Teaching your children values- Introduction & Month 1

Two of my goals for 2008 were to help my children (and myself!) learn a value each month, as well as begin to memorize bible verses.

Many years ago, before I even had children, I heard Richard Eyre speak. I loved hearing what he had to say and went on to read several books he and his wife had written. If you don't know Richard and Linda Eyre, I highly encourage you to discover them.

They did raise 9 kids!

They also have another great website called Values Parenting. If you go there, you will find much of the prep work is done for you. If nothing else, it is a great resource to fill in the gaps! I just found the website myself!

Teaching Your Children Values can be a valuable resource if you are looking to begin this in an organized manner with your family. They have done a great job providing stories, definitions, and activities for different age groups.

They have outlined 12 values and worked them into a monthly schedule. I will be using most of the ones they have presented in the book (I am skipping the fidelity and chastity one for now.), however I am rearranging them according to what I feel we are most needing at the time. And we may do some repeats!

Each month, I will share with you the quick summary of what will be on my fridge. Use it if you like or change it up to make it work for your family. The ideas are simply snapshots of activities you can do with your kids. I would encourage you to find this book on Amazon, at your church, or your local library.

One more thing, the activities below are for preschool age children. There are more activities listed in the book for elementary ages and adolescents.


PEACEABILITY

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

* Create a peaceful atmosphere in home
* Set an example & commit to calmness
* Teach by praise

* Calm Couch- a place for child to go if upset, fussy, loses temper
* Repenting Bench- a place for child if fighting physically or verbally; to get off, must tell what he did, repent, ask forgiveness
* Silly contests- who can go the longest without moving or speaking
* Magazine game- identify feelings and when it is ok to have them
* Define temper- create a visual with a pan of cool water (touch it), then have water boil on stove and discuss what happens
* Counting to ten- a strategy
* Harmony game- use musical instruments to demonstrate what is and isn't harmonious; compare to people
* Color game- cut out 2 people shapes (red-temper/impatience) (pastel-control/peace); give situations and describe how each would respond.

* Bible verses (These are the verses I have chosen for January.)

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Matthew 5:9

Be at peace with each other. Mark 9:50

Let the peace of Christ rule in your heart... Colossians 3:15

Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. Psalm 34:14

This is the day the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to anger, abounding in love. Psalm 103:8

Stacey