Family Devotionals – Page 37 – Parenting Like Hannah

Fun Activity For Teaching Christian Kids About Self-Image

Fun Activity For Teaching Christian Kids About Self-Image - Parenting Like Hannah Absalom is a great example of someone in the Bible who thought they were “all that and a bag of chips.” It’s easy to see why. “In the whole land of Israel there wasn’t any man as handsome as Absalom was. That’s why everyone praised him. From the top of his head to the bottom of his feet he didn’t have any flaws.” (2 Samuel 14:25 NIrV)

Evidently, Absalom believed all of this praise and decided he was so very awesome, he should be King. Did I mention he was willing to overthrow his own father in the process? Things didn’t end well for Absalom, because unlike his father, he was not a man after God’s own heart.

Whether your children are physically beautiful to everyone who sees them or only to you, it’s too easy to believe our looks define who we are. Society doesn’t do much to contradict this faulty reasoning. A quick flip through a magazine will help anyone who wondered, realize physical beauty is highly valued.

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Fun Way to Raise Family Encouragers

Fun Way to Raise Family Encouragers - Parenting Like Hannah Family dynamics are interesting. The people who supposedly love you the most in the world, also know exactly what to say or do to make you feel the most unloved. Sadly, we have all been guilty of saying something hurtful to a spouse, parent or sibling. In some families, it quickly becomes a bad habit. Everyone feels safer taking their frustration, hurt and anger from their day and punishing family members with it – even when they had absolutely nothing to do with it.

There’s a fun way to flip that dynamic and make your family a place where the members come home to be loved, encouraged and built up to face the world another day. It’s simple, cheap and can even become an ongoing family project.

Grab some cute blank books. You can find these cheaply at Target dollar spot or at craft stores like Michael’s. Have each family member decorate their book in any way they would like. Have a short devotional explaining that each family member is to write encouraging messages to the person in their book. It can be a scripture, a complement, or just encouragement. (“I know you will do great on the test this week – you’ve studied so hard!)

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Fun Twist on Inspiration Boards for Christian Kids

Fun Twist on Inspiration Boards for Christian Kids - Parenting Like Hannah If you have been on Pinterest or have a creative hobby, you have probably heard of inspiration boards. They are large pieces of poster board (or they can be virtual) and contain words and photos (or magazine clippings) that inspire the person working on a particular project. They probably started with planning weddings or decorating rooms, but have expanded way beyond that today. In fact, in New York City, there is a museum that positions itself as an inspiration board of sorts.

Your kids might appreciate the inspiration one of those boards can give them. It also makes a great project for a rainy day or when your kids are “bored” by their current life. For Christian kids, I would add a twist to the boards though. Often they end up just being a wish list of things someone wants to buy. It’s probably not a great idea to promote this kind of materialistic attitude in your kids.

There are however some inspiration boards your kids (and teens) can create that could also help them on their faith journey. Here are a few ideas to get them started.

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Teaching Kids About Needs and Wants

Teaching Kids About Needs and Wants - Parenting Like Hannah Years ago when I lived in New York City, there was a well known “preacher” who promised people if they gave him $500, God would give them a new Cadillac. Most of the members of his congregation were some of the poorest people in New York City. I always wondered what happened when the promised car failed to appear.

God never promised us everything we want in life, no matter what we give Him. A quick look at the lives of the Apostles and how they ended, will reinforce this concept. As far as we know, none of them gathered great wealth and power. In fact, they all experienced periods of imprisonment, beatings, exile and rather horrid deaths (except for the Apostle John who apparently died of old age). Yet, through it all, their faith remained strong and they stayed focused on God’s mission for their lives – no matter the cost.

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Fun Way for Kids to Practice Responsibility

Fun Ways to Teach Kids Responsibility - Parenting Like Hannah If you read our 7 Tips for Raising Responsible Children, you know how important it is to raise your kids to be responsible. Most parents use chores and/or pets to begin teaching responsible behavior. Even if your child is mastering those, he or she may still not realize the impact being irresponsible can have on others.

Want a fun way to teach them the concept and help others at the same time? Have a service project assembly line. Find a project that involves several steps which must be repeated multiple times. (Our parent website Teach One Reach One has lots of great free ideas.) Often collections, like bags of school supplies or disaster supplies, make great assembly line service projects. Or maybe you can make multiple batches of cookies or games. Anything that requires multiple steps and you can afford to make several of them.

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