September
September is the beginning of fall and a new academic semester is in full swing. It is a great time to regroup and get in a routine that will take you through the fall and coming holidays with joy and peace.
Fun Food
Apple Nachos
Apples are often associated with teachers and learning. They are nutritious and can be a delicious snack, especially when you make apple nachos.
Ingredients:
apples
creamy peanut butter stirred and put into a squeeze container (like an old mustard bottle)
mini chocolate chips
1. Slice apples into thin slices. Lay them out on a plate so they do not overlap.
2. Squeeze the peanut butter over the apples. Use as much as you like, but use enough to make the next step possible.
3. Sprinkle some mini-chocolate chips around on the nachos. The peanut butter will make the chips stick.
4. Enjoy!
Modification:
Squeeze chocolate or caramel syrup and sprinkle mini-marshmallows on the apples for a delicious dessert, although it is a much less healthy snack.
Apples are often associated with teachers and learning. They are nutritious and can be a delicious snack, especially when you make apple nachos.
Ingredients:
apples
creamy peanut butter stirred and put into a squeeze container (like an old mustard bottle)
mini chocolate chips
1. Slice apples into thin slices. Lay them out on a plate so they do not overlap.
2. Squeeze the peanut butter over the apples. Use as much as you like, but use enough to make the next step possible.
3. Sprinkle some mini-chocolate chips around on the nachos. The peanut butter will make the chips stick.
4. Enjoy!
Modification:
Squeeze chocolate or caramel syrup and sprinkle mini-marshmallows on the apples for a delicious dessert, although it is a much less healthy snack.
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!
|
Get Organized
The coming months can get hectic. It can be helpful to take time now to organize a few things. Here are a couple of ideas.
Kid Snack: Reorganize parts of your pantry and refrigerator to make them user-friendly for kids. Put items of similar nutritional value in baskets. Put them in a place that is accessible to your kids. When it is time to make a lunch or grab a snack, your kids can select from the designated baskets. For example, put cheese crackers, regular crackers, and snack mixes all in one basket. Put cookies and candies in a different basket. Put applesauce, fruit cups, and veggie sticks in a basket in the fridge. Put yogurt and cheese slices/sticks in a different basket in the fridge. When it is time to pack a lunch, children can pick one item from every basket. Or when it is time for a snack you can say which basket from which to choose.
Art/Craft Supplies: Buy a peg board like the ones used in garages. Spray paint it. Use baseboards to make a frame for it if desired. Hang the board in a place that is accessible to your children. Put peg board baskets and hanging file baskets on the board in a configuration that meets your needs. Now your children can keep materials organized and can use them without needing your help.
Kid Snack: Reorganize parts of your pantry and refrigerator to make them user-friendly for kids. Put items of similar nutritional value in baskets. Put them in a place that is accessible to your kids. When it is time to make a lunch or grab a snack, your kids can select from the designated baskets. For example, put cheese crackers, regular crackers, and snack mixes all in one basket. Put cookies and candies in a different basket. Put applesauce, fruit cups, and veggie sticks in a basket in the fridge. Put yogurt and cheese slices/sticks in a different basket in the fridge. When it is time to pack a lunch, children can pick one item from every basket. Or when it is time for a snack you can say which basket from which to choose.
Art/Craft Supplies: Buy a peg board like the ones used in garages. Spray paint it. Use baseboards to make a frame for it if desired. Hang the board in a place that is accessible to your children. Put peg board baskets and hanging file baskets on the board in a configuration that meets your needs. Now your children can keep materials organized and can use them without needing your help.
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 get a devotional time in your daily routine.
1. Pick a time when you are with your children every day. This might be breakfast, dinner, right after school, before bed, or some other time when you are consistently with your children.
2. Get a devotional book that is appropriate for the developmental age of your children. Whatever book you choose, make sure it is a passage of Scripture with questions or an activity that relates to the Scripture. You always want to base your devotions on the actual Word of God.
3. Tell your children that from now on every day when (the time you chose; such as, when you eat breakfast), you are going to lead the family in a devotional time.
4. Read the Scripture. Talk about it. If the devotional has questions, discuss them. If you have children of various ages, you can modify the questions to make them harder for your more mature children and easier for your younger children.
5. You can close the devotional time in prayer, asking God to help you apply what you just learned. Extension: Devotional time can be as simple as reading the Bible, talking about it, and praying. If you want to do more, you can include an activity. Many devotional books have ideas for applying the lesson. If you have time to do an activity, that is great. But if not, do not worry. It is more important to spend time reading and thinking about the Scriptures than to not do it at all because you can't spend a long time on it.
*Our lives are always busy, but they can't be too busy for God. It is important to teach our children that we always make time to spend time with God. He is the most important person in our lives. Spending time with Him is a priority. If something messes up your schedule for the day and you can't do your devotional, try to do it the next chance you get. Or, if can't do it any other time, talk about it in the car on the way to school or practice. Don't let a day go by that you don't read the Bible and talk about God's Word with your children.
For small children, I recommend The Read and Share Devotional. It has an introduction, two short pages of Scriptures, and then a page with questions, an application activity, and a prayer. It can be done quickly if you are pressed for time, or you can spend a long time discussing the passage and doing the activity.
1. Pick a time when you are with your children every day. This might be breakfast, dinner, right after school, before bed, or some other time when you are consistently with your children.
2. Get a devotional book that is appropriate for the developmental age of your children. Whatever book you choose, make sure it is a passage of Scripture with questions or an activity that relates to the Scripture. You always want to base your devotions on the actual Word of God.
3. Tell your children that from now on every day when (the time you chose; such as, when you eat breakfast), you are going to lead the family in a devotional time.
4. Read the Scripture. Talk about it. If the devotional has questions, discuss them. If you have children of various ages, you can modify the questions to make them harder for your more mature children and easier for your younger children.
5. You can close the devotional time in prayer, asking God to help you apply what you just learned. Extension: Devotional time can be as simple as reading the Bible, talking about it, and praying. If you want to do more, you can include an activity. Many devotional books have ideas for applying the lesson. If you have time to do an activity, that is great. But if not, do not worry. It is more important to spend time reading and thinking about the Scriptures than to not do it at all because you can't spend a long time on it.
*Our lives are always busy, but they can't be too busy for God. It is important to teach our children that we always make time to spend time with God. He is the most important person in our lives. Spending time with Him is a priority. If something messes up your schedule for the day and you can't do your devotional, try to do it the next chance you get. Or, if can't do it any other time, talk about it in the car on the way to school or practice. Don't let a day go by that you don't read the Bible and talk about God's Word with your children.
For small children, I recommend The Read and Share Devotional. It has an introduction, two short pages of Scriptures, and then a page with questions, an application activity, and a prayer. It can be done quickly if you are pressed for time, or you can spend a long time discussing the passage and doing the activity.