November
November is a month where we focus on giving thanks. It is a wonderful time to share with family and to prepare for the Advent season.
Fun Food
Check back soon for a fun food.
Incentive Chart
Use this incentive chart to track progress towards a goal. You can use it for anything you like.
1. Decide on a goal. What do you want your child to work on? Reading books? Sharing with others? Potty training? Memorizing Scriptures? Pick one specific thing you want to see improved.
2. Decide how you want to fill in the squares on the chart. You can laminate the chart or put it in a protective sleeve if you want to be able to wipe it off and use it again. You can use stamps, stickers, check marks, or any other "marker" you want to use.
3. Determine a reward. What motivates your child? Candy? Time on an electronic device? Time for crafts? Whatever your child loves to do the most will be a great incentive. Pick a reward that is affordable and won't be unhealthy (like a couple candies instead of a whole pack).
4. Determine how frequently the reward will be given. Is the reward given when one row is finished? Or when the whole page is complete? Print out the chart. Use brightly colored paper if desired.
5. Explain the new plan to your child. For example, "Mark, look at this fun page. You know I have been talking with you about reading more books. This month, whenever you read a new book by yourself, you can put a sticker in the square. When each row is full, we can go to the library and get new books. When the entire page is full, we can go to Half Price Books (discount book store) and pick out a new book for your personal library." This is just an example and would only be motivating to a child who likes to read but isn't really into it during the summer, or some similar situation.
6. Let your child color and decorate the incentive chart.
7. Post it in a convenient location with the markers/stickers/stamps nearby.
8. Be consistent and have fun!
1. Decide on a goal. What do you want your child to work on? Reading books? Sharing with others? Potty training? Memorizing Scriptures? Pick one specific thing you want to see improved.
2. Decide how you want to fill in the squares on the chart. You can laminate the chart or put it in a protective sleeve if you want to be able to wipe it off and use it again. You can use stamps, stickers, check marks, or any other "marker" you want to use.
3. Determine a reward. What motivates your child? Candy? Time on an electronic device? Time for crafts? Whatever your child loves to do the most will be a great incentive. Pick a reward that is affordable and won't be unhealthy (like a couple candies instead of a whole pack).
4. Determine how frequently the reward will be given. Is the reward given when one row is finished? Or when the whole page is complete? Print out the chart. Use brightly colored paper if desired.
5. Explain the new plan to your child. For example, "Mark, look at this fun page. You know I have been talking with you about reading more books. This month, whenever you read a new book by yourself, you can put a sticker in the square. When each row is full, we can go to the library and get new books. When the entire page is full, we can go to Half Price Books (discount book store) and pick out a new book for your personal library." This is just an example and would only be motivating to a child who likes to read but isn't really into it during the summer, or some similar situation.
6. Let your child color and decorate the incentive chart.
7. Post it in a convenient location with the markers/stickers/stamps nearby.
8. Be consistent and have fun!
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Thankful Tree
November can be very busy, so here is a quick daily way to help focus on God's blessings.
1. Get some tree twigs and put them in a vase or bucket.
2. Die-cut some leaves from brown, orange, yellow, and red paper. Or use the file below, print the leaves on different colors of paper, and cut them out.
3. Punch a hole in each leaf.
4. Have string, scissors, and a marker handy.
5. Each day, have each child write (or write for them) one thing he or she is thankful for in general or specifically about that day on one leaf. Be sure to add at least one thing each day. There is always something for which we can be thankful.
6. Tie the leaf onto a twig.
7. Even as your continue to add leaves, display your Thankful Tree somewhere that it can easily be seen. Let your children tell visitors about their Thankful Tree when people stop by during the month.
1. Get some tree twigs and put them in a vase or bucket.
2. Die-cut some leaves from brown, orange, yellow, and red paper. Or use the file below, print the leaves on different colors of paper, and cut them out.
3. Punch a hole in each leaf.
4. Have string, scissors, and a marker handy.
5. Each day, have each child write (or write for them) one thing he or she is thankful for in general or specifically about that day on one leaf. Be sure to add at least one thing each day. There is always something for which we can be thankful.
6. Tie the leaf onto a twig.
7. Even as your continue to add leaves, display your Thankful Tree somewhere that it can easily be seen. Let your children tell visitors about their Thankful Tree when people stop by during the month.
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When You Walk By The Way...
Deuteronomy 6 tells us teach our children to fear the Lord, to keep His commands, and to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, and mind. Every day we should look for opportunities to point our children to God. This month can be a great time to focus on God's love and goodness.
You might have lots of candy left over from last month or you might make a lot of sweets around Thanksgiving. When your children ask for candy or a special treat, have them say a memory verse as a password to unlock the sweets.
1. Put your candy or treats in a special jar or basket that can only be opened when the special verse is said.
2. Print out the verse cards below. Start with 1 verse. Tell your children the verse and that it is the password that unlocks the treats. Practice saying the verse with your children throughout the day.
3. The next time someone wants a sweet treat, ask for the password. If it can be said, great! The treat container is opened and the person gets a treat. If the password cannot be said, then no treat...but he or she can try again later.
*If it is almost dinner time, your child has not been making choices that please God, or you wouldn't give them a treat at this particular time for some reason, this activity does not apply. Simply tell your children this isn't time for a treat and when the right time is to try the password.
4. After one verse has been memorized well, the second verse becomes the password. Be sure to stick with one verse until it has been well learned.
*We like this activity at our house. We use it all year long. During the year, the password is ever-changing to a verse we have learned in the past. You want a cookie? What is Romans 3:23? You want a mint? What is 1 John 4:7-8? This helps us keep the verses in our hearts and in our long-term memory.
You might have lots of candy left over from last month or you might make a lot of sweets around Thanksgiving. When your children ask for candy or a special treat, have them say a memory verse as a password to unlock the sweets.
1. Put your candy or treats in a special jar or basket that can only be opened when the special verse is said.
2. Print out the verse cards below. Start with 1 verse. Tell your children the verse and that it is the password that unlocks the treats. Practice saying the verse with your children throughout the day.
3. The next time someone wants a sweet treat, ask for the password. If it can be said, great! The treat container is opened and the person gets a treat. If the password cannot be said, then no treat...but he or she can try again later.
*If it is almost dinner time, your child has not been making choices that please God, or you wouldn't give them a treat at this particular time for some reason, this activity does not apply. Simply tell your children this isn't time for a treat and when the right time is to try the password.
4. After one verse has been memorized well, the second verse becomes the password. Be sure to stick with one verse until it has been well learned.
*We like this activity at our house. We use it all year long. During the year, the password is ever-changing to a verse we have learned in the past. You want a cookie? What is Romans 3:23? You want a mint? What is 1 John 4:7-8? This helps us keep the verses in our hearts and in our long-term memory.
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