The Gospel Project is a new kids church curriculum I’m looking into. Looks sound as well as creative in approach.
The Gospel Project (Curriculum)
21 02 2012Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: curriculum, Gospel, gospel project, kids
Categories : Children's Ministry, Teacher/Leader Resources
bullying {resources} | Lemon Lime Kids
16 02 2012bullying {resources} | Lemon Lime Kids.
A solid link from my friend Amy Dolan for parents and children’s ministry volunteers who want to help their children with bullies. Also from Amy is a an interesting perspective on bystanders in the bullying scene.
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Categories : Children's Ministry
Three Factors that Shape A Child’s Life
3 02 2012
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How a child develops is a complex wonder. There are so many variables like family history, environment, peers, location and more that play a special role in the formation of a child. Here are three factors you can zone in on and leverage as you train up children to be fantastic citizens and faithful followers of Jesus.
Motor Development
I was intrigued recently with the motor development section of Laura Berk’s book entitled, Development Across the Lifespan, as I am running a games event at my church over March break. It’s been a memorable event that uses a lot of gross-motor skills along with some fine-motor. A few quotes caught my attention:
“[Games with rules]…contribute greatly to emotional and social development.” (296)
“[Child invented games]…permit children to try out different styles of cooperating, competing, winning and losing with little personal risk.” (296)
“…these experiences help children construct more mature concepts of fairness and justice.” (296)
There seems to be a bit of a debate over competition and cooperation in games. I’ve particularly noticed two different approaches from the camps of Group Publishing (Thom and Joani Schultz) and Roger Fields (of Kidz Blitz). On one side, there seem to be the people that avoid competition saying it can hurt self-esteem or cause hurt feelings or create the undesirable feel of winners and losers. On the other side, I find people who would say competition is helpful for building up confidence and that positive attitudes and character development can be learned whether a winner or a loser. I would tend to lean towards a good mix of both. I think a child should not be crushed emotionally because they lost a game, but also that they ought to be taught how to handle difficulties with a right attitude. I also find the connection to justice very intriguing as it seems the evangelical world is talking a lot about social justice these days. I’m feeling some teaching points coming on for the games event! And not only that, but giving kids opportunities to use their bodies promotes healthy living.
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Tags: kids, training, faith, justice, relationships, salvation, development, formation, motor skills, Laura Berk, Catherine Stonehouse, cooperation, competition, winners and losers
Categories : Children's Ministry, Parenting, Teacher/Leader Resources
6 Ways to Foster Early Language Development
21 01 2012
The following is from Development Through the Lifespan, by Laura E. Berk.
- Respond to coos and babbles with speech sounds and words.
- Establish joint attention and comment on what child sees.
- Play social games, such as pat-a-cake and peekaboo.
- Engage toddlers in joint make-believe play.
- Engage toddlers in frequent conversations.
- Read to toddlers often, engaging them in dialogue about picture books.
Put these into practice and your child will develop their language skills well. They will experiment “with sounds that can later be blended into first words.” They will learn turn-taking for conversation. Their vocabulary will develop faster. They will grow in their conversation ability, develop language earlier and likely enable greater academic success later. Reading “provides exposure to many aspects of language, including vocabulary, grammar, communication skills, and information about written symbols and story structure.”
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Tags: books, conversation, development, development through the lifespan, infants, kids, language, Laura E. Berk, reading, toddlers
Categories : Children's Ministry, Family, Parenting, Teacher/Leader Resources
Human Trafficking Awareness Day
11 01 2012
Human Trafficking is a worldwide problem. Canada is not exempt and neither is my home town of Sarnia, ON. Take a moment to pray for these children and young women who are being forced into prostitution and other forms of slavery right under our noses. Click the link for more information specifically for the Sarnia Lambton area.
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Tags: prostitution, slavery, trafficking
Categories : Children's Ministry, Family
3 Quick Wins for Kids’ Ministry | The Resurgence
10 01 2012
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Tags: Chrissie Wright, kids, ministry, teaching
Categories : Children's Ministry, Teacher/Leader Resources
Doctrine for Kids Debuts This Sunday! | Pastor Mark
7 01 2012
Doctrine for Kids Debuts This Sunday! | Pastor Mark.
Gonna have to keep my eye on this. Looks real good. Check out the cool track on their site.
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Tags: curriculum, doctrine, kids, mark driscoll, mars hill
Categories : Children's Ministry, Teacher/Leader Resources
How Everyday Moms and Dads Influence the Future
22 12 2011
For one of my classes in seminary I wrote a paper inspired by the Biblical passage in Exodus 20:5-6 and repeated in Deuteronomy 5:9-10, which says,
…I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
I asked myself the question, being a dad of three young children, “How does what I do affect my kids and their future kids down through the generations?” So for all dads and moms, the questions that arise from this passage are extremely urgent. If how I brush my teeth affects future generations, how much more so will the way I treat my wife, work at my job and love my God! And if there is an affect, what kind of affect is it? How severe is it? How lasting? Then also, how important is it that I make very intentional decisions right now about how I live my life and raise my kids, because it will dramatically alter the course of history!? Our sin does have profound penalties on future generations, but do not be crushed by this thought. Rather, relish in the wonderful reward for those who love God: steadfast, unbreaking and forever love in everlasting covenant friendship with God!
If you’re up for it I challenge you to read the research paper I put together in the attached pdf. Doing so may shakeup the course of your life and future family history in incredible ways! While it will require some serious thought, the process will deepen your commitment to God and your family’s future legacy.
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Tags: children, collective retribution, consequences, dads, decalogue, generation, generational curse, generational sin, God, history, legacy, moms, sin, steadfast love
Categories : Children's Ministry, Christian Life, Family, Parenting
A Philosophy of Children’s and Family Ministry (Part 2)
15 12 2011(For part 1 click here.)
Challenges
Of course there are many challenges when it comes to ministry with children and families. As mentioned in the rationale, people have sinned and are separated from God and therefore, need that relationship repaired. So sin is the number one challenge. Leaders, parents, extended families and children are tempted to go after the pleasures of this world while forsaking the eternal pleasures in the next world. This leaves the whole world and our local communities in one large mess. To attempt to minister to children and families and not prioritize countering this human problem is folly.
So I believe one of the greatest truths we can teach our families is repentance. The Bible, over and over, calls people to turn from their sin, back to their Creator. Children are no exception. In fact, if this habit of repentance can be instilled from infancy, it will take hold as a pattern for their life that will lead them to finding hope in God, to fostering healthy relationships, to establishing strong life skills and give them peace for their souls.
Another challenge is to be aware of each child holistically. Dr. Wess Stafford proposes a solid model for this. His perspective is from that of moving children out of extreme poverty, however, it is relevant for all children as well. We cannot be satisfied to only attend to one aspect of a family’s life. We must consider the whole person including economics, health, social, spiritual, learning as well as environment. To do this well we need to know a child’s story, become familiar with their history, their family, their location and their interests. This is critical for positive ministry. This is massive and one leader can’t possibly know all these things or be able to minister in all these areas. Therefore leadership training is essential.
Stafford gives his solution to the challenge of children in poverty. He writes, “I still say that the most loving and strategic thing that can be done for children in poverty is to bring them to their heavenly Father.” That this is true for all children is clear.
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Tags: challenges, children's pastor, church, kids, ministry, roles, volunteers
Categories : Children's Ministry, Family, Teacher/Leader Resources
