What is It?
This resource is designed to provide inspiration to parents on how they can make the most of their summertime with their child! We provide ideas for parents to use during the summer months to enjoy summertime as family time!
How do I use it?
This is a pdf so you can:
Copy/Paste the following email:
Subject Line: Raising Honest Kids, Part One
A Big Children’s Ministry Greeting-
We are back with our monthly dose of parenting goodness. Every month we try
to offer you a helpful, heaping spoonful of inspiration and challenge in the form of our Online Parenting Classes. These short 3-4 minutes videos are our way to say we love you and want to try to keep your parenting healthy and strong!
We have loved hearing your reactions and questions from these monthly little spiritual family vitamins! We have so enjoyed listening to your stories of how your family is taking some of the advice offered each month as a way to go deeper and get stronger as a family.
We know some of these topics are challenging, but they are the topics that
parents just like you around the country are asking to hear about. This month is no exception with the topic of “Raising Honest Kids!”
I know that is a challenge and frustration issue in many of your homes. I hope this small measure of truth and wisdom helps you this month!
https://vimeo.com/parentministry/review/331881109/261dd7f18a
Praying for you –
Children’s Pastor
Copy/Paste the following email:
Subject Line: Raising Honest Kids, Part 2
Hello Families & Friends of our Children’s Ministry
We are so excited to head into the spring and Easter time of the year around our
ministry. God is doing so many amazing things as we move toward the exciting
summer months.
I am writing you today to let you know we have another fresh Online
Parenting class to share with you for this month. Each month these have become
more and more popular. I know they have sparked some wonderful
conversations in your homes, and we are also seeing some great blessings as many
of you apply these hints to your home.
This month’s topic is again, a great one. It is titled “Raising Honest Kids”. You
know you are going to want to watch this one right away.
What do you think!? What outstanding hints and helps for your home! Truth is
such a hard thing to teach in our homes, isn’t it? We live in a world where half-
truths and outright lies are rewarded and complete honesty is looked at as naive.
It is hard to teach our kids the value of truth and the disappointment it is to others
when you are not completely honest.
As you sit down with your family this week and talk this over, I would suggest
reading over the Proverbs 11:3 verse again as a family. Have a time of discussion
of what everyone thinks that it means. Maybe even think of some real-life
examples of how someone was “ruined” because of their continued dishonesty.
There are certainly enough examples in history and even in current events/news
about dishonesty that has brought “ruined” lives, careers, and relationships.
I would love to hear from you and your family about how your discussion goes and
in what ways I can support you in those discussions.
In truth and honesty-
Children’s Pastor
Raising Honest Kids
Welcome to this months online parenting class! There is nothing more frustrating
than catching your kids in a pattern on lying. I promise it will make you want to pull your
hair out! This month we want to tackle the topic of honesty and how to raise honest
kids.
Honesty is a value, but honesty is not easy. Many times as a kid and as an adult
honesty is risky and costly. Honesty fuels trust in the long term but for a kid, it’s
momentarily easier to tell a lie. Raising honest kids begins with helping our kids
understand the tension between the benefit and difficulty of honesty. It never helps kids
when we hold honesty up as a standard without helping them navigate the tension of
choosing honesty.
The Scriptures say this about honesty…
Proverbs 11:3
The integrity of the honest keeps them on track; the deviousness of crooks brings them
to ruin.
Honesty keeps us on track where lies lead to trouble. It’s important that our kids know
we want them to live an honest life not just tell truth when we ask them if they brushed
their teeth. Telling the truth in small things leads to being truthful in big things…in life.
Here are a few tips to help you raise honest kids…
Challenge lies and reward and praise all honesty.
Don’t let little lies slip. Challenge your kids when you catch that they are not being truth
tellers. We know it’s easy to let those things go and hope kids get better, but honesty is
a learned habit. While you challenge lies make sure and praise honesty. If your child
admits to a lie, give grace; forgive, then course correct. Honesty should be rewarded.
Model honesty.
Kids need to see you be a truth teller. Work hard to show them what honesty looks like as you interact with your family. When you mess up, tell the truth and apologize. When you make commitments to other people follow through. When it would be easy to lie find a way to tell the truth in love. Model what you want from your kids.
Watch for bad influences.
Your kids’ friends have a deep influence on them. Your kid’s social media access also
has a big influence on them. Be present enough to know the people around your kids
and to be able to call out dishonest influences. When kids get around people who are
dishonest many times they pick up the habit. Keep a steady eye on who is influencing
your child.
To have kids of character lead them in that direction! Praying for you as you invest in
your child this month.
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: Raising honest kids begins with helping our kids understand the tension
between the benefit and difficulty of honesty. #honestkids #honestparenting #parenthelp #jesusmama #christiandad #parenting
Tweet Two: Truth in small things leads to being truthful in big things in the life of our
kids. Teach your kids honesty now while they are small, so they will begin honest lives. #honestpolicy #truthtraining #parenting #momlove #dadlove #raisingkids
Tweet Three: Honesty is a learned habit; so is dishonesty.Teach your kids the habit of
honest words and honorable actions. #honesty #truth #godlyparents #dadlife #momtruth
Tweet Four: Kids need to see their parents as truth tellers in life; otherwise, they will not
believe them in the most importance truths of God. #truth #truthtellers #truthfulparent #momtruth #dadtruth
Tweet Five: It is a parent’s role to call out untruth in the life of their child, whether it is
verbal, written, or digital. Don’t let dishonesty influence your child. #truth #lifestuff #watchfulmom #parenting #parentingtruth
Tweet Six: Kids of character are kids of truthful direction. Map a course of truth for the
road of life in your child. #truthroad #lifemap #kidtruth #character
What is It?
This is a fun, silly, APPROPRIATE game perfect to use around Mother’s Day, with or without your kids’ moms around.
It also is a great icebreaker to play with students on a parent night, with parents present, to break the ice of having parents there. It is a great way to get everyone to relax and laugh at themselves.
How do I use it?
This is a pdf so you can:
What is It?
Bob Van Baren is pretty special to us! He was the FIRST ever Parent Ministry member! He has created a mini-course on leadership, and we wanted to share it with you as a bonus Toolbox resource for April!
This course gives leadership training that is not found in seminaries or Bible schools. It equips leaders with the tools needed to succeed in ministry for the long-term and it can help decrease church staff turnover. It is designed for young, new, and volunteer ministry leaders. It is also perfect for training interns.
How do I use it?
John the Baptist philosophy – Empowering others
Partnering with Senior Leadership
How to Bring Change to Your Ministry
Copy/Paste the following email:
Subject Line: How to Help Your Kids & Teens Deal with Anxiety, Part One
Children’s Ministry Families:
We have all heard verses like I Peter 5:7, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He
cares for you.” Why then is there a growing epidemic of anxiety disorder growing
among children? It is, in fact, one of the fastest growing problems among young
children. Children younger and younger are dealing with anxiety. Maybe it is
even a problem in your own home with your children.
This month’s Online Parenting Class is taking on this tough topic, with some love
and grace. You do not want to miss this month’s quick video inspiration.
I hope you enjoy this video because it is definitely part of our heart and
prayers in our ministry. We love your children and having them as part of our
church. We love being able to open God’s words of hope and joy with them
every week.
You know, as well as we know, God does, in fact, care for your children. Anxiety is
an attack from the enemy to rob them of joy and confidence. You are in our
prayers as you consider the helpful advice in this video.
If you would like to sit down and talk more, let me know. I would also be more
than happy to connect you to one of the wonderful Christian professionals in our
area that could help your child and family with this difficult issue.
https://vimeo.com/parentministry/review/321571974/96aae2253e
In Him,
Children’s Pastor
Copy/Paste the following email:
Subject Line: How to Help Your Kids & Teens Deal with Anxiety, Part 2
Greeting Parents and Families:
According to a report just a few years ago, “80 percent of kids with a diagnosable
anxiety disorder and 60 percent of kids with diagnosable depression are not
getting treatment…” This month, with our Online Parenting Class, we are pulling
back the curtain on the issue of childhood anxiety. We want to make sure we as
a ministry are there with you, as we walk beside you, your child, and even other
families you know. Anxiety is a growing issue among young children, and we do
not want anyone to feel ashamed to let those around them know that this might be a
concern for their child.
Give us a couple minutes of your time to watch this month’s OPC.
Now that you have taken a couple minutes, or when you finally get a few
moments, we want to follow up with some sample questions to help guide your
discussion and conversations at home and with your kids.
Mom & Dad Conversation:
– Have I noticed anything different with our child recently?
– How are my child’s habits? Sleep? Eating? Relationships? Studying?
– Does my child smile, laugh and enjoy life?
– Has there been any recent situations or circumstances that may cause my
child to feel fear, nervousness, or worry?
Parent & Kid Conversation:
– Do you ever feel afraid or nervous about things?
– Have you ever felt like you were so upset by something you couldn’t
breathe?
– Do you ever wake up at night and think about scary things?
– Do you ever feel super sad for no reason?
As always, our staff is here for you and your family. If you are unsure of what is
going on with your child or how to deal with something that is going on, please do
not hesitate to call, email, or come by the office.
Grace and Peace in Your Hearts-
Children’s Pastor
How to Help Your Kids & Teens Deal with Anxiety
Welcome to this months online parenting class! This month we are going to process one
of the biggest issues we see facing our kids and teens. This month we are going to
tackle the issue of anxiety.
We hear from parents all the time that are walking their children through the battlefield
of anxiety. More and more kids are taking meds at an early age to confront these feeling
and emotions. The truth is anxiety is an issue that is not going away and many parents
feel stressed and alone when helping their children. We live in a different time than what
we experienced as children.
Our kids and teens have immediate access to all the world’s chaos on their phones.
Our kids hear all the time about all the opportunities they have in life and how they need
to work hard. Our kids are trapped by constant comparison because of the often
controlled, fake, happy lives we see on social media.
Things are different. How our kids cope with anxiety is going to be different. We can’t
answer all the questions about the issue but we can give you a few tips to guide you…
Allow them to voice anxiety and just listen.
So many times with anxiety there are fears underneath that need to be uncovered and
spoken out loud. It’s no help to explain anxiety away. It may not seem valid to you, but it
is very real to your son or daughter. Many times we just need to listen and allow them to
process what they are feeling. Ask questions and work to understand what is going on.
If your child or teen will not talk to you, then find a counselor that can help them begin
talking.
Speak the truth in a way that they can understand.
Anxiety is always rooted in some kind of manufactured fear of what could be or what
could go wrong. Confronting anxiety begins with leading kids and teens toward truth in a
way they can understand. Speaking truth in a way they can process may take many
conversations but it is worth the consistent dialogue. You can be a truth-teller for your
kids in a world full of lies they are tempted to embrace.
Encourage overcoming and facing what is causing anxiety.
Help your children and teens find ways to confront anxiety instead of hiding in fear.
Anxiety causes all of us to retreat from life because of the unknown. It’s important to
lead your children toward the brave steps of confronting what is causing them anxiety
so they can break free of it or at least understand it better.
Celebrate current victories over anxiety and remind them of past victories in the future.
When your children overcome their fears and the anxiety celebrate, but be ready to
remind them of that victory when the anxiety shifts. Anxiety is a moving target. Anxiety
changes shapes. Be ready to remind your children of their past victories!
We know this can be a difficult battle. Look for friends around you that you can talk to
about these issues and if you need to connect with a counselor for help, do it. We are
proud of you for being present for your kids and teens!
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: Our kids are trapped by constant comparison because of the often
controlled, fake, happy lives they see on social media. #reallove #parentlife
#worryfreekids #mom #dad #anxiety
Tweet Two: Confronting anxiety begins with leading kids and teens toward truth in a way they
can understand. #speaktruth #confrontworry #parentlife #momtruth #dadlife
Tweet Three: Celebrate current victories over anxiety and remind your children of past
victories to empower them in the future. #anxious4nothing #worryfree
#momcare #wisedad
Tweet Four: Anxiety is a moving target; smart parents aim their efforts ahead of it to
keep their kids worry free. #childhoodanxiety #worryfree #targetanxiety
#mother #father #familylife
Tweet Five: Don’t worry about anything, but rely on God because He cares for your
kids. #godcares #worryfree #anxiety #dontworry
Tweet Six: 80 percent of kids with a diagnosable anxiety disorder and 60 percent of
kids with diagnosable depression are not getting treatment. Find Help,
Don’t Wait! #childhoodanxiety #depression #worry #parenthelp
#familyhelp
What is It?
This toolbox resources is a guide to help parents connect with their child during the Easter season. It provides ideas for them to use that focus on building their relationship with their child and others by utilizing these helpful and easy to implement ideas.
How do I use it?
This is a pdf so you can:
Copy/Paste the following email:
Subject Line: Family Rules for Sleepovers, Part One
Hello Children’s Ministry Families:
Here is your monthly encouragement from our ministry to your home. We continue to seek to find ways to provide you with simple resources and quick helps. We know raising children is a blessing from God and a huge responsibility. That is why each month we love being able to offer you our “Online Parenting Class”. If you have not checked them out yet, they are a 4-5-minute nugget of truth and training. Just a perfect little bite-size amount of information to add to your parenting thoughts.
I hope you enjoy this month’s because we are tackling “sleepovers”. Yes, we went there! They are almost a right of a passage of childhood, your child having their very first sleepover. It might be the first night away from you, and even though it seems like something small, it can be a huge deal for you and your child. This month’s OPC gives you some helpful hints about having “Family Rules” for sleepovers.
I hope you feel a little more prepared for those conversations with your child about these fun childhood moments. If you haven’t thought it all through, I hope this video can get the conversation going in your home about what you expect.
If you have any questions or need additional help I am always available to talk through any concerns you might have about an upcoming sleepover. It is always our goal to support you and make you God’s hero in the life of your child.
https://vimeo.com/parentministry/review/280519252/afa55dbf1d
In Him,
Children’s Pastor
Copy/Paste the following email:
Subject Line: Family Rules for Sleepovers, Part 2
Greetings Families and Parents:
One of greatest concerns I hear from parents is for the safety of their child. We do live in a sometimes-dangerous world, and God has entrusted us with a huge responsibility of caring for our children. We want them to live by faith and not in fear. We do, however, need to find loving ways to keep them safe when they are away from us.
One of the first times away from us for a long period is during sleepovers. They are an exciting and fun time for our kids, especially that first invitation! We want to say “yes,” but there is a part of us that is saying “no.” What are we do, and how can we help prepare our kids for that first or next sleepover?
This month’s Online Parenting Class is here to help! It is all about “Family Rules for Sleepovers”.
You will find five great helpful hints to get you started on making rules for your family and jump-starting your conversations. Each one of these common-sense hints will give you guidance about how to think through the night and the expectations for the time, place, and people involved.
Give this month’s OPC a quick watch and get started on making those rules now. As always, let me know how I can help or if you have any questions about making your own set of “sleepover rules.”
Blessings –
Children’s Pastor
Family Rules for Sleepovers
One day your child runs into the house just off the school bus and is so excited about meeting a new friend at school. They hit it off so well and had a blast and they immediately ask if they can go over and spend the night! They are thrilled and we are terrified internally. Who is this new kid? Who are their parents? What should you say in the moment?
We have all been there. I remember the first moments of figuring out how to handle this request and realizing that this is not something I had really ever thought of before. Somehow sleepover rules never were a priority until the request finally came and they suddenly mattered immensely. This month we want to help you think about creating your own family rules for sleepovers.
When you think through sleepover you are really protecting your kids. You should never say yes to a sleepover situation that you don’t trust. This goes for a camp, retreat, or night away with one of their friends. You need to know where they are going and who will be there and what the rules are of the place your child is heading. When you allow your child to spend the night away you are trusting another adult to make sure your child is safe. You want to make sure your child has a good experience and it not exposed to an awkward or dangerous situation. I’m not trying to blow this out of proportion but when kids are away overnight they can encounter all kinds of situations that you would not approve of.
Let’s think through a few family rules you might want to consider…
• Don’t allow kids to spend the night anywhere you don’t know the other parents or adult leaders. // Before you allow kids to go away make sure you know who they are going with. This rules gives you time to check out folks on social media, set up a coffee meeting, or invite the family over for dinner. This gives you time to sense if you trust where they will be going.
• Make sure your kids know your boundaries. // Let your child know that your rules at home apply when they area away. This is important for what movies they watch or where they go. Be clear with what you expect.
• Make sure kids know rules about where to sleep. // Make sure your child knows to never sleep alone in another home that’s new. They should always be in the room with their friend. You never know what other kids might be at the other home or event.
• Ensure your child knows how to reach you. // If your child is away they have to know how to reach you. They need to know how to grab a phone and text or call you when they are away.
• Say no to any sleepover you don’t feel good about. // Leverage no in order to protect your child. You can have the other child over the play if you don’t feel good about an overnight. You can agree to pick them up before bedtime if they go to another house. Stand your ground when you sense something is off.
Avoid the panic of the next request for a sleepover and go ahead and create your own family sleepover rules!
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: Sleepover rules are never a priority until the request finally comes and they suddenly matter immensely. What are your family’s rules for sleepovers? #sleepover #rule #familyrules #parentingwin #familylife #children #mommy #daddy
Tweet Two: You should never say yes to a sleepover situation that you don’t trust. You have permission to say no or ask questions for the safety of your kids. #sleepover #rule #familyrules #parentingwin #familylife #children #momtrust #dadtrust
Tweet Three: Your child’s first sleepover must be a good experience and not exposing your child to an awkward or dangerous situation. Have rules. Ask questions. #sleepover #rule #familyrules #safefamily #momquestions #dadrules
Tweet Four: Sleepovers are a rite of passage and huge moment in the life of your child. Make sure they are safe, know the rules, and can get a hold of you if needed. #sleepover #rules #familylife #safefamily #momlife #dadlife #children
Tweet Five: Should my children have a sleepover at a non-Christian’s house? A helpful perspective https://markdriscoll.org/should-we-let-our-kids-stay-with-non-christians-to-evangelize-them/
What is It?
This resources is ten video clips and discussion questions to use at an upcoming parent meeting. Use them throughout the year whenever you’re meeting with parents.
How do I use it?
This is in pdf format so you can:
What is It?
The car is a great place for parents to connect with their children. This resources was created to provide parents with conversation ideas for when they’re driving in the car with their kids!
How do I use it?
This is in pdf format so you can:
Copy/Paste the following email:
Subject Line: Leveraging the Dinner Table, Part One
Happy New Year Parents!
It is a time of new beginnings and fresh starts. Every year around this time we make some promises and resolutions for ourselves personally. Why not make a resolution as a family? The challenge for this new year is to have dinner together as a family on a regular basis every single week!
Family dinners can be a powerful time for your family to connect and discuss, if you are willing to leverage those moments. Check out this month’s Online Parenting Class for some helpful ideas.
The Bible speaks often about food and meals. There is something that is spiritually significant about meals. Think about it for a moment. Christ referred to Himself as the “Bread of Life” (John 6). The way He asked His disciples and us to remember Him was around a meal (Matt. 2). Even when we look to the future and eternity, we will be celebrating at a meal, the “Wedding Supper of the Lamb” (Rev. 19).
Meals are powerful moments for your family. Do not miss out on those moments and the power they can provide this new year.
https://vimeo.com/parentministry/review/280518371/2f0a847073
In Him,
Children’s Pastor
Copy/Paste the following email:
Subject Line: Leveraging the Dinner Table, Part 2
Hello Moms, Dads, and Families:
I am excited to share with you another great Online Parenting Class for our month! This month’s OPC is all about the power of meals together as a family. It explains how to make the most of those times when you are together around a table talking face to face.
Your family routine and schedule may not allow this to be a nightly occurrence, but it is important to plan to gather everyone at home around a table to have a meal together.
Hope you enjoy a meal together this week!
Blessings –
Children’s Pastor
Leveraging the Dinner Table
This month we want to talk about dinner! Not cooking dinner but rather leveraging dinner as a place of connection for our families. Growing up many of us remember family dinners as an almost daily part of family life. Each night we slowed down and gathered around a table together. What we all ate at dinner was different from family to family but the common bond was being together. Some of us loved it, some survived, and some of us never want to go back because we would have to eat our broccoli!
What happened when our family gathered together each day was that we actually had conversations. We shared what happened that day. We told stories. We picked on each other. We actually connected and it was normal.
Many of us miss this rhythm in our current family routine. We rush out the door in the morning to school. We eat lunch at work or school. With all the different events we have to attend after school, we often eat dinner at different times. What we miss with this modern schedule is that we miss time to connect. One of the best times to connect with our families is over a meal.
I’m not talking about dinner out. That’s full of distractions. I am talking about a regular rhythm of a meal at home where you can actually slow down and connect. You don’t have to be a great cook since we are blessed with glorious take out options. You also don’t have to make it happen every night. We are taking about several nights a week where we protect our schedule and plan time to sit around the table to share a meal. Here are a few ways we can leverage dinner as a family each week…
• Link dinner with something else that brings connection. // Dinner and a family show you watch together. Dinner and a board game. Dinner and ______! You can connect dinner nights with something else fun.
• Have a question each meal. // Leverage a question that everyone around the table can answer. As your kids get older questions change but intentional questions spark connection.
• Have a quick family devotional and time of prayer. // Have someone in the family share a thought from the Bible and then pray together as a family. Your church provides tools that can help.
• Let kids plan the meal once a week. // Get kids involved in cooking or planning the meal. It’s just fun and making it fun will make it stick as a family.
• Embrace dinner nights as a priority. // Schedule your week so this time becomes a priority meaning you say no to other things that might break the tradition. You will never regret making these memories.
This month give this a shot and see how your family comes 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: Join the movement, Family Meals Matter! https://www.fmi.org/family-meals-month/meals-matter #familymeals #family #parenting #dadlife #momlife #godlyparenting #eattogether
Tweet Two: Have a family meal around a table in chairs facing each other, Human community happens in circles! #familymeals #dinnerdad #mealswithmom #parenting #dinnertable
Tweet Three: When a family gathers around a table, there are opportunities to have conversations! #familydinner #suppertime #sitandshare #parenting #fam #familyandfood
Tweet Four: Take several nights a week to protect your schedule and plan time to sit around the table with your family to share a meal. #dinnertime #mealtime #familyfood #parenting #tabletalk #mom #dad
