Sunday, September 30, 2012

Who should lead your day?

Who should lead your day?

Who has the most
                             life experience,
                                                      wisdom
                                                                    and ability?

Is it sensible for the most capable one to gently lead the least capable one?

For example,

Is it the adult or the toddler who best understands the importance of;

regular meals and a balanced diet for optimal physical development?

regular naps and sleep habits for optimal all-round health?

time outside each day to enjoy the benefits of fresh air and to develop gross-motor skills?

focused table activites to develop concentration, sitting and fine-motor skills?

independent play time each day to develop self-play adeptness?

daily reading of books to develop the love of literature?

quiet times for refreshing the spirit?

teaching heart virtues each day to develop an adult with strong character?

Lead kindly,
                     respectfully, 
                                          consistently,
                                                               gently
                                                                          and lovingly.



Monday, September 17, 2012

Verbal Freedom

 
 
 
"Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body,
but it makes great boasts.
Consider what a great forest is set alight by a small spark.
The tongue also is a fire,
 a world of evil among the parts of the body.
It corrupts the whole person,
sets the whole course of his life on fire,
and is itself set on fire by hell."
James 3:5,6.
 
Teaching our precious little ones to control their words is one of our most important parenting tasks.
It is a long, long, long process.
 
From
gently discouraging the squealing in the high chair (with a finger on their lips to show quiet)
to
showing them the beauty of quietness (with independent play times each day)
to
helping them greet people politely (with lots of role play practice)
to
teaching them how to show kindness with their words (using the five love languages)
to
responding calmly and consistently to their disapproval of our decisions  (with a few minutes of isolation) 
to
firmly administrating logical consequences for inappropriate expressions of anger (that are age and context appropriate)
to
dealing with attitude (with loss of privileges)
to
helping them understand the power of words to build up or destroy (through a study of Bible verses) 
to
seeing words as a gift from God to love others well.