Creating a little bit of Tears that go along way!

Typically I spend my work week days working with clients, answering phones calls and responding to email. Well today was a bit different.

The first thing my toddler said to me this morning was “Mommy, here let me show you” I asked him what he wanted to show me and he grabbed a hold of my computer mouse and went to the start button, when I asked him what he was doing he looked up at me with his big brown eyes and said “I need you, turn it off”

I think this was a tale tell sign that I spent too many hours working lately and they needed some mommy time. My twins were so excited they didn’t care what we did they had my full attention.

I created ebooks for activities that I find useful everyday with my kids and today was the day to put some of it to the test. Each child got 2 pages from the coloring books 1-an activity page 2-coloring page. Of course my 3 year old didn’t care what he got just as long as it had trains.

After completing one of the pages, my oldest son said “ I made this for you, its just as pretty as you are” and then he smiled. My heart fell to my feet and tears came to my eyes.

This was the beginning of deciding today was a no work Friday, after the coloring activities it was more mommy time. Can you say water and a trampoline. Well yeah that wasn't my cup of tea but the smiles it brought was worth it.

Then the last thing on my agenda was relaxation time, so a movie and popcorn. That did the trick, mellowed out the twins and put my toddler asleep and me, well close to it.

Its at moments like these that we need to cherish the moments we have with our children while they are young. Times go by so fast and just as quick as we cant wait until they go back to school, we wish they were home again.

So when you sit down and you think of things to do with your kids,

it shouldn't matter how much fun it is for you, but just the time you have with them and those little words that mean so much can bring a tear to your eye that you will cherish for a lifetime.

Resources: Fun activities and coloring books from DS Creative Touches

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Teach Toddlers!

Teach Toddlers about God using Bible Videos

It is never too early to begin teaching children about God and the Bible. To learn about God, we take our cues from the Bible because everything that God represents is written there. Here are some ways to teach toddlers about God through Bible videos.

Toddlers, like most young children, are visual learners. Bright colors and loud noises attract their attention. Reading a passage of the Bible to them will not inspire them at all. They may go to sleep but if that was not your intention, you’ll have to step up your game.

 

For Christian families, teaching the ways of God and the truths of the Bible to their kids is an important part of parenting. What the children believe will go with them throughout their lives. So don’t get too disappointed if your toddler doesn’t want to listen when you read a passage. You can change your method of teaching without changing what is being taught.

Bible videos give kids a chance to learn about Bible history through fun characters that they can relate to. These characters are colorful so that toddlers will remember them. There are many bible videos for sale online and in Christian stores. Parents are encouraged to read reviews of the material to see if what is displayed is in line with their ideals and beliefs.

One of the more popular video series comes from the company, Big Idea. They are the ones that produce VeggieTales. The Official VeggieTales Online Store. VeggieTales characters have found a place in the hearts of thousands of children in this world. Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber sing songs, play different roles, and also teach children about God through entertaining Bible stories.

For the toddler, they may not understand the stories well, but frequent viewing will help them to understand what the characters are doing. These characters sing songs in each video that are catchy. You’ll be surprised when your toddlers begin to sing along.

Kids remember more than we think they do. Providing them with biblically accurate video material will inspire questions as they get older. The kids will see these characters like Bob and Larry as role models for kids. Besides, watching veggies on television may be the most love a child shows a vegetable in their young life.

Many say it is not healthy for kids to watch a lot of television but it all depends on what they are watching. For toddlers, watching biblical videos won’t warp their minds but instead lay a foundation for their future faith in God. When Mom & Dad watch with them it makes it even more spiritual and children will learn the importance of family in God’s eyes.

Skits and plays Christian style

At one time or another, every kid has dreamed of being an actor. They see all their favorite stars on the television and in the movies and they want to be them. It is fun to play dress up and pretend. It lets our imagination soar to new heights. Some of the best ideas people have ever had came from such times when their minds were free.

Skits and plays are fun activities that kids can do and parents can institute to teach Christian values and foster that love of the stage. Skits are shorter than plays and can be used when time is limited or for a Sunday school activity. Plays are longer productions that can be performed on holidays and other special occasions.

You can surf the Internet for Christian plays and skits or make up some of your own. For older kids, they can be given an idea and allowed to run with it so to speak. They can form groups and come up with an impromptu skit to present to the class. For the parent’s part, bring in props and clothing that can be used by the kids to bring their characters to life.

This type of activity isn’t limited to Sunday school either. For family fun night or some other night when you want to do something different, hold a skit contest. Each person can act out a scene from the Bible and have a neutral person to judge. It is like the ultimate game of charades.

Plays are a bigger deal during holidays. Most people go all out with props, sets, costumes, and scripts. The kids are learning about the life of Jesus through their acting. On Easter they learn about his crucifixion and on Christmas, they learn about his birth.

Skits teach other concepts and Bible stories too. Kids may be asked to perform a skit that demonstrates mercy or goodness. They will draw on their knowledge of the Bible to come up with creative stories that no one else may have thought of. There can be friendly competition involved in these activities but they are also perfect learning experiences.

Let kids experiment with modern-day situations to demonstrate Christian values as well. By making it personal to them, they get more out of it.

Acting is a way of expressing ourselves as another character. Children and adults get to walk a mile in the shoes of a Bible character and learn about their life.

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