Author Archives: Jeremy Lee

Prayer

Scriptures You Can Pray for Your Kids

Email 1

Copy/Paste the following email:

Subject Line: Praying for Your Kids, Part One

Hello,

Parenting is hard work. No new news there, right? Thankfully you are not alone. You have the Creator who is eager to communicate with you through prayer (and other means) to guide your every step. Your day should be filled with prayers for and on behalf of your children. Focused prayers as well as brief sentences or whispered prayers throughout the day are equally valuable to your child’s spiritual safety and well-being. Trust God to answer your prayers for your children as wholly as he trusts you to care for his creation, aka, your kids.

Praying for your kids is the focus of the lesson. The video, available by clicking on the link (Insert link and other pertinent information), can help you learn to rely on the power and comfort of prayer for your family in ways you might not even realize is possible. Let this video and this lesson speak to you.

I count it a blessing to be a part of your children’s lives—and yours, too. I spend time each week praying for your family specifically, so please let me know what your needs and concerns are so that I, too, can lift these requests up to our Heavenly Father.

https://vimeo.com/parentministry/review/149008880/c9dfe993db

Your partner in prayer,
Children’s Pastor

Email 2

Copy/Paste the following email:

Subject Line: Praying for your Kids, Part 2

Parents,

Lamentations 2:19 says, “Arise, cry out in the night, as the watches of the night begin; pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. Lift up your hands to him for the lives of your children…. ”

Parents, I am pleading with you to lift your hands to the LORD for your children. Pray for every aspect of their lives. Pray for their health, their education, their friendships, their future spouse and children, their relationship with you, their friends, and of course, their spiritual well-being.

Prayer is real…relevant…powerful. The Online Parenting Class you were sent provides instruction and encouragement on how to step up your prayer life for your children and your family as a whole.

To help keep you get focused or organized, I want to suggest several ways in which you can and should be praying for your child.
1. Pray for their physical health
2. Pray for their safety in school
3. Pray for their education
4. Pray for their purity
5. Pray for their future spouse/kids
6. Pray for their desire to know and follow God fully
7. Pray for your relationship
8. Pray for their ability to choose good friends
9. Pray for their friends
10. Pray for them to have a Christ-like attitude
11. Pray they seek forgiveness
12. Pray for their safety away from home
13. Pray for their souls
14. Pray for their ability to choose a suitable career

Your prayers don’t need to be lengthy or formal. Jesus tells us straight up that God isn’t impressed by our babbling or ‘many words’ (Matthew 6:7). He just wants to hear what’s on our hearts.

Praying with and for you,
Children’s Pastor

Video Script

Scriptures You Can Pray for Your Kids

What an honor we have to pray for our children. It’s an even greater honor to use God’s word to pray over our children.

In this video I’m going to give you some great verses that you can pray over your children to get you started. So grab your pen and paper and write these down…

You can ask for God’s favor on your child by praying Numbers 6:24-26

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace”

Ask God to use your child to spread His love by praying Matthew 5:16

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven”.

Ask God to protect your child from being timid and to give them courage by praying 2 Timothy 1:7:

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline”.

Pray that God would keep your child from being anxious by praying Philippians 4:6:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God”.

Pray that your child’s thoughts would be pure by praying Philippians 4:8:

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

Pray that your child will grow in grace and the knowledge of Jesus by praying 2 Peter 3:18:

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen”.

“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead” (Philippians 3:10-11).

Ask God to use your child to carry out his mission on the earth by praying Matthew 28:18-20:

“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

These are just a few examples of how you can use God’s word as guide for how to pray for your child.

There really is nothing more powerful you can do for them.

Texts/Tweets

TIP: Choose a hashtag for your tweets and use it consistently. That will tell Twitter to store a list of your tweets on one place for later reference.

Tweet One: LORD I lift my hands and heart in prayer for my kids. #prayforkids

Tweet Two: Help me be the parent my kids deserve. #prayforkids

Tweet Three: Let’s pray our kids to success in the LORD. #prayforkids

Tweet Four: LORD, keep my children safe from themselves. #prayforkids

Tweet Five: Praying scripture over my kids means I’m praying truth over them #prayforkids

Tweet Six: LORD protect my kids when I can’t. #prayforkids

Tweet Seven: I pray I’m a parent that pleases God. #prayforkids

Tweet Eight: LORD help my kids even when they don’t think they need it. #prayforkids

Tweet Nine: Keep our kids safe from evil. #prayforkids

Tweet Ten: LORD stay in touch with my kids bc they need you. #prayforkids

Month 20

I’m Afraid of the Dark

Email 1

Copy/Paste the following email:

Subject Line: I’m Afraid of the Dark, Part One

Dear Parents,

Everyone is afraid of something or a few somethings. For preschoolers, the list usually includes big dogs, getting in trouble, being away from you, and the dark. The dark—that’s a really scary place!

This video enables you to help your preschooler overcome what we know to be an unjustified fear. You’ll discover how to do so without making your preschooler feel worthless or dumb. You’ll discover that by acknowledging their fear as real you can replace it with something just as real…only better.

When working with your preschooler to overcome their fear of the dark, don’t be afraid to let them know what you are afraid of now as well as what you were afraid of at their age, and tell them how you came to terms with these things. I also want you to remember that I’m here to help in any way I can.

Don’t hesitate to get in touch with me to let me know how I can pray for you and your family.
https://vimeo.com/parentministry/review/149143124/c0b98fc7bc

Thanks for being such a great parent,
Preschool Pastor

Email 2

Copy/Paste the following email:

Subject Line: I’m Afraid of the Dark, Part Two

Parents,
I hope this month’s Online Parenting Class blessed you.
Let’s continue our ‘discussion’ on helping your child deal with their fear of the dark. It’s something nearly every parent is faced with at one time or another. Chances are you were even afraid of the dark when you were a preschooler. And since I’m fairly certain you’ve gotten over that fear, it’s safe to say your child will do the same. As a parent, you can make it a bit easier for them if you:

1.Don’t make fun of them or belittle them for being afraid. Their fears are real and big, and it’s your job to make them smaller and smaller until they’re gone.

2.This is a case for show-n-tell. It’s not enough to tell a preschooler they don’t have to be afraid of the dark. You have to show them there’s nothing to be afraid of. Look in the closet, under the bed, or outside the window with them, proving all is well.

3.Plug in a night light or put glow-in-the-dark shapes on their wall or ceiling to help lull them to sleep and calm their fears. NOTE: The glow-in-the-dark shapes are especially helpful since it has to be dark for them to work. This helps little ones see the dark as a fun place to be.

4.Eat family dinners by candlelight once in a while. This makes the dark a peaceful, happy place to be. 5.Lay on a blanket outside and look up at the stars with your preschooler. Talk to them about the stars and how God made the earth so perfect and wonderful.

6.Pray with your preschooler each night at bedtime with the lights out. Make sure you thank God for the dark that helps us rest, and pray for your little one’s heart to be at peace.

The Bible says, “ In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” ~Psalm 4:8

Partnering with you,
Preschool Pastor

Video Script

At some point during your Parenting journey, there’s a really good chance you’ll experience a familiar moment.

You just finish a long day of washing dishes, playing tag in the back yard, and fixing bowls of goldfish crackers and you finally get to that “finish line” where the kids are in bed and you can relax.

Just when you take a deep sigh and begin to relax, your sweet baby comes out of their room in tears. And it’s those “real tears” not the ones they use when they’re just trying to get something.

They are scared of the dark. They’re terrified to stay in their room, and they’ve come to you for help.

What do you do?

Well here are 3 things you can do right away to help your child.

First, Try to discover the cause of the problem.

There are many reasons a child can be afraid of the dark. Here are a few… You might have a child who’s blessed with an active imagination, but in this case it’s kind of a curse because they are turning shadows into monsters in their room. You also might have a child who’s struggling with separation anxiety. They hate being away from you, and their fear of the dark is more likely a fear of being alone. They also might have seen something on television that scared them, and their having trouble getting the image out of their head.

There are many reasons for having a fear of the dark, but with just a few intentional questions you might be able to discover the cause. That will really help you work towards a solution.

Second, Pray with your child.

This is where our faith can make a huge difference in the life of our child. Instead of just telling them to “think happy thoughts” and go to bed. We can talk to the creator of the universe on their behalf. Pray things like, “God, you set the stars in their place and you are the strongest one in the Universe. Would you please comfort my child and watch over them as they sleep.” The very cool truth is that God was already doing just that, but when your child hears you pray this truth they can be reminded that God doesn’t sleep, and He is with them.

Third, Offer them a small light of some kind.

You may disagree with me here, but I personally believe that “night lights” are awesome. To give your child just a small bit of light that pierces the darkness in their room has the potential to solve the problem right away. If the “night light” works for your child, then I say go for it! It will help them adjust to sleeping in the dark, and eventually they probably won’t even need it. A night light just gives them some comfort to work through this fear over time.

The most important response we can have as Parents who’s kids are scared of the dark is to just “Be there”. Don’t make your child feel silly for having a very normal fear, and make sure they know that they are not alone in facing that fear. You can face the fear together!

TIP: Choose a hashtag for your tweets and use it consistently. That will tell Twitter to store a list of your tweets on one place for later reference.

Tweet One: The dark is the daytime without the sun #Don’tbeafraidofthedark #urchurchparentministry

Tweet Two: Nightlights can be a kid’s best friend #Don’tbeafraidofthedark #urchurchparentministry

Tweet Three: Nightlights aren’t for sissies they’re for night time #Don’tbeafraidofthedark #urchurchparentministry

Tweet Four: Everyone’s afraid of something #Don’tbeafraidofthedark #urchurchparentministry

Tweet Five: Let your light shine before men #Don’tbeafraidofthedark #urchurchparentministry

Tweet Six: The dark is for sleeping and dreaming #Don’tbeafraidofthedark #urchurchparentministry

Tweet Seven:There’s nothing wrong with having a nightlight #Don’tbeafraidofthedark #urchurchparentministry

Tweet Eight:Twinkling stars are God’s nightlights #Don’tbeafraidofthedark #urchurchparentministry

Tweet Nine: To glow in the dark you have to be in the dark #Don’tbeafraidofthedark #urchurchparentministry

Tweet Ten:Being afraid of the dark is something you outgrow so just keep growing #Don’tbeafraidofthedark #urchurchparentministry

Connect with Parents at Camp

What is it?

This 3 Training Video Course will help you as a children’s minister to connect with the parents of your ministry before, during & after summer camp. These videos will help guide you in how to get your parents involved as well as how to engage with them while you’re at camp!

Each video is less than 15 minutes, so you can gain a ton of info in a short amount of time.

We have also included a pre-camp checklist to help you make sure your parents have everything they need before camp time arrives.

How do I use it?

We have included all 3 of the videos below for you to review. Under each video is an
embed code, a link you can share, or a way to download the video.

You can embed the videos on your own church blog or website. Then you can offer
them to your parents as a resource.
You can use the links we have provided and send out the links in an email to parents.
You can download the videos and play them at your next parent meeting to start
discussions for Parent of Girls.

Involving Parents with Summer Camp

* <iframe src=”https://player.vimeo.com/video/151700408″ width=”500″ height=”313″ frameborder=”0″ webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen> </iframe>
* http://vimeo.com/parentministry/review/151700408/9ea08eb39f
* Download: Click the link above and click on Download

Connecting with Parents During the Week of Summer Camp

* <iframe src=”https://player.vimeo.com/video/151835952″ width=”500″ height=”313″ frameborder=”0″ webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen> </iframe>
* http://vimeo.com/parentministry/review/151835952/2a744c8ba6
* Download: Click the link above and click on Download

Throwing the Best Summer Camp After Party Ever!

* <iframe src=”https://player.vimeo.com/video/152340861″ width=”500″ height=”313″ frameborder=”0″ webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen> </iframe>
* http://vimeo.com/parentministry/review/152340861/c542338aa6
* Download: Click the link above and click on Download

DOWNLOAD CHECKLIST

Friends

What If You Don’t Like Your Child’s Friend

Email 1

Copy/Paste the following email:

Subject Line: What If You Don’t Like Your Child’s Friend, Part One

Parents,
This time around we’re going to be talking about friends—specifically you child’s friends.
Friends are important to all of us, but to most children, friends are oxygen.
As a parent, it is your responsibility to make sure the ‘oxygen’ your child breathes in isn’t ‘polluted’.
In other words, you have a responsibility to teach your children how to choose their friends wisely (and not choose their friends for them). This video is a great source of information and instruction on the subject of you, your child, and their friends.
Jesus calls us to love everyone; being kind, compassionate, and polite. This is what you want for yourself and your children. It’s what I want for us all. Again, don’t hesitate to let me know how I can help you and how I can pray for your family.

https://vimeo.com/parentministry/review/149008881/8cb49e32a3

Partnering With You,
Children’s Pastor

Email 2

Copy/Paste the following email:

Subject Line: How To Choose Good Friends …Part 2
Hi Parents,I pray you are having a great week and that you have taken the time to watch the parenting video for our current lesson on what to do if you don’t like your child’s friend.The Bible has lots to say about friends—how to choose friends, what a good friend is and isn’t and how to be the friend Jesus wants you to be. It would be impractical to list them all here, so I will suggest you read the 13th, 17th, and 18th chapters of Proverbs because they contain several verses on the subject. I’m also giving you the following verses to place in your head and in your heart.

Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other;as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. ~Colossians 3:13

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. ~Proverbs 27:17

Helping your child develop discernment when it comes to choosing their friends isn’t always easy or pleasant, but it is necessary for you to do and to do right. The question most parents have, however, is what is right?
The following suggestions aren’t of the “Thus sayeth the Lord” nature, but they have proven valuable over the years, so I encourage you to use them when faced with helping your child break away from an unhealthy relationship.

1.Don’t accuse the friend of being a bad influence. Instead, ask your child why their attitude has changed, why they no longer like something they used to, why they are being unkind to their siblings, or why their grades are falling.

2.Get to know your kids’ friends by inviting them into your home and by including them in activities outside your home. Not only does this allow you to assess the situation, it gives you the opportunity to be a loving, positive influence on another child.

3.Don’t forbid or cut off the friendship without your child’s input. Instead, limit the friendship to your home or your supervision. If your child protests, explain why you are doing this.

4.Give your children opportunities to meet new people and make new friends. This shouldn’t be forced (ex: You WILL play soccer). Let them choose an activity to become involved in. HINT: Don’t tell them why you want them to have a change of scenery.

5.Last but definitely not least…PRAY for your child and his/her friendships. God is the God of all things big and small…including friendships.

Your Faithful Friend,
Preschool Pastor

Video Script

Video Game Strategy

One of the most difficult times for us as a parent is when you identify that your child’s friends appear to be pulling them down a path that they do not need to be going. You see your child beginning to change before your very eyes, and when connecting the dots you begin to suspect it’s the influence of those friends who are hanging around. When wrestling what what to do, we’ve got to think through some things.

It’s likely that a head-on approach could push your child deeper into these friendships, or worse, could develop these deep seated resentment with you and they’re not going to listen to you. What is more important than you making them change their friendships is for you to give them the tools to identify the need for that change themselves, if those influences are helping or hurting. It may be beneficial to come alongside your child and starting the conversation about friends rather than trying to force them out the door immediately.

Most friendships are not developed overnight and they will not be over that quickly either. It’s possible that your child could be in a place that the choices with friends, that they’re really dangerous or have long-term negative consequences. This is where you’re going to have to use your judgement as the parent. There is this line in which you have to draw a boundary of safety and make some difficult decisions for your child that they are not wanting to make in regards to their friends for themselves.

If this is where you are, I recommend not attacking the friend or the friends in question when you’re having the conversation about what needs to change. Keep the discussion focused on the results in your child because of those friends so that it’s focused on your teenager and not the others. Instead of saying, “Your friend Johnny is a loser and going nowhere,” consider saying, “Hey, the change in your grades and the way that we communicate is concerning to me so we’re going to have to make a change in your free time options.”

What this does is it keeps the focus on them and on you rather than inviting that friend into the discussion that you’re trying to get out. It’s important to consider the possibility that it might not be the friends that’s the source of this negative change. There are times when your child could be the one that’s actually instigating the source of change of the whole group of people and being that person of influence. It’s really painful to consider, and that’s the last thing that we want to see, but we must consider the possibility.

That allows us to walk into the situation with our eyes open so we can make the best decision moving forward. If you can remember to walk forward seeking a solution rather than looking for someone to blame, you’re going to be heading in the right direction.

TIP: Choose a hashtag for your tweets and use it consistently. That will tell Twitter to store a list of your tweets on one place for later reference.

Tweet One: Good friends make life better…not worse. #bffs #urchurchparentministry

Tweet Two: Your kids’ friends are your business. #bffs #urchurchparentministry

Tweet Three: Get to know your child’s friends #bffs #urchurchparentministry

Tweet Four: Good parenting involves teaching the art of friendship #bffs #urchurchparentministry

Tweet Five: You can be friendly without being friends #bffs #urchurchparentministry

Tweet Six: The best kind of person is the person who is kind #bffs #urchurchparentministry

Tweet Seven: A best friend wants the best for you #bffs #urchurchparentministry

Tweet Eight: A friend doesn’t ask you to do something you aren’t comfortable with. #bffs #urchurchparentministry

Tweet Nine: A bad friend isn’ t a friend at all #bffs #urchurchparentministry

The DNA of D6 by Ron Hunter Jr.

https://kidsarchive.ministrytoparents.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Snaphots_DNA-of-D6.pdf

Practical Family Ministry by Timothy Jones and David Trentham

https://kidsarchive.ministrytoparents.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Snapshot-Practical-Parenting.pdf

52 Family Dinner Discussions: Part 2

What is It?
This is a fun way to get kids and parents talking. Sometimes as parents, finding ways to relate to your child becomes increasingly more challenging. This will give parents a fun way to get their child talking. This will help parents continue to gain an understanding of their ever-evolving child.

How do I use it?
This is a pdf handout that you can send out to your parents in an email as a gift to them. Or you can print them off and make them available at your church for them to pick up.

You can give it to your parents and then challenge them to have at least one quality dinner at home connecting with their kids each week.

I hope this is a blessing to you and your parents!

Download Now

Month 19

You Can Do It!!

Email 1

Copy/Paste the following email:

Subject Line: You Can Do It, Part One

Dear Parents,

We’ve already covered the fact that parenting doesn’t have to be a Lone Ranger kind of job—that it’s okay to have a few mentors and reinforcements.
But I’m sure you can recall a few times in your life as a parent when you’ve gotten some unwarranted advice or even scolding in regards to your parenting skills.

Most of this comes from well-meaning sources (your mom, sister, grandma, or an older friend), but it still doesn’t make it easy to take…or right. The video that accompanies this lesson will help you navigate these situations in a Godly and loving manner. It will also remind you of the all-important fact that God chose YOU to be your child’s parents.

He trusts you to do your best to raise up Godly young people to continue the work of his Kingdom here on Earth. So take heart, have courage, and know when to listen and when to smile politely and walk away. This video will also remind you of what a blessing it is to be chosen by God to share his creation with him. Thanks for being such a great parent,
https://vimeo.com/parentministry/review/149143122/bf233646f6

Thanks for being such a great parent,
Preschool Pastor

Email 2

Copy/Paste the following email:

Subject Line: Consider The Source, Part Two

Parents,

Hopefully by now you’ve watched the video on how to discern between good parenting advice and that which isn’t so good. Having older parents you look up to and who you can count on for advice, encouragement, and help is a great thing. A Godly thing.

But there are times when we are made to doubt our abilities as parents; times when people insert themselves into your family when they shouldn’t, times when criticism and ‘advice’ are given freely, yet unjustifiably, and times when you let the seeds of doubt sprout in your head and heart because of something you do (or don’t do). It happens to all of us. That’s just one of the non-perks of parenting. How you deal with these situations, however, makes all the difference in the world both for you and for your child. SO…*When you are criticized for how you parent, consider the motive behind the criticism.

If it really is out of love and concern, acknowledge it and explain that you don’t see things that way. If it’s out of jealousy or pettiness, ignore it, pray for confidence and courage, and go on. *If you are under continual or constant scrutiny (a mother, mother in-law, etc.), don’t run from the situation or ignore it. Let the person know you respect them, but that ultimately the children are yours to raise and you are doing so according to the way you and your spouse think best. Then tell them if they don’t want to risk further damage to your relationship, they need to keep their thoughts to themselves.

*Acknowledge that you just might be wrong or have something to learn in some cases. Again, this will often depend on the spirit in which you are spoken to. Think about what was said, pray about it, and let God speak to you. Ultimately, the choice is yours, but as long as you are following God’s voice and his Word in regards to loving, teaching, and disciplining your child, you can lay down each night knowing you’ve done well that day.

Remember…And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. ~Colossians 3:14.

When you love your children as Christ loves us, you are doing all you can.

Partnering with you,
Preschool Pastor

Video Script

Isn’t it fun to think about the fact that God allowed you to be the parent of your child?

I mean think about it, God doesn’t make mistakes, so when he was deciding who would care for your child, He chose you.

Wow, that’s a heavy thought isn’t it?

But do you know what else it is? It’s a freeing truth.

You see there are a lot of people who will have opinions about your parenting styles and your parenting decisions.

Whether it’s your mother in law, your minister, your neighbor, or even Dr. Phil. There is no shortage of folks trying to tell you what’s best for your child.

And I’m going to suggest to you that you listen and receive wisdom from those that you trust, but I’m also going to ask you to trust what God tells you the most.

There’s no doubt that you’re not going to get it all perfect in your parenting, but don’t ever forget that the God who is perfect has chosen you for this position.

That means that the whisper of His voice in your heart should ring much louder than the voice of any expert, family member, or teacher.

It’s kind of tempting to outsource our parenting responsibility, and to just do what other people are telling you to do. And sometimes God uses really wise people to show us how to parent our child.

But there will come a moment on your parenting journey where you believe in your heart that God is leading you to make a parenting decision that others might disagree with.

In that moment you’ve got to trust God’s parenting assignment. He chose you, and all you have to do is follow His leadership. He’ll take care of the rest.

You’ve logged more hours on this earth with your child than any other human being. When you look in their eyes you see so much more than the average person does. You know your child better than anyone. So who is more qualified to make a parenting decision than you? The answer to that is easy. No one.

One of my favorite words in the English language is “Encouragement”. It’s because the word kind of defines itself… to put “Courage in”.

My goal today is to encourage you and “put courage into you” to trust God. He chose you as your child’s parent, and that means that no one on this earth knows the heart of your child better than you.

Don’t ever forget that.

TIP: Choose a hashtag for your tweets and use it consistently. That will tell Twitter to store a list of your tweets on one place for later reference.

Tweet One: It takes courage to be a great parent. #Courageousparenting #urchurchparentministry

Tweet Two: Don’t give up #Courageousparenting #urchurchparentministry

Tweet Three: When it comes to parenting advice consider the source #Courageousparenting #urchurchparentministry

Tweet Four: As for me & my house, we will serve the LORD #Courageousparenting #urchurchparentministry

Tweet Five: Parent your kids the way God wants you to #Couarageousparenting #urchurchparentministry

Tweet Six: Too much advice = too little help #Couarageousparenting #urchurchparentministry

Tweet Seven: The worse advice comes from people who think they know it all #Couargaeousparenting #urchurchparentministry

Tweet Eight:The BIBLE is the ultimate parenting handbook #Courageousparenting #urchurchparentministry

Tweet Nine: Don’t worry-you’re allowed a few parenting mistakes #Couarageousparenting #urchurchparentministry

Tweet Ten: Don’t be afraid to parent your child #Couarageousparenting #urchurchparentministry

Video Games

Establishing Healthy Gaming Boundaries

Email 1

Copy/Paste the following email:

Subject Line: Video Game Strategy, Part One

Parents,
Video games and social media are mainstays in the lives of nearly every child in the country. We can’ t really escape it. There’ s actually no need to run from these things as long as they are handled wisely and appropriately. This video provides excellent information and guidelines for Biblical parenting in today’ s tech-savvy society. Please watch the video and make every possible effort to implement what you learn into your home’s video-game policies.

I also want to remind you that I am always willing to discuss any questions or thoughts you would like to share on this or any other lesson.

I have a deep personal interest in your family and I want the best God has in store for you. Parenting isn’ t easy, but working together we can show your children the marvelous God we serve and that a life with him is more exciting than any game they will ever play.

https://vimeo.com/parentministry/review/148892225/34179ac731

Partnering With You,
Children’s Pastor

Email 2

Copy/Paste the following email:

Subject Line: Video Game Strategy…Part 2
Parents,Let’s continue our goal to reign in the video game craze among our young people. I hope you’ve been able to watch this month’s Online Parenting Class on the topic of having healthy boundaries with video games.

I know most of you have heard the question “What’s so wrong with video games?” The answer to that question cannot be answered with a simple sentence or two. In fact, there are positive aspects to SOME video games (educational, visual stimulation, eye/hand coordination) in SMALL doses.
So…when setting boundaries and establishing a video game strategy in your home, remember to be Firm, Fair, and Consistent.

#1 FIRM: Set limits on the amount of time a child is allowed to game. Be resolute on what types of games are allowed to be played in and out of your home. Insist on placing parental guides on all gaming devices—including where games are allowed to be played.

#2 FAIR: Don’t ban a game based on hearsay. Review it yourself before saying yes or no. Make the rules age-appropriate (what’s fair for a 9 year old isn’ t the same for a 17 year-old).

#3 CONSISTENT: If you use gaming as a privilege to be earned, don’t go soft and let it slide. Don’t allow extra time when friends are over unless your child knows it is a privilege to be respected. Don’t relax the rules on what kinds of games are allowed. Have pre-set and pre-described disciplinary measures in place if/when your child breaks the rules.

God’s Word reminds us to ‘test’ what we do to make sure it is beneficial to our spiritual well-being.

The following verses will help you do just that:

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ~Philippians 4:8

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. ~Romans 12:1-2

Partnering with you,
Preschool Pastor

Video Script

Video Game Strategy

The greatest key to addressing the video game world of your child is consistency. Now, to have this, our children need to know from us our expectations for them and that we genuinely believe that those expectations are important. Here’s a process to consider and how to navigate the world of video games with your child. First, develop a plan. There must be a plan about when you are going to let your children play video games, how long you’re going to let them play video games and what games you’re actually going to let them play. Have the discussion with them about this, ask them first about what they think in regards to those areas. Their responses will let you know what they are thinking, to what is healthy and what is not in the world of video games.

Then, help guide them to understanding what is best for them and what is not over time, they will not get there all at once. Using their responses as much as possible when creating this plan is so valuable. You are able to move this video game plan from something that you have done as the parent towards something that you both have done as a family, giving them a part ownership in the decision making is well worth the effort it takes to make it happen. Now that you have a plan, discuss this plan with them at length. Let them know the ins and outs of what your expectations are and share with them what it looks like exactly and how you want them to respond, then, ask them to describe this plan back to you. Requiring this step will let you know exactly what they have heard and the most important part of a conversation is identifying what was heard rather than what was said and if your child can articulate to you the plan that was discussed, then you can confidently know that there was an understanding of expectations from the beginning.

The next piece is the most difficult part of the process, you have to follow through. If you’re not consistent, then your plan will never achieve the goals that you hoped would be achieved. If you have determined that a certain amount of time that your child can play video games, then you need to monitor that time and respond as you said you would when that time limit is reached. If your child’s video games were taken away for a week because of a choice that was made, then you need to follow through and keep the video game for a week rather than giving in to the pressure and returning the games after two days. What I have found as a parent is that my inconsistencies are a major factor in my child’s success, so we’ve go to be consistent and follow through.

If this is something that you struggle with, find a friend that will encourage you to be consistent. Sometimes having a few reminders and words of encouragement from someone else is all we need to stay on track on being consistent, it’s just not easy. The final piece is to begin considering at what point you’re going to start handing over the control of these decisions to your child. There’s going to be a day that you’re not going to be there to make sure that they’re not spending too much time playing video games or you’re not going to be there at the store the next time they buy one, so consider what the process of letting control in this area go looks like and start that process as they are demonstrating that they are worthy of that trust from you.

TIP: Choose a hashtag for your tweets and use it consistently. That will tell Twitter to store a list of your tweets on one place for later reference.

Tweet One: Life is not a game #lifeisnotagame #urchurchparentministry

Tweet Two: Video games in small doses = good parenting #lifeisnotagame #urchurchparentministry

Tweet Three: Violent games = violent thoughts and actions #lifeisnotagame #urchurchparentministry

Tweet Four:Social skills are more important than gaming skills #lifeisnotagame #urchurchparentministry

Tweet Five: Proactive parenting keeps kids safe #lifeisnotagame #urchurchparentministry

Tweet Six: Violence is not a game—not even on a computer screen #lifeisnotagame #urchurchparentministry

Tweet Seven: Play Monopoly, not war games #lifeisnotagame #urchurchparentministry

Tweet Eight: The computer is on…do you know what your kids are doing? #lifeisnotagame #urchurchparentministry

Tweet Nine: For healthy gaming boundaries – be firm, fair & consistent #lifeisnotagame #urchurchparentministry

Month 18

Making Friends

Email 1

Copy/Paste the following email:

Subject Line: Making Friends, Part One

Hi Parents,

Friends are an important part of life. We all want and need them. Making friends, however, is an art that everyone needs to acquire—your preschooler included. Please watch this month’s Online Parenting Class it is an excellent source of help to you in teaching your preschooler how to make friends the right way.

One of the best things about being a parent is being able to watch your children enjoy the things that come with having friends. Their smiles, giggles, fun, and games are memories you will place in your heart and hold on to for a lifetime. Let me know how I can be of help to you in teaching your child to make and be a good friend.
https://vimeo.com/parentministry/review/149140807/7866a27705

Praying For You,
Preschool Pastor

Email 2

Copy/Paste the following email:

Subject Line: Making Friends Part Two

Parents,

We’re still on the subject of friends—how to help your preschooler make them and be one.

After all, friends are a very important part of life. Jesus had friends. Twelve good friends and from those twelve, three close friends, and from those three, one BFF named John.
I hope you have had a chance to watch the Online Parenting Class video on How to Make New Friends. I also want to encourage you to follow the suggestions below so that your preschooler’s early experiences in the world of friends will be positive experiences.

#1 Don’t overwhelm your preschooler by offering too many playdates and too many faces at a time.

#2 Don’t push your preschooler to be friends with someone YOU think they should be friends with. Let them gravitate towards the people they feel most compatible with. That’s what you do, isn’t it?

#3 Take the time to really know your child—what they enjoy doing, where they enjoy spending time, the activities they most enjoy, and whether or not they prefer small groups, one-on-one, or large group settings. Take your cue from these things to put your child in these situations to make friends.

#4 Teach, use, and reinforce their use of manners at home so they will use them with others.

#5 Don’t expect too much. Preschoolers are learning how to make and be friends. They’re going to experience bouts of selfishness, shyness, aggressiveness, and tattling. Work with them to solve these issues instead of condemning them for it.

#6 Be an example of what a good friend is to your friends and to your spouse.

God knows the value of friendships. That’s why he put the following verses in the Bible for us to remember. Teach your preschooler to know these verses, too.

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. ~Proverbs 17:17

And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. ~Luke 6:31

Partnering with you,
Preschool Pastor

Video Script

Finding a new friend is tough at any age, but especially difficult as a young child.

This is your child’s first time to practice the art of caring for others, playing with others, and the “give and take” of a really good friendship.

There are grown adults that struggle with those skills, so how can we expect our children to do it.

Well, your child has something that no one else has… they have an awesome parent like you to help guide them through this scary stage.

Here are 4 ideas to help your child develop new friendships.

First, teach your child to look for a friend with similar interests. Without this direction your child will most likely try to be friend with the most popular, outgoing, or athletic children in their class. Help them to look past that obvious stuff, and choose a friend that defines “fun” in a similar way as them. If your child loves sports then they are looking for an athletic friend. If your child loves imaginary play, then they are looking for the kid on the playground turning a stick into a sword with their imagination.

Second, Teach your child to be friendly. We are all naturally selfish. So don’t be surprised when your child tries to make their new friendships all about them. You’ll need to teach your child to take turns with their friend and let them choose what to play. You’ll also need to teach your child to ask their friend questions about their life, and to offer a sincere compliment. These are amazing life skills and this is a great time to practice them.

Third, Encourage your child to have a variety of friends. Explain that it’s okay to have more than one friend and to have different kinds of friends. Your child may have a video game friend, a lunchroom friend and a friend who likes to climb trees. And there’s no reason to force someone to choose between friends. Instead, encourage your child to try to get along with the friends of his new friends. They might as well learn now that it’s unfair to expect our friends to only be friends with us.

Finally, my favorite way to teach your child about friendships is to let them watch you with your friends. Tell them the story of your friendships. Tell them how you became friends. Let them ask your friends questions about the type of friend you are. This models for your child the reward of building meaningful friendships.

One of the best gifts God gives us in life is a real friend. By helping your child learn how to be a friend, you are opening a world of joy and fellowship to them that will last a lifetime.

TIP: Choose a hashtag for your tweets and use it consistently. That will tell Twitter to store a list of your tweets on one place for later reference.

Tweet One: Friends are the flowers of life #Friends #urchurchparentministry

Tweet Two: To make friends you have to be a friend #Friends #urchurchparentministry

Tweet Three: Jesus is the best friend you’ve got #Friends #urchurchparentministry

Tweet Four: Teach your preschooler to make friends #Friends #urchurchparentministry

Tweet Five: Learning to be a friend is a process #Friends #urchurchparentministry

Tweet Six: A friend loves at all times #Friends #urchurchparentministry

Tweet Seven: First friends are important friends #Friends #urchurchparentministry

Tweet Eight:Friends share, care, and help #Friends #urchurchparentministry

Tweet Nine: Friends forgive and accept you as you are #Friends #urchurchparentministry