The Parent Link A Connection Between Harris Creek Children’s Ministry and Parents
! this issue Discipline: A New Perspective P.1 Positive Guidance P.2 Obedience Parenting Moment P.3 Issue Current Culture and Media P.4
Children’s Ministry Calendar Notes February 19 Elev8 Discipline: A New Perspec ve What do you think of when you hear the word discipline? I would venture to say February 28 that most of us have a nega ve reac on when hearing that word. For some of Parent/Child you, it may bring back memories of ge ng in trouble at school, or being Dedica on Class punished for wrongdoing at home. For others, it may cause memories of rigidness and structure in a classroom. Some of you may have even felt crushed at some point in your life because of discipline received from a parent or elder. March 21 Parent/Child Dedica on I want to challenge you to look at discipline in a new way. Start thinking of Church Bible Drill discipline as a training process and not as punishment. Discipline comes from the La n root, discipere, which means “to grasp intellectually or analyze March 28 thoroughly” from dis- “apart” + capere- “take.” When parents discipline their kids, they are taking apart a problem in order to thoroughly analyze it. Discipline Regional Bible Drill is meant to prevent future problems, not just solve immediate problems. It teaches, instructs, and trains. Discipline is more about teaching our children Children’s Ministry what to do than about teaching them what not to do. When we discipline them, we show them the be er way. Contact Informa on
Emily Gist Children’s Minister Clothing Drive: Please remember we are collec ng [email protected] new or “like new” winter clothing during the month of February! Carol Underwood Ministry Associate We’re on Facebook! Check out the groups Harris [email protected] Creek Children’s Ministry and Harris Creek Mother’s Day Out for pictures, updates, and events! Office Phone: (254) 848-4953 Mother’s Day Out Calendar Notes
February 16 Posi ve Guidance Muffins with Mom
March 9 and 11 Each semester we provide training for our Mother’s Day Out staff on a topic pertaining to Early Childhood Educa on. Later this month our teachers will Spring Break par cipate in a workshop about Posi ve Guidance with Children.
Using posi ve guidance with children means focusing on the desirable behaviors you want the child to repeat rather than punishing for the nega ve behaviors you Ask God: want to end. We use strategies at Harris Creek MDO that you can use at home too. 1. To help your children express their love for God 1. Redirec on -- when the child is having a problem, encourage the child to by obeying his commands. choose a new place to play. By doing so, the child removes himself/herself from the area of frustra on, thereby removing the possible source of 2. To strengthen your frustra on. This step may need to used repeatedly. children’s trust in God’s goodness. 2. Use of choices -- When a child is exhibi ng nega ve behavior, give the child appropriate choices to move the preschooler to a more posi ve behavior. A 3. To give your children commonly used phrase in this situa on may be, “You may do ______or obedient a tudes toward ______.” example: “You may clean up the home living center or you may authority. clean up the blocks.” 3. Posi ve words -- Adult must show an a tude of understanding and firmness. Paren ng Insights Children should be given clear direc ons and guidance on the child’s level of In With All Their Heart, understanding. Requests should be made in a posi ve statement. Refrain from Chris ne Yount Jones shares using the word “no” or “you should not…”. Say “Our feet stay on the floor” some of “the sweet rewards rather than “Don’t climb on that table.” of saying yes to God” and 4. Using words -- When children are upset, encourage them to use their words. lovingly obeying his Children should be supported in their a empts to verbalize their feelings commands. about the situa on and their expecta ons of resolu on. Adults may need to facilitate this prac ce by giving the children the words to use. For example, if a The result of obedience is joy. child has been bi en, encourage the child to say to the biter “That hurts. I Obeying God isn’t a burden. don’t like it when you bite me. Please stop.” Instead, it’s upli ing to work 5. Posi ve reinforcement -- Praise the children spontaneously for the good things in harmony with God rather they do. Smile, hug, or high-five when they exhibit posi ve behaviors. than fight against him. Obedience brings a promise of blessings. Although we don’t obey just to gain God’s favor, Thou Shalt Remember his Word promises blessings for our reverent obedience • In a survey of 1,000 children in Britain, 28% of kids ages 11 to 16 couldn’t (for example, see name even one of the Ten Commandments. Only 6% of children could Deuteronomy 11:13-15). name all 10. (Chris an.org.uk) Obedience demonstrates our • Americans didn’t fare any be er. Out of 1,000 Americans, more people love. Convey to children that knew the ingredients of a Big Mac and the names of the Brady Bunch consequences aren’t the sole children than knew the Ten Commandments. The most-recalled point of rules. Instead, we commandment was “You shall not kill.” should obey as a loving response to God. “Oh, how I love your instruc ons! I think about them all day long. Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are my constant guide.” Psalm 119:97-98
We o en think of rules and laws as necessary evils. But Talking about and following God’s commands help children learn about obedience each of God’s commands (read the Scripture in the photo above). Start a conversa on with these ques ons: has a purpose, whether it’s to keep us safe or to bring him glory. These laws guide 1. How do rules help us? Why is it important to have rules in a family, in school, our steps each day, like a and in society? trusted, well-worn road map. 2. What makes you want to obey God? What makes you want to obey your parents or teachers? Teachable Moments 3. Why is it some mes hard to obey? What helps you obey, especially when it’s • The Right Path—Hide a temp ng not to? Bible and make an easy map so your children can 4. What good things happen when you obey? find the Bible in a few minutes. Give children the map and tell them to search for something Paren ng Moment: special you’ve hidden. When children find the Encourage Kids to Lovingly Obey Bible, tell them that God’s Word shows us what we February brings lots of talk about love, but love is more need to do to follow him evident through our ac ons than through our words. on the right path. Then Children show love and respect by obeying parents, and read some “direc ons” and Chris ans show love and respect by obeying God’s have children tell you if commands. God gave us his laws because he loves us, they’re from the Bible or and following them helps mold us into his faithful followers. not. For example, “Love your enemies” (yes!); “Lie Love is at the “heart” of all God’s commandments, including his two greatest: “Love the Lord only if you have to” (no!). your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind” and “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27). • Simon Says—With younger children, play Simon Says, The problem is that love and obedience aren’t as easy as they sound. That’s because we’re all giving everyone a chance sinners who put ourselves ahead of others. Having a loving rela onship with Jesus Christ is the to be Simon. Then discuss only way we can be equipped to obey God and other people. Only through knowing Jesus and what it’s like to give his love does the law lose its sin-causing power over us. Here are some ways to share that direc ons and be message with your children: “obeyed.” Also talk about • what makes following While sharing that disobedience is serious and has consequences, also emphasize that God instruc ons easy or offers us his forgiveness—and we should do the same for other people who hurt us. difficult. • As you read and discuss the Bible with children, reflect the bulk of Scripture: God’s rela onship with his people, who are constantly breaking his rules but then being restored by a loving God. This page is designed to help educa on parents and isn’t meant to endorse any movie, music, or product. Our prayer is that you’ll make informed decisions about what your children watch, listen to, and wear.
What’s Playing at the Movies Movie: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (Feb. 12) Genre: Fantasy, Adventure Ra ng: not yet rated Cast: Logan Lerman, Pierce Brosnan, Uma Thurman Synopsis: Chris Columbus directs this adapta on of the popular children’s Culture & Trends book series. A modern-day teenager learns that his father is the greek god Zeus—and right now the gods are angry. Greek mythology comes to What’s happening right life with Harry Po er-esque adventure as Percy and his friends solve a now that may affect your powerful mystery. children and family: Discussion Ques ons: How have your parents shaped you? What do you think your life would be like if you had different parents or a different family? Why do you think • Personal safety is more people used to have so many gods? Read 1 John 5:21. How do some people worship evident than ever before in lots of “gods” today? children’s movies. More characters are wearing seat belts and helmets and using What Music Is Releasing crosswalks. Ar st: TobyMac (Associated Press) Album: Tonight Ar st Info: Grammy-winning Chris an pop and hip-hop ar st TobyMac • U.S. children are more likely (Kevin McKeehan) was one of the first Chris an rappers. He was part of to grow up with a pet than the trio DC Talk, and as a soloist he’s had six number-one singles. His with both of their parents. music provides a posi ve alterna ve to secular rappers such as Drake. (The Child: An Summary: TobyMac’s fourth studio album is a mix of pop, rock, hip-hop, Encyclopedic Companion) and funk. The first single, “City on Our Knees,” hit number one shortly a er its August release. In it, TobyMac sings, “If you go a start somewhere, why not here? If you go a start some me, why not now?” Discussion Ques ons: How well do you manage your me? What are some things you tend to put off, and why? Read Ma hew 25:13. How does being a Chris an affect Quick Stats your priori es? • Schoolwork and tests are kids’ biggest problem. If they had five minutes to What Games Are Out talk to President Obama, children said they would Title Content Rating & ask him to help ease their Platform burdens at school. (Highlights magazine) Mario & Sonic at the Players go through trial runs and then E; Wii Winter Olympics compete in sports such as snowboarding, • Immuniza on rates are bobsledding, and ice ska ng. on the rise, with about 72% of children fully Polar Panic Players navigate through mazes of snow and E; PSP, Xbox ice to rescue bears and protect the 360 immunized as of 2008. environment. Mild cartoon violence. Among only children, 81% have had all their shots. The Legend of Zelda: In the franchise’s newest installment, Link E; Nintendo (Reuters) Spirit Tracks travels via steam train. Players solve puzzles DS and problems with inven ve gameplay.
RATINGS: EC=Early Childhood, E=Everyone (ages 6+), E10+ (ages 10+), T=Teen (ages 13+)