2016-05 Parenting Christian Kids

May 2016
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Haney Presbyterian
Church
11858 216th Street
Maple Ridge, BC,
V2X 5H8
604-467-1715
Church Administrator:
Marilise Venter
[email protected]
Associate Minister:
Rev. Paddy Eastwood
604-720-1810
[email protected]
Minister: Rev. Dr. Gerard Booy
778-868-1548
[email protected]
Take the “Chore” Out of Household Duties
POWERSOURCE
ASK GOD:
1. To help your children be willing,
eager contributors to your family.
2. To give your kids—and you—a
good attitude about doing
chores.
3. To develop in your family members a heart for service.
In a recent national survey, only 28% of
parents said they require their children
to do chores—even though those
parents realize the importance of having
household responsibilities. “Parents
today want their kids spending time on
things that can bring them success,”
says Richard Rende, co-author of
Raising Can-Do Kids, “but ironically,
we’ve stopped doing one thing that’s
actually been a proven predictor of
success—and that’s household chores.”
Chores also help children develop much
-needed life skills and instill in them a
sense of self-worth and belonging. Most
child-development experts say kids
shouldn’t be paid for household chores,
which are part of contributing to family
life.
Summer—when homework isn’t in the
picture—is an ideal time to rev up your
family’s chore assignments.
Here are some examples of ageappropriate tasks your kids can perform:
Ages 3 to 5: They can work alongside
you to put away toys, place dirty clothes
in a hamper, sort laundry, make their
beds, and feed pets.
Ages 6 to 8: Children can dust and
vacuum, put away their clothes, empty
wastebaskets, set and clear the table,
and help with some yardwork.
Ages 9 to 12: Kids can load and
unload the dishwasher, unpack
groceries, mop the floor, fold laundry,
wash the car, and help prepare meals.
Add Excitement to Chores
For many children, chores imply drudgery. But that doesn’t need to be the
case! Use these tips to make chores a positive, productive experience:
Give kids ownership. Enlist your children’s help in selecting chores, as
well as the consequences for not doing them in a timely manner.
Teach tasks with “shaping.” First, let children watch you perform a task
while you explain it. Then let them try one step at a time.
Use language cues and offer encouragement. Say, “I see books on the
floor” rather than giving orders. Thank kids for their efforts.
Spur teamwork in your family by using the fun ideas below!
TEACHABLE
MOMENTS
Team “Work”
Have family members line up, one behind
another. Choose a leader to stand a few
feet in front of the line and face the team.
Have the leader throw a ball to the first
team member, who then throws it back to
the leader and stoops in place. The leader
then throws the ball over the stooped
player to the next teammate, who throws
it back to the leader and stoops in place.
Continue this way until the last team
member has the ball. That person then
carries the ball to the front and becomes
the leader. The previous leader goes to
the front of the line. Repeat until the
original leader becomes leader again.
Afterward, ask: How did our family work
as a team in this game? When do we
have to work as a team in our home? at
school? at church?
Read aloud Romans 12:5-6 and close in
prayer: Dear Jesus, thanks for each
member of this family. Help us work
together to serve you. Amen.
Terrific Teamwork Designate a time
when everyone chips in around the
house. For example, do chores at a
particular time every Saturday
morning. This reinforces the
importance of each individual’s
contributions.
Whistle While You Work Play a
favorite upbeat music CD while
children complete their chores. Also,
have kids brainstorm a new, more
creative name for chores, such as
“home fun” or “household helpers.”
Responsibility Roulette Mix up the
chore routine by letting family
members randomly select their tasks
for each week. On slips of paper,
write all the chores that need to be
done. Then place them in a cup or jar.
Every Monday, have family members
select their jobs for that week.
Lend a Hand Make a creative chore
chart to keep your family organized.
Have family members each trace one
of their hands on card stock and cut it
out. Use markers to decorate the
paper hands with a ring, a watch, or a
bracelet. Attach a small self-adhesive
magnet strip to the back of each
handprint. Then place a sticky note on
the center of each hand, and have
family members list their chores for
the week. (Help younger children.)
Place the hands on the refrigerator,
pointing downward. As family
members complete their chores for
the week, have them point their
paper hand up to show that the tasks
are done. Each week, replace the
sticky notes with new lists.
Church Chores To show children
how to extend the skills they learn
while doing household chores,
consider lending a hand at your
church some weekend. Watch the
church calendar for a designated
“work day,” or just ask a staff
member what tasks need to be done.
Your family can clean out a closet,
paint a room, organize pew racks, or
straighten out the nursery or library.
Work and Rest Divide a long sheet
of paper into seven sections, writing
one day of the week over each
section. Together, create a mural
illustrating the different work and
activities you all accomplish each
day. Complete six days, leaving the
Sabbath blank. Afterward, read aloud
Exodus 20:8-11. Brainstorm different
ways of resting on the Sabbath.
Then choose how to make the
Sabbath a special day for your family
to relax with God and one another.
“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you
were working for the Lord, rather than for people.”
—Colossians 3:23, NLT
MEDIA MADNESS
MOVIE
MUSIC
Title: X-Men Apocalypse
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Rating: not yet rated (likely PG-13)
Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Rose Byrne
Synopsis: Apocalypse, the original
mutant, has wakened from his slumber
to find a world he despises. He recruits
a group of powerful mutants to cleanse
the world of humans so he can reign
as a god.
Our Take: Although Marvel movies
have often been innocuous, fun, and
action-packed, this one introduces
something more sinister. In one trailer,
Apocalypse says, “I’ve been called
many things over many lifetimes.” One
name he lists is Yahweh. So be wary
about this movie. If your kids do see it,
have a meaningful discussion about
who is the one true God.
Title: Faster
Artist: Group 1 Crew
Synopsis: The Christian hip-hop
group’s new EP trilogy includes the
digital mini-albums Faster, Stronger
and Power. The five-member group,
which has been around for almost a
decade, had a radio single with the
song “Forgive Me.”
Our Take: This pop-infused band
offers upbeat lyrics and melodies that
make listeners want to get up and
dance. The song “Everyday Is a
Miracle,” which features Christian
singer Rachel Lampa, emphasizes the
beauty of life. “Time flies. Yeah, we
only get one life. What you gonna do
with it?” the chorus asks. Older kids
and preteens will enjoy this positive
alternative to secular hip-hop groups.
CULTURE
& TRENDS
Tablet Takeover More than 80%
of U.S. children now have access
to a computer tablet, and the
number continues to grow. Experts
predict that toddlers’ tablet
capabilities may become one way
to gauge their developmental
stage. (huffingtonpost.com)
TMI? In an effort to make the
subject of menstruation relatable to
young girls, a new doll from
Lammily comes with “Period Party”
accessories. The doll also includes
an informational pamphlet so
parents can launch discussions
about the topic. (people.com)
QUICK STATS
Games, Sites & Apps
Star Fox Zero
This 3D scrolling shooter video game features
animals that engage in
aerial combat. Players
can see the view from
the cockpit of the
Arwing spaceship. The
rating is still pending,
though previous installments in the franchise
have ranged from E to
E10+.
TuxPaint.org
This site offers free opensource drawing software
for kids ages 3 to 12. As
users access a range of
drawing tools, their computer literacy improves as
well. The software, which
is available on multiple
platforms, is also being
used in elementaryschool art classes.
Kids Trade
With this free app, school
-age kids can trade toys,
clothes, and other items
without money. Registration is required, and
parents must approve
trades. Users post a photo and description of
each item. The app helps
kids learn about tradeoffs and decision-making.
This page is designed to help educate parents and isn’t meant
to endorse any movie, music, or product. Our goal is to help
you make informed decisions about what your children watch,
read, listen to, and play.
Bookworms Keep these stats in
mind for summer reading: 90% of
kids ages 6 to 17 say they’re more
likely to finish a book that they
picked out themselves. And 70% of
kids say when reading for fun, they
want books that make them laugh.
(The Kids and Family Reading Report)
Tech Timeout When asked which
of their kids’ behaviors is most
difficult to control, 23% of parents
said “limiting technology-based
activities.” Parents struggle more in
that area than in getting kids to eat
healthfully, go to bed, or do
homework. (actionforchildren.org.uk)
Thank you!
A heartfelt thank you to our
Friday Night Youth leaders:
Paddy Eastwood, Ricky Newberry,
Laura Newberry, Amanda Lambert,
Susan Reaveley, Jeff Pinck, Ewert
Jansen Van Rensburg, and Janet
Eastwood.
May
SUNDAY
1
MONDAY
2
3
WEDNESDAY
4
8
Mother’s Day
Worship and
Sunday
School
10 am
9
10
15
Pentecost
Worship and
Sunday
School
10 am
22
Trinity
Sunday
Worship and
Sunday
School
10 am
29
Worship and
Sunday
School
10 am
16
Pentecost
Monday
Ascension
Sunday
TUESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
5
6
7
Garage Sale
9-12 noon
11
12
13
HPC Family
Retreat at
Camp
Douglas
14
HPC Family
Retreat at
Camp
Douglas
17
18
20
21
23
24
25
19
Bible Study
in the nursery
10 am bring your
children
26
27
Youth Mini
Retreat at
Camp
Douglas
28
Mega Work
Party and
Youth Mini
Retreat at
Camp
Douglas
30
31
In Other News...
Save the weekend of May 27-29 for the Youth Mini Retreat and Work Party at
Camp Douglas! Spend time with your friends relaxing, playing games, singing, doing devotions, and having a blast at Camp Douglas. The youth will join in with the
Annual Mega Work Party on Saturday the 28th, and chill on Friday and Sunday.
This is not an event to miss.
Canada Youth is coming up! July 5-10 at Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario.
Visit http://presbyterian.ca/cy2016/# or speak to Paddy for more information.
To check out the opportunities at Camp Douglas, visit http://www.campdouglas.ca/
Work It, Kid... Work It! By Tony Myles
Out of all the jobs that have to be done around the house, which are your favorites?
That’s probably not a question you feel as prepared to answer as if you were asked to describe the chores that
you’re tired of doing. It seems easier to talk about the tasks we feel worn down by than the ones that bring us life.
“I’m pretty sure I have more laundry to fold than there are clothes in the entire world” ...
All complaining aside, you likely have a few chores that feel satisfying when you get them done. That short list is
perhaps only trumped by another one of tasks that light you up with pride and joy when your kids actually do them.
Maybe you want them to clean their room, feed the dog, dump the garbage, clear the table and invest into the
yard… even though they want to play, read, eat cereal, sleep in and harass their siblings.
Or do they?
Everyone takes care of their household differently. Usually it tracks back to whatever agenda and priorities were created when someone (perhaps you) decided which chores everyone would need to pitch in on. Maybe that’s the real
disconnect – when one person wants every other person to do something, there isn’t as much ownership as when
those other individuals get to contribute to the process.
So if you had the chance to add one more task to regularly do together as a family, whether or not everyone enjoyed
doing it, what would it be?
And, perhaps as important, if the rest of your family members were to answer that question, what would they say?
Consider Creation itself as a template: God gave Adam and Eve the opportunity to have a job, care for creation, be
united to each other in marriage and parent. Each of these things by themselves requires a lot of effort, but all were
a gift from God that humanity was given some kind of creative ownership of: Adam named all of the animals, including his wife Eve; it’s implied that Eve picked out the names for her sons Cain and Abel.
What are you allowing your kids to have creative ownership of?
Here are some actions steps to inspire kids to help out around the house with some brainstorming activities to invite
their input–which is the first step to ownership.

Brainstorm…a MAIN LIST: Instead of telling kids what to do, involve them in making a general list of all the
household chores that need to be done each day. Point out what might pile up into tomorrow if they aren’t done
today, such as dishes, trash, laundry, picking things up off the floor, cooking, getting the mail and so on.

Brainstorm a PERSONAL LIST : Help them see the value in personal hygiene tasks like taking a daily shower,
brushing teeth, changing clothes, making beds, and so on. This is also where you can note the things that you
do because they matter to you, such as turning off lights that are left on, putting food away before it spoils and
resupplying the toilet paper if it runs out. Help them see the things they enjoy doing because it matters to them.

Brainstorm a SPECIAL PROJECTS LIST: Note the things that that need to be done on a weekly, bi-weekly or
monthly level, including sweeping the garage, dusting, wiping down the windows, vacuuming out the car, decluttering a desk and grocery shopping.

Brainstorm a LIST FOR YOUR LISTS: Seriously. Look at all of your lists and circle a couple of things on each
one that each of you will take ownership of. The end goal isn’t to just accomplish the task, but to have fun doing
this together and with God. Turn up some music, whistle or catch up on life as you invest into this. See if you can
turn this into an act of praise and worship.
Work is work… but it helps to remember that it was around before sin came into the world. Humanity was intended
to find a unique fulfillment in chores, and through Christ we can redeem this in how we view it as a family until the
Lord’s return.
It involves being thankful that we “get to” do these things instead of complaining that we “have to.” Perhaps we’d see
God more clearly if we clearly saw his gifts as blessings and not burdens.
Article courtesy of Lifetreefamily.com
Storypath Book Reviews
The Secret Birthday Message by Eric Carle
Written for ages 4-8.
Related Readings: Acts 2:1-21
At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came down as a gift of love from God. When the Spirit
filled the people, they began speaking in languages so that they could all understand one another. Everyone was confused, but Peter addressed the gathering and
reminded them that God had scattered everyone for God’s purposes and is now regathering them so that they may all know of and tell of God’s love. Pentecost is considered the birthday of the church, and is a day of great celebration in the church.
Pentecost ends the season of Easter and reminds us yet again of God’s love for us, and all of God’s creation. The blessings we receive from the Spirit are to be shared freely as they are freely given to us. In
Carle’s book, on the eve of his birthday Tim receives a cryptic message which, if he follows, will lead him to
his birthday gift. Tim follows the instructions (and so do the readers through pictures and differently shaped
pages!) to find his way to his gift…something to love and care for. Pentecost is a reminder to us, and to the
original apostles, that we are loved and God is always present with us. The Spirit can’t be contained, as we
see in the Pentecost story, and neither can God’s love – what we receive, we are to give as well. Likewise,
Tim will now be sharing lots of love with his birthday gift! While the message itself or the medium of the
message might be cryptic, the meaning is clear: God’s love is to be celebrated and shared.
This short video may help re-introduce you to the story of Pentecost: https://youtu.be/J5tr4pqWIo4. Review
by Katie Barrett Todd.
You Can Do it, Bert! by Ole Konnecke
Written for ages 4-8.
Related Readings: Romans 8:22-27
Bert is a bird on a big mission: today he will jump from the tree into the water
with the rest of his friends. He’s prepared, but suddenly at the last minute he’s
hesitant. His friends call for him, encouraging him to follow through. Finally, after he jumps he realizes that he can do it and goes for another jump along with
his friends. Sometimes we, like Bert, need extra encouragement to fulfill our
plans. God, who knows our hearts and minds, allows the Spirit to help us and
intercede on our behalf.
Review by Katie Barrett Todd.
Let There Be Peace: Prayers from Around the World by Jeremy Brooks
Written for ages 5-9.
Related readings: Romans 8:22-27
Comment: This text serves to remind us that often are prayers are an expression of a hope not yet fully realized. Indeed, prayers may be groans, sighs,
breaths taken, or words exhaled. This book of prayers collected by Rev. Jeremy Brooks express what it is we are hoping, groaning, sighing, praying, waiting for: a world of peace, creation as it was intended to be. When we’ve exhausted the words in this book as well as the words of our hearts, when we
find no words remain, may we be comforted that our hope will forever be expressed through the sighs too deep for words of our ceaseless intercessor.
Review by Noell Rathbun-Cook.
ALL THREE BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE IN FRASER VALLEY REGIONAL LIBRARY.
Camp Reflections
by Janet Eastwood (with thanks to Sarah and David Fowler)
I am firmly convinced that Camp Douglas is one of the most important missions the church supports within
our presbytery. Camp Douglas, in case you have never been, is located just a ferry ride away on the Sunshine
Coast. The property is ten acres of field, forest, and waterfront. Campers come for a week at a time during the
summer. They make friends, sing songs, do crafts, play games, and sleep in cabins. Like our church, however,
which is not made up of the building but the people, Camp Douglas is a ministry not because of its physical features and natural beauty, but because of the dedicated Christian community that gathers there every week all
summer.
Camp is a place where children and teenagers can experience a community of love and acceptance. It is a
place where daily you see glimpses of the kingdom of heaven.
For some children, their week at camp is the first time they hear the gospel. Camp is the first place that
God’s name is more than a swear word, and the first place they hear that Jesus loves them. This love is made
tangible in the kindness and warmth of their leaders and cabin mates.
Other children come to camp knowing all the Bible stories. They love God already, and camp is where
they feel safe asking the big questions, like, “My dad doesn’t believe. What can I do?” During the nightly cabin
devotions, campers put their deepest questions to their leaders and, in studying the Bible and talking together
about faith, get a glimpse beyond the world we see to the unsurpassable wonder of God.
A few summers ago, my cabin of 10-12 year old girls asked if they could lead that night’s devotions. I sat
on the cabin porch while three of them selected a passage each from the Bible and prepared to explain it to the
rest of us. Not everyone in the cabin was ready to take on that leadership role that night, but every girl, devotion
leader or not, encouraged the others in studying and discussing God, and paid close attention while her peers
taught. Needless to say, devotions ran well past lights-out at that night.
Lives are changed at camp. I can name three teens, later staff members, who grew up unchurched in nonChristian families and chose to be baptized at Camp Douglas because it was at camp that their faith was planted
and nurtured and so flourished that they publically committed their lives to God.
You’ve probably heard the saying, “God works in surprising ways,” and it is true. You probably also know
that when you add together kids, the outdoors, and summer camp, you should expect the unexpected. What is
never unexpected, though, is God’s presence and God’s work among God’s people at Camp Douglas. From
morning chapel to noontime bible study to evening campfire to nighttime devotions, each day at camp is structured around prayer and worship. Prayers are answered. Camp is a spiritual highlight of the year, a time and
place when people draw closer and open themselves to God. Camp is a concentrated, powerful experience of
living in Christian community, when each member is committed to building up the others to the glory of God. This
is a transformative experience.
It is also a discipline that can be taken back into the wider community of church, school, and work. I
remember a chaplain whose Bible Studies introduced a variety of Christian disciplines. She encouraged us to
choose one and practice it for the week. One of these disciplines was to become more aware of others and of
God’s work in and through others by recording each day three observations about someone else. At first it was
difficult. It is easy to be so caught up in your own experience that you don’t notice what is significant, challenging,
rewarding for the people around you. Gradually paying close attention to others and responding to their needs –
rejoicing when they rejoice, mourning when they mourn, consoling and encouraging and praising God together –
became more natural. It is easier to see God in others when you are actually paying attention to others, and looking for God.
Another great thing about camp is that there is never any shortage of role models. Both as a camper and
as a leader I made friends with people I would never have met, much less gotten to know well, otherwise, and
found in them examples of Christian love. There’s Cheerio, the director, who notices when someone is feeling
overwhelmed, and makes sure the workload is fair and everyone is involved in the fun. There’s a camper who
came with a sprained ankle. He participated when he could but when he sat on the sidelines he was just as much
a part of the activities as his cabin mates. Rather than mope over all the things he had looked forward to doing
and now couldn’t, this camper modeled gratitude and cheerfulness. There are countless staff members who
demonstrate over and over again loving self-giving, trustworthy examples of a Christ-like character.
Added to all of this – camp is just plain fun. Camp is a wild and busy place, filled with exciting activities,
friendships and laughs. A variety of activities and goofy games like capture the flag in the forest, kayaking, and
appearances from costumed characters make camp a fun place to spend a week or a summer. However, it is the
sharing of the hope of the gospel and the living out of God’s love in a Christian community that make camp a truly
special place. With the continual rhythm of prayer and worship, we never have an opportunity to forget that God is
at the center of it all. At the end of the summer, we can’t take home all of the campers, staff and fun activities.
What we can take home is this rhythm of continual focusing and refocusing on God.
Please keep the ministry of Camp Douglas in your prayers.