by Darcy Fluitt, Director of Children's Ministries
We all cheer on our favorite teams, so why not cheer on each other with the same enthusiasm?
This month elementary kids will learn how to become super fans as we take a look at KINDNESS-showing others they are valuable by how you treat them. To kick off the month, families are invited to take on a KINDNESS CHALLENGE. Parents, let your kids know the great things you see in them. Kids, let your parents know how much you appreciate them. You can use the attached cards and have some fun cheering each other on!
The words you say (or don’t say) have the power to change your kid’s future. So why not let your kid know the great things you see in them? These cards make it easy for you to give them the encouragement they long for.
We give you the prompts, all you have to do is add a few words of your own. Put the card on their bathroom mirror, under their pillow, at their place at the dinner table, in their backpack, or anywhere you’re sure they’ll find it.
Most of us can probably remember a time (or multiple times) when our parents or another caring adult said something when we were younger that had a negative impact on our self-worth. In their effort to encourage us, they unintentionally reinforced the idea that their love and adoration for us was based on our performance.
So our parental dilemma is this: How do we encourage our kids to live up to their potential without sending them the message their worth is tied to what they can do?
We can start by
...being mindful of what you celebrate because what gets celebrated gets repeated. ...explaining why something is important before your kids ask. …encouraging good thought processes.
You can’t control how your kids interpret your words, but you can consistently move the conversation away from performance and in the direction of stewardship.
Our kids can be kind. Our kids can be helpful.
Our kids can be service-minded.
When framed this way, your kids’ knowledge, skills, and gifts almost become like their superpowers — these gifts can be used to serve both themselves and the world. Because here’s what we want our kids to ultimately understand: It’s not about what they can do, it’s about who they can be.