to help educate parents and isn’t meant to endorse any movie, music, or product. Our goal is to help you make informed decisions about what your children watch, read, listen to, and play.
June
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