FamJam This Sunday at 11:00am

With all the positive response from the pilot FamJam back in January, I'm excited to see what God will do with this one. I've had positive feedback from some that were at the first one and how much they enjoyed the presentation as well as the Family Time Package. I've also had some who missed the first one who I guess have spoken to those that were there who have said they're looking forward to coming on Sunday.

This month's virtue is "Conviction - standing for what is right even when others don't."

Taking it Home grades 3-4

Last Sunday I had the privilege of meeting with the parents of our grade 3s and 4s. (Teacher) Tessie shared with the parents some of the things the kids have been learning recently.

We talked about turning ORANGE ! orange is made by putting red and yellow together. We shared that yellow represents the light of the body of Christ as meet together as church, and red represents the warmth of home. Together we can do more than if work separately.

Parents were reminded that we're on their team - so to use us, to dial us in to their children's lives.

The parents with Tessie went onto plan a picnic for their group. Should be fun! I'm looking forward to joining up with them.

We told a story that highlighted using the Bible well - "George and the Umbrella" - reinforcing with a craft and of course we gave a resource. gave the kids a brand new Hermie Bible

Taking it home - grades 1-2

I really enjoyed sitting down with the parents of grade 1 and 2 children. We gave out a great resource. A beach ball - not a regular beach ball - but a beach ball that parents could use with their children to help reinforce either the memory verse or Bible Story that the kids had had in KIDSZONE Sunday.
The ball has questions on it relating to either the story or memory verse. The parents and kids would throw the ball between each other. Wherever the person's right thumb touched the ball when it was caught that's the question the ball holder would answer about the question.

Some parents missed out so we'll probably run another "Taking it Home" special for them at a later date.

"Taking it Home" for grades 3-4 is scheduled for May 20 and grades 5-6 on May 27.

What to do ?

Barna suggests there are two knee-jerk reactions - one is to deny the statistics are really that bad - we're all good at denial aren't we ? And the other is to push the problem onto others - Government, schools or maybe even churches.

He concludes that neither of those reflect effective parenting. He points to "Revolutionary Parenting" and goes on to discuss this in his book.

In the meantime KIDSZONE will continue to partner with parents to help Enable and Equip them to raise Spiritual Champions.

As mentioned below following on from FEAST (Families Eating And Sharing Together) we're enabling and equipping parents through "Taking it Home sessions" where parents come to their child's KIDSZONE class on Sunday morning - to meet their KIDSZONE team (KIDSZONE teacher and Pastor), receive and "practice" with a resource that KIDSZONE will give to them as well as working on a related craft together.
If you have any questions Pastor Dave will be more than willing to talk with you.

Taking it Home

One half of our passion is to make the time your child spends at KIDSZONE Sunday the best time of their week, the other half of our passion is to partner with you parents to help you in your already amazing efforts to raise Spiritual Champions.

We continue to do that as we launch Taking it home - where parents are asked to come to their children's class on Sunday mornings

“Taking it Home” Sundays

April 29 grades 1-2
May 20 grades 3-4
May 27 grades 5-6

Please plan to come with your child, we're going to give you a chance to talk with your child's teacher, make a craft together, "practice" with a resource that we want to give to your family.

So plan to join us for this important Sunday

Barna Speaks

For those who don't know who George Barna is - He has dedicated his life for the last couple of decades of researching faith-development and its contributions and detractors. He's been issuing wake up calls for the last few years to the church in particular to parents of kids and youth as well as church leaders.
He's just hesitatingly published another book to add to all those out there already. he feels it's necessary because there none that address the whole picture.
He distinguishes three different models of parenting. The first is "parenting by default" - just letting society and culture dictate how we raise our children. The second is "experimental parenting" - where we raise children on a trial and error basis - learning on the go.
The third approach he suggests is one of "Revolutionary Parenting." where God's Word provides the basis for how we raise our children.
His book is big challenge to me and I'm going to share some of my reflections as a parent and children's pastor as I process and learn from his book.
If you'd like to sample his book you can find the first chapter here. as a pdf file.

Children doing devotions by themselves !

Another parent came up to me recently and told me that their son gets his 60 day wonder devotional book 2 out and reads it by himself without being asked. This is not the first parent to have told me this.

This Sunday we gave out this devotional - if you didn't get a copy for your children come see me I still have a few left. We're rewarding the kids who bring the books completed and each page signed by parents to confirm that they did it. Don't worry about missing the odd day or playing 'catch up" keep going until the 60 days are done then return it and your child will receive 100 KIDSZONE dollars.

Tim Kimmel Coming to GTA

Do you want to know how to be a better parent ? I do I'm excited that the auther of Grace-based Parenting is coming to the GTA. If you're interested in going let me know and we'll be book together and get the group rate and maybe organise or coordinate transport. Our friends at Focus on the family have arranged for him to tour Canada adn he's coming to Carruthers Creek CHurch , Ajax on Sunday April 29 7pm. SO put it in your agendas - you won't want to miss this opportunity !

Another resource for you to help build Spiritual Champions

The Focus on the Family book club brochures will be handed out this week. Check them out for some great books for your children. Order deadline is short - that is Sunday Feb 18. There's a bonus for your children too - if you order more than one book they'll receive 50 KIDSZONE dollars to spend in the KIDSZONE store.

Sports and Kids

Christy over on Counting the days til Sunday highlights sports ministry as a place for us to learn from. As I coached Clayton's, my 8yr old son's, soccer team this summer I reflected on this as well. I didn't fully get the parent buy-in thing - but looking back there were parents there that made sure their kids were there and encouraged the kids. You could even tell the kids that had had practice at home during the week.

Of all the resources and opportunities that we've offered parents this year - the one that gets the most positive feedback was the 60-day Devotional - which the parents and kids are doing together. So it does seem that we have had some buy-in for that.

I'm glad becasue since we only see the kids for about 40 hours a year and the parents have so much more time - if we can help the parents use their time more regularly with their children to build spiritual champions - we all still win even if they don't buy into KIDSZONE and/or parent activities as much as they could.

So we want buy-in from the parents to KIDSZONE activities but the best buy-in is parents building spiritual champions at home.

Focus on the Family Book Club

KIDSZONE is pleased to offer the Focus on the Family book club. Pick up your brochure from the table in the lobby.

The Book Club offers you a chance to buy books that support a christian worldview and help the kids develop their own.
These books can make great gifts for your children, nephews, nieces, grandchildren.

Parenting - a heart thing

Parenting is a heart/relational thing, we have to address the heart as NCBP people say below - we need to take opportunities to minister to our kids hearts:-

From this week's Family Builders eNewsletter

Parenting Tip - Don't Miss Opportunities
NOTE: This parenting tip is from Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller of the National Center for Biblical Parenting and used with permission. Free Email Parenting Tips are available from this organization.

Every day parents have opportunities to touch the hearts of their children. Sometimes it's through a story or a hug, or an apology, but often it's through the daily correction that children need. Addressing the heart is important. Unfortunately some parents respond to their children in ways that miss the heart. One of the mistakes parents make is that they excuse their children. We've all heard them.
He'll grow out of it.
She's so cute.
At least she's doing what I asked.
He's tired. He's just going through a stage.
She's better than other kids her age.
That's the way kids are.
She's a teenager.
He's a two-year-old.
He's a boy.
She could be a lot worse.
Each of these is an excuse for not disciplining and often represents a missed opportunity to teach or direct a child on a deeper level. Remember, we aren't just trying to help children change on the outside to develop nice, neat behavior. We're trying to help them change their hearts.
Each of these statements have truths behind them. Because of these facts, we may choose to discipline a little differently, postpone a consequence, or redirect children. There's nothing wrong with that, but we must be careful not to ignore heart issues in the process. Look for ways to challenge your children on a heart level this week. You'll be surprised at how many opportunities are out there.

Educating our kids ?

I came across this poem (click on title to see poem in word document) on Pastor Karl's website - it really helps to focus our thoughts on our priorities for our kids both as a parent and as children/family pastor. We "encourage" our kids to be all that they can be in school/sports. Do we give the same priority to their spiritual lives ? Food for me to chew on ...