"The Perfect Gift for Your Young Child" by Bruce & Stan PART 2

Teach your children 

to choose the right path,

and then they are older,

they will remain upon it.

-Proverbs 22:6

Yesterday's blog  shared about the perfect gift for your young child.
Here we continue from the devotional "God is in the Small Stuff" by Bruce & Stan. 

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...IN THE SMALL STUFF

-Teach your children to do more than they are asked to do.

-Help your child to discover his or her God-given abilities - then develop them.

-Speak with your children, not at them.

-Sit with your children, not on them.

-Teach your children by your words(make sure they are kind), by your actions (make sure they are wholesome), and by your temperament (make sure it is controlled).

-True education must begin by instilling honesty in your children.

-Teach your kids responsibility early.

-Let your kids help you plan your next vacation.

-When you talk to your children, get to their level and look them in the eye.

-Hug your kids.

-Take your kids out for ice cream after they've performed in sports, drama, or music, especially if they didn't do very well. 

-Attend every open house at your children's schools.

-Don't miss the "first" in your child's life: the first word spoken, the first steps taken, the first day of school, the first graduation, the first game won, the first game loss, the first heartbreak, the first big success. 

-Kiss your kids good-night every evening, even if it wakes them up. 

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How has the Lord spoken to your heart today?

What area of your life needs changing to better enjoy your kids in your season of life?

ps. If you enjoyed this excerpt from "God is in the Small Stuff" by Bruce and Stan, I would highly recommend picking up their small devotional with great insight and encouragement on tons of subjects.

Chores Can Teach Kids Much

Our family has started to incorporate some routines and chores for our kids as of late. It has been super helpful and really given us a sense of community as a family and allowed us to get more organized as well. Here are a few lessons God has weaved throughout this process for us:

 Having Chores Teaches Many Things:
                  Responsibility
                  Structure- following a routine
                  Contributing to the Family
                  Builds Confidence
                  Good Work Ethic
                  Importance of Organization & Cleanliness
                  Gives Sense of Order = Less Anxiety

Start Small & Attainable 
1) Find three things your kids can succeed 
    at and need to do. (ex. make bed, brush teeth, get dressed)
2) Create and print out a check list for each child for the week.
3) Reward kids when they achieve their goal.
4) Increase the amount of chores by one each week. 
5) Verbally praise your kids as they are diligent. 
   *This is especially good for those kiddos that struggle.
6) Don't give up even on those days that don't go so smoothly!

Incorporate Biblical Truths Into the "Why" We Do Chores
1) Find scripture to support the importance of diligence, responsibility, ect.
2) Memorize, as a family, those truths for later reference :)
3) Post God's Word up as reminders to all.

Have you started doing chores with your kiddos too? Any helpful hints? Leave them in the comment section below.

Change Up Your Routine

My husband was invited to go fishing with some friends last night. This caused our nightly routine to be changed up a little. We decided to do something fun after dinner instead of going straight for the bath, so the boys wouldn't miss their night time with daddy. We went outside in front of our house and "played ball."

How refreshing it was to get outside and have some fun together as a family. Each Monday we have our family day where we go to a park or beach and spend quality time outdoors together, but not normally during the week. It was great. It allowed us to converse with neighbors, have fun, and be refreshed by the outdoors.  Making memories my children will look back on and incorporate into their own families.

My husband and I both agreed we need to get outside with the kids nightly instead of just weekly. We had so much fun. All from a change in our normal routine. It also allowed me to watch my son, who has been struggling tons lately, have fun learning a new game. It blessed me to see the kids laughing, smiling, and having fun.

Have you gotten out and had some fun with your kids lately?

Change up your routine today and include something fun!

If you have a struggling child, find an activity they can succeed at and allow them to have fun.