Friday, March 24, 2017

Parenting Series Notes 3/21: Spirituality in the home: how to effectively foster an environment of spiritual growth where it matters the most

How do our children love and care for each other?


Scripture study:
  • consistency is most important - when doesn't matter just do it
  • little kids: taught them how to read from scriptures
  • have each family member read 1 verse
  • no power struggles - give them the option but don't make them do it
  • ask questions and help them think about it
  • get together with other families and talk about what works and what doesn't work


Family Home Evening:
  • 3 pillars (Taylors):
    • Love - memories glue each other
    • Structure - we are members of the church and will do what the church offers (seminary, activities) - you never know when some other persons might say something and change them forever
    • Fun - always have something fun for FHE in addition to the spiritual message.
  • Start with a prayer and end with a prayer. No matter what you are doing, call it FHE.
  • Activities don’t just happen. It takes planning.
  • Idea (Sara G.): introduce each person every FHE and give them a cheer
  • FHE chart with assignments (song, prayer, lesson, activity, refreshment, joke):
    • kids like to feel like they are apart of things with responsibilities
    • keep kids involved by showering with love and getting them involved quickly in the lesson/activity
  • Have kids take turns giving lessons from when they are young
  • Prep kids ahead of time for FHE
    • talk about what you are going to do - a great memory can come from anticipation for an activity and then end with talking about how great the activity was to end on a positive note

Other spiritual questions/ideas:
  • Teach kids the hymns. They will remember them forever
  • Figure out as a family what you want to stand for - have everyone contribute ideas and live by those things
    • Review family motto often
  • How did you help prepare for kids mission?
    • One-on-one scripture reading between parent and teenager before they went to work


Some FHE ideas (Thomanders):

  • Lessons:
    • Scriptures: pick a chapter, read aloud around the circle and discuss as you go
    • Family Home Evening manuals
    • Nursery Manual
    • Talks and lessons given or will be given at church
    • Gospel Art Picture Kit
    • Church publications: everyone chooses something to browse for 0 mins, then shares with group
  • Activities for Monday Nights:
    • Watch home movies and eat popcorn
    • Talent night with other families
    • Goal setting in Sept. or Jan. - video and watch one year later
    • Learn new skills: manners - get video at library, do skits
    • Write testimonies in Book of Mormon, wrap it up and give to a neighbor
    • Invite RM for dinner who served in a foreign country, serve native food, learn some words, hear faith promoting story
    • Crafts: make place cards for an upcoming holiday or company dinner
    • Brazilian BBQ - lots of different meats and eat around fire with sticks
    • Fireplace cooking - foil dinners, s’mores
    • Make your own pizza: dough and toppings. Have lesson while its baking
    • Group dinner: decide on a menu together and have everyone make one things, give generous praise
    • singing : a cappella, or with instruments - piano, guitar, funky instruments like kazoos: hymns, primary songs, camp songs, song books
    • Dance: put music on and everyone dance - dad and mom start
    • Scrapbooking: everyone work together to update pictures into books
    • journal/family history: choose a subject for everyone to write about to include in their scrapbooks
  • Games
    • Inside Group Games -Charades, heads up - 7up, board games, card games
    • Name that tune - everyone choose a primary song or hymn, sing 3 notes, keep adding a note till it’s guessed
    • Outside Group Games:
      • Steal the bacon
      • Mother May I
      • Kick the Can
      • Red Rover
      • Not it
      • Sardines
    • Puzzles
  • Excursions:
    • City council and gelato
    • Library
    • Genealogy library
    • Church gym: broom hockey, soccer, bball
    • Ice skating
    • Picnics in the park
    • Scavenger hunt in the neighborhood
  • Service:
    • 30 min cleaning blitz for someone in need: new mother, shut-in
    • Pulling weeds, mowing lawn for your home teacher
    • Picking up litter
    • Drop off cookies - ring doorbell and run
  • Summertime:
    • Meals on wheels - progressive dinner on bikes with 1-2 families
    • Take train to Castro MT View south or Menlo Park - get out and explore
    • Slumber party - all sleep together in tent/tramp in yard, build a fire and tell stories
    • baseball/football in park/school, vball at Gunn with other families
    • Mini golf, bowling, roller skating
    • Foothills Park: hike, boat, fish, picnic
    • Bike/drive to Gamble Gardens - look at veggies and flowers, bring picnic and dessert
    • Bike on stanford campus, visit the tower
    • Bike at shoreline
    • Movie at stanford theatre
    • Santa Cruz Boardwalk
    • Half Moon Bay: bike/hike the spectacular trail along the cliff edge
    • San Francisco: Land’s End Hike - start at Sutra Baths
    • Golden Gate Park - playground, carousel
  • Holidays
    • Pumpkin and Christmas Carol - homemade donuts with toppings
    • Make gingerbread houses out of graham crackers and lots of candy choices
    • Blindfold kids, take them in car to see Santa or some winter wonderland delight
    • Christmas on a Monday: Serve dinner at Glide Memorial Church to homeless (call ahead to reserve

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