Write these commandments that I’ve given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street, talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night.
DEUTERONOMY 6: 6-8

Angie Ward | posted 9/25/2009

In the early 1950s, American social institutions were inundated with the children from the baby boom. Seeing the unique needs of this new generation, schools, governments, and churches responded with ever more age-specific education. The result was the now familiar separation of children, youth, and adult ministries in most churches.

This type of ministry structure was revolutionary at the time, but now many churches are promoting a counter-revolution: a shift from stratified, age-segregated ministry to intentional integration of children in the overall life of the congregation.

These ministries are radical not in their unusual methods or dramatic implementation, but in the foundational ways they are challenging the status quo regarding the purpose, philosophy, and programming of children's ministry. And in the process, they are transforming their worship communities.

From Children's Church to Family Worship
Second Presbyterian Church Memphis, Tennessee
Like many churches its size, Second Presbyterian had what appeared to be a successful children's church program—so successful, in fact, that the program had expanded far beyond its original design of serving first through third graders during the sermon portion of the worship service. Led entirely by a talented and charismatic volunteer, the children's church program grew into a massive undertaking that removed children up to sixth grade from main worship service entirely.

Then the volunteer stepped down.

"We didn't know what to do," recalled Sandy Hazelwood, now director of children's ministry at the Second Presbyterian, "So we just said, 'We're not going to have children's church. You need to go to the worship service.'" Meanwhile, Hazelwood and senior pastor Sandy Wilson began to consider their options.

"Sandy was okay with continuing children's church if that was best, but he challenged us to look into the future and think about what we wanted to do," she explained. Hazelwood looked around and didn't like what she saw.

"Parents had gone hands-off with teaching their kids about worship," she said. "When kids came into the adult worship service in seventh grade, they were rowdy and unprepared for this type of worship." The children's church had actually become an impediment to their subsequent spiritual growth.

"Teaching our kids to worship is one of the most important things parents have to do."
Because church leadership decided having children in the worship service would be better for their children's spiritual development, the temporary decision became final: children from first through sixth grades would attend the main worship service with their parents. But Hazelwood didn't stop there.

"We started to think about the younger kids," she said. "As leaders, we read a book titled Parenting in the Pew, by Robbie Castleman. We asked ourselves, How can we get our parents to do a better job of teaching their children how to worship?"

Read more at: www.christianitytoday.com

By Shirley Carlson

We often think of worship as a noun, as if it is a place to go.  However, worship is more importantly a verb, requiring an action from us.  As parents, we are the most influential role models in our child’s life.  We are to “train children in the right way, and when old, they will not stray.” (Proverbs 22:6)

You as parent need to decide when it is appropriate for your child to be in church with you.  It is important for children to feel a part of the worshiping community of your church. LOGOS promotes including children in worship with the hope that their experience will be welcoming and engaging, helping them to know with certainty that this sacred time and space they share with God and with their church community is important and so will become a way of life.

Ideally your children will participate in worship regularly with you.  Different churches include children in different ways, whether it is during some portion of the worship service or the total service.  Here are some ways you can help prepare your child for this experience:

Tour the sanctuary with your child at a time when no others are present.  Discuss specific features of the church such as its architecture and furnishings including the pulpit, pews, organ, communion table, choir loft, and baptismal.  Point out the enhancements like banners, crosses, Bibles and hymnbooks.  Sit in a pew and talk about reverence and prayer as a way to encounter God.  Share that there are times in worship when we are quiet and times when we rejoice.  You can enrich their experience by sharing special memories or family stories about worship.

Review the bulletin with your child.  Bring a worship service bulletin home and go over the parts of worship, helping them to understand what these parts mean:

• We gather in God’s name--Call to Worship, Invocation, Confession/Assurance.
• We hear--the Scriptures, Sermon, Music, Creeds, Sacrament of Baptism
• We give thanks to God--our Offering, Prayers of Thanksgiving, Sacrament of Communion
• God sends us forth--Benediction

Note that music and prayer occur in many places throughout the service.  Encourage your child to underline where they occur.  Answer any question he or she may have.

Prayer is an important part of worship.  In order to help your child learn to pray, regularly offer simple prayers together as a family at home—at meals, bedtime, or other special occasions.  Encourage your child to lead the prayer at opportune times.

Worship doesn’t always have to occur in a sanctuary.  Appreciating God’s world can also be a form of worship.  Take a hike with your child and talk about the awesome power of God to create such a wonderful environment for us.  Explain that recognizing these special gifts from God and offering praise for them is a form of worship.

It is through the regular practice of family worship that you help your child developing a loving and lasting relationship with God.

By Patricia Janssen
(adapted from several anonymous sources)

Make Sunday worship a regular part of the time you spend with your children.

Do not rush prior to morning worship. Your presence is more important than combed hair and frilly dresses. Your child will reflect your relaxed mood.

Allow time for a drink and bathroom before church in order to minimize the need to exit during the service.

Express your joy at having children in worship. Help parents of small children by showing your support of them – send a smile their way!

Welcome all children warmly — before and after worship — by name so that they feel totally included.

Encourage your children to greet other members of the congregation. When you make introductions, always introduce your child and yourself to other people’s children.

Encourage children to sign and pass the attendance/ visitor register.

Share your bible and hymnbook with the children seated next to you.  Help them find the Scripture readings in the Bible. Encourage them to mark the hymns that are going to be used. Assist them in following the readings or singing the hymns by using the bulletin to underline verses or stanzas.

Encourage children to stand up [if appropriate, even on the seats so they can see] when the congregation stands—this stretches muscles and encourages participation.

Prepare and encourage children to participate in communion as practiced by your congregation. If you have questions about this, please talk to your clergy staff. At the least, allow children to pass the elements to those seated next to them; if your congregation is invited forward to receive the elements of communion, invite children to walk with you so that they might see and hear this ritual.

Teach about sharing and stewardship. Help children participate in the offering by making sure they have something to contribute—no matter how small. When the offering plate is passed, allow children to help pass it to the next person.

Anticipate events in the church, such as changes in the church season, colors used to decorate the sanctuary, the sacraments and other special services. Be prepared to help explain these changes to children.

Take an active part as a family in the worship service: serve as greeters, and watch for seasonal opportunities such as candle lighting.

In your prayers at home, remember people, needs, events of the church, and your children’s friends.

Practice the Lord’s Prayer at bedtime. Use the Doxology or even a verse from a regular church song or hymn as a table blessing.

Do not let worship be only a Sunday morning experience. Let God’s love for you be evident in daily living and growing as a family.

Answer any questions children may have about worship and their worship experience. Give children your full attention and listen carefully to their comments and questions. You can encourage those who can to write their questions on the bulletin so they can be discussed at home.

By Jeff Forster
Used with permission. Read Jeff’s blog regularly at http://competentparent.blogspot.com/

What the kale?

Kale chips?

Kale, yeah.

We get produce from a CSA farm. Kretschmann Farm has been delivering produce throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania for over 30 years. As I understand it, they have the biggest CSA subscription population between New York and Chicago.

One blessing/curse for CSA delivery customers is that we don't choose what appears in our crate each week. Whatever is in season and whatever crop has flourished shows up. This surprise factor and the sheer abundance of our crate mean that we sometimes waste food that we get because we either have too much or can't figure out what to do with that which we get. When CSA customers describe this problem, they inevitably say, "you know, what am I going to do with _____" and that blank virtually always gets filled with one item: kale. Kale doesn't sound funnier than rhubarb or rutabaga, so people must use kale because it's both abundant and hard to use. It's polarizing - many people don't like it at all while a few sing its praises.

Well, we had a bunch of kale, and we got this wacky recipe for Kale Chips. I am here to tell you: THIS IS WHAT YOU SHOULD DO WITH YOUR KALE. The preparation couldn't be easier, and the result is flavorful and fun to eat.

After patting dry, remove thick stems from 1 bunch of kale and cut into 1’ pieces. Whisk together, 1 tsp salt, 1 ½ tsp. garlic powder, 1/8 tsp. cayenne, 2 tbs. cider vinegar, 3 tbs. olive oil. Toss kale with mixture and bake on oiled cookie sheet. @ 350 8 min. then turn and bake another 7 min. until crispy. (Oil alone can be used to toss if you’re not into spicy)

They pack a flavor kick, and this technique probably won't transform your kale enough to turn your kids into kaleophiles. The next time I make them, I'll probably alter the recipe only by decreasing the cayenne to a pinch. These can be balanced nicely with a mild cheese. We happened to eat them with macaroni and cheese, and they'd make a great "what is this?" garnish on that dish.

 

By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.

By now most of you have read or seen the gruesome details about kid's meals at fast food restaurants:

1. 93 percent of kid meal combos from major food chains exceed the 430 calorie per meal recommendations made by the Institute of Medicine for children ages 4 to 8. (This is approximately one-third of the daily calories that children in this age group need.)
2. 86 percent exceed recommendations for sodium.

Almost half are over the top in saturated and trans-fat. All of this was found by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, which looked at only those chains that have dedicated children's menus. The report goes on to quote the following "health" statistics for children:

1. Obesity rates have tripled in children over the past 20 years.
2. One quarter of children ages 5 to 10 show elevations in blood cholesterol or blood pressure — early warning signs for heart disease.
3. Autopsies of teens (15 to 19 year olds) show signs of fatty deposits in more than one artery and 10 percent have more advanced fibrous plaques.
4. According to the Institute of Medicine's 2005 report "Preventing Childhood Obesity: Health in the Balance":
5. Immediate risks of obesity also include serious psychological burdens for our children — shame, self-blame, and low self-esteem that can impair academic and social functioning.
6. The obesity epidemic may reduce overall adult life expectancy because it increases lifetime risk for type 2 diabetes and other serious chronic diseases.

This really gets to me. Who's taking these kids out to eat? Adults. Who's operating these establishments? Adults. Who needs to take responsibility? Adults.

Read more at: www.mayoclinic.com

1. Establish a routine
Set aside time each day for physical activity. Get up early with your children to walk the dog or take a walk together after dinner. Start small, gradually adding new activities to the routine as you — and your children — become more fit.

2. Let your children set the pace
For many kids, organized sports are a great way to stay fit. But team sports or dance classes aren't the only options. If your child is artistically inclined, take a nature hike to collect leaves and rocks that your child can use to make a collage. If your child likes to climb, head for the nearest neighborhood jungle gym. If your child likes to read, walk or bike to the neighborhood library for a book. Or simply turn on your child's favorite music and dance in the living room.

"Every child is wired differently," Dr. Laskowski says. "We all have certain strengths and characteristics that influence our interests. The key is finding things that your children like to do."

Read more at: www.mayoclinic.com

Insufficient physical activity is a risk factor for people who are overweight or obese and for many related chronic diseases. Regular physical activity is associated with immediate and long-term health benefits such as easier weight control, lower blood pressure, improved cardio-respiratory function and enhanced psychological well-being. Active children are more likely to become active adults.

As children age into adolescence, their physical activity declines. Increased use of television, video and computer games has resulted in decreased physical activity in American youth. In addition, school-based physical education programs have declined, particularly at the high school level.

The Pennington Nutrition Series points out that for a child to become physically able to exercise in adulthood, he or she must do different types of physical activity in childhood. The muscles need to be “activated” for them to be able to work later. It may surprise you to know that the best aerobic activity for children is the game of TAG. Children like to run very fast for very short periods, then rest and go again.

Read more about appropriate outdoor and indoor toys that encourage muscles to activate at www.pbrc.edu

This site is specifically designed for parents and caregivers to provide information to help you eat better, be more physically active and be a role model for your kids. This site contains information and resources to:
· Help you get started,
· Help you make smart choices,
· Prepare quick, easy, and healthy meals that taste good and
· Provide you with tips on how to increase physical activity in your life.

In addition, you'll also find a handy Calorie Burner Chart, the My Pyramid Tracker and the ESPH Tracking Card. With all this information, you'll have all the tools you need to begin eating healthier and be more active every day.

Read more at: www.fns.usda.gov

by Judy Towne Jennings, PT, MA (judy @fit-baby.com)
Used with permission.

“The Effects of Prone Positioning on the Quality and Acquisition of Developmental Milestones in Four Month Old Infants”2 study pinpointed that with 81 minutes of tummy time a day, four-month old babies were most successful with motor milestones. With less awake time in prone, motor tasks were more difficult.

In our own research1 two significant factors surfaced: 

1. Babies who were placed on the tummy for play times early and consistently had better rolling skills at six months.
2. Written information in the form of a brochure with pictures given very early [prenatal or in hospital] helped parents understand that tummy time was valuable.
3. Scheduling tummy time throughout the day for 1-2 minutes rather than trying to do tummy time all at one time is preferred.

These two research projects also indicate several minutes of tummy time early after the baby is home enhanced motor milestone development.

Many publications from American Academy of Pediatrics or medical journals report that tummy time (play in prone position when the baby is awake and supervised) is needed to prevent flat spots on the babies head, and to increase upper body strength. They do not, however, list a protocol to tell parents how much time on the tummy, when to start, or how to encourage the baby to play when on the tummy or side of the body.

Strategy to encourage normal baby motor development
By repositioning the baby often during awake times, (on tummy, on back, on side, in swing, held) you give your baby the experiences to develop the whole body strength needed for good preschool success.

1. Week 1: Place the new baby slightly inclined on the parent's tummy during the first week home.  Talk softly to encourage the baby to actively move her head, up and down and side to side.
2. Week 2 and ongoing: Place the baby on flat surfaces most of the day; use semi-sit containers sparingly.  Schedule time on the tummy for 1-2 minutes several times a day when the baby is awake and directly supervised. Gentle rattles can be shaken by the baby’s ear to encourage the baby to lift and turn her head toward the sound.
3. Place the baby on his side with down arm forward.  Use soft stimulating toys close to the baby’s face to get his attention.
4. When sleeping, a baby needs to be placed on her back with no stuffed animals or toys in the crib.
5. New babies need approximately 20 hours of sleep time a day.
6. Play times should be done with no distracting noises in the room, such as television.

A rule of thumb: By one month, a baby should be able to turn her head easily from right to left/ left to right when on her back and when on her tummy. At 3 months, a baby should be able to lift his head and use his hands to push into a solid surface to assist the head lift.  At four months, when on her back, baby should start to reach for her knees and eventually her toes.

If a baby will not tolerate tummy time, incline him over a rolled towel slightly to take away some of the gravity on his head.  When your baby is stronger, you can remove the rolled towel and lay him flat on the floor.

The medical complications that are related to lack of tummy time are well documented in the literature and are:

1. Plagiocephaly
2. Torticollis
3. Delayed Motor Milestones
   

Plagiocephaly refers to a misshapen head and can be treated in mild cases with a routine of changing the baby’s positions so that he does not lie with his head against a hard surface for many hours. Variety in positions includes some time on the back, on the tummy, on the side, in swings, car seats, being held.  Until two months, positioning is very important.  After that, the baby should be able to turn his head side-to-side when on the tummy or on the back. If the problem is not caught early, the use of a helmet may be needed for moderate deformities.

Torticollis is the restriction of the neck muscles on one side of the baby’s neck. Inclined sitting in car seats or swings should be minimal because gravity pulls on the baby’s head causing the head to fall to one shoulder.  This static position against gravity tends to produce restricted neck muscles and loss of motion.  If the head is always tilted to one side or only turns one direction, parents need to see a specialist, usually a trained physical therapist or occupational therapist who can teach the parents stretching exercises and positioning strategies.  Most of the time, this is best addressed before two months of age. The use of strollers with seats reclined to allow a baby to be flat is recommended.

Delayed Motor Milestones can be the result of inadequate tummy time. Adequate tummy time provides normal building blocks for a baby to develop as babies are supposed to develop. The prone position started early allows the baby’s neck muscles to develop as the girth and weight of the head increases. If tummy time is started after the age of one month, the head is very heavy for the neck muscles. The baby will fuss and cry when trying to lift the head off of the ground and parents will stop placing the baby in tummy time. Comments heard: “My baby didn't like tummy time so I quit putting him on his tummy." If a baby is left in tummy time for more than 2 minutes when very young, he will also fuss.  Don’t give up! Time on the tummy should always be supervised.

All parents want their children to be ready for preschool and kindergarten.  The milestones during the first year are foundational for good experiences in school.  Early play time on the tummy develops the good muscles and stamina to play, crawl, and roll on the tummy at six months.  It is on the tummy between six and nine months that the fundamental motor skills develop for preschool: 

1. Eye tracking right and left, near and far
2. Hand, finger, and shoulder strength for scissors, markers, and toy manipulations
3. Balance reactions, crossing the midline, and strength for good posture needed for running, jumping, one foot standing
4. Focus, attention span, confidence also start to develop with tummy play activities
5. Speech is related to good front and back neck muscles

Research:
1 “Conveying the Message About Optimal Infant Positions”. Jennings, Judy, PT, MA;  Sarbaugh, B.G., OTR/L; Payne, Nicholas, PhD; Physical and Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics, Vol. 25 (3) 2005 pp 3-18.

2 “The Effects of Prone Positioning on the Quality and Acquisition of Developmental Milestones in Four Month Old Infants”. Dudek-Shriber, Linda EdD, OTR/L; Zelazny, Susan MS, OTR/L; Pediatric Physical Therapy, Vol 19 (1) Spring 2007 pp 48-55.

Children’s books are primarily for entertainment and enjoyment.  They can also be an important teaching tool for a parent and can lend themselves to good family discussions and the support of critical thinking.  Occasionally, while reading to your child, look beyond just the pure enjoyment of the story to the possible lesson that could be learned.  Questions that can be used for any story include:

1. If you were in this story, who would you be?
2. What is your favorite part of this story?
3. If you could change the story, what would you change?
4. What might a different ending be?
5. What do you think we should remember from this story?

One caution: do not over-engage the child into always having to think of the meaning.  Some stories are to be read just for the joy of reading.  If you are using it for discussion, only ask a few questions---about as many as the child is old.

Some books on our reading list this month stress physical fitness.  Read with your child “Flabby Tabby” by Penny McKinlay—a delightful tale of a cat who is too fat.  Tabby shapes up when a new kitten arrives who develops a plan to help Tabby be flabby no more.  This book is ideal for Pre-K or early elementary children and encourages “out-of-the-box” thinking when creating a fitness plan. 

Here are a few questions to help your child think about this story:

1. What are some of the poor behaviors that cause cats and people to become flabby?
2. What is Tabby’s secret feline fitness plan to become a “fit kit”?
3. Do you have a fitness plan?
4. What are some fun things we could do to help us be more active?
5. If you were in this story, which character would you be?

The classroom pet mouse rises to the challenge to get fit in “I.Q. Gets Fit” by Mary Ann Fraser.   The children in Mrs. Furber’s class are participating in a Student Fitness Challenge during Health Month.  I.Q. (the mouse) decides he is going to win a gold ribbon.   If your child is Pre-K or early elementary age they will enjoy this book.  

Read and discover what I.Q. learned about fitness and then talk together:

1. I.Q. makes a poster about getting fit.  What did he include on it?
2. If we made a poster, what should we include?
3. Do you eat healthy foods every day? Why or why not?
4. What foods are included on the food pyramid?
5. What rewards did I.Q. get besides a gold ribbon?

Older elementary children will enjoy the cleverly presented facts about nutrition and exercise that monsters and kids can learn while reading “The Monster Health Book” by Edward Miller.

After reading, some things you can do together:

• Check out nutrition labels with your child.
• Plan a healthy lunch with your child.
• Make a list of fun things to do to become more active.

1. A Children's Guide to Worship by Ruth L. Boling, Lauren J. Muzzy, Laurie A. Vance, and Tracey Dahle Carrier

Beginning Strength Training by Jeff Savage, Lori Coleman, and Jimmy Clarke Children Worship! by Maryjane Pierce Norton

Come Worship With Me: A Journey Through the Church Year by Ruth L. Boling and Tracey Dahle Carrier

From Head to Toe by Eric Carle

Go Outside by Nancy Blakey

God's Quiet Things by Nancy Sweetland

Good Enough to Eat: A Kids Guide to Food & Nutrition by Rockwell

Keeping Healthy by Jo Ellen Moore

Physical Fitness by Alvin Silverstein, Virginia B. Silverstein, and Laura Silverstein Nunn

Run, Jump, Hide, Splash—The 200 Best Outdoor Games Ever by Joe Rhatigan & Rain Newcomb

The Busy Body Book: A Kid’s Guide to Fitness by Lizzy Rockwell

The Healthy Body Book by Ellen Sabin 

What is God Like? by Beverly Lewis

You Are Healthy by Todd Snow and Melodee Strong

101 Movement Games for Children: Fun and Learning with Playful Moving by Huberta Wiertsema, Cecilia Bowman, and Astrid Sibbes

365 Activities for Fitness, Food, and Fun for the Whole Family by Julia Sweet

Always in Rehearsal: Practice of Worship And the Presence of Children by James Ritchie

Bean Bag Activities & Coordination Skills by Georgiana Stewart, Kimbo

Faith Begins at Home by Mark Holmen

Family Driven Faith: Doing What It Takes To Raise Sons And Daughters Who Walk With God by Voddie T. Baucham Jr.

Family the Forming Center by Marjorie J. Thompson

How to Teach Nutrition to Kids by Connie Liakos Evers

Joining Children on the Spiritual Journey: Nurturing a Life of Faith by Catherine Stonehouse

Kids In Action by Greg & Steve  [CD] Kids on the Move: Creative Movement for Children of All Ages by Kassandra Schmutz Boyd, Jennifer Schmutz Law, Melanie Schmutz Chalk 

Making a Home for Faith: Nurturing the Spiritual Life of Your Children by Elizabeth F. Caldwell

No Gym? No Problem! - Physical Activities for Tight Spaces by Charmain Sutherland  

P.E. Games & Activities Kit for Grades 6-12: Over 250 Games to Put New Variety and Challenge into Your Physical Education Program by Ken Lumsden

Parenting in the Pew: Guiding Your Children into the Joy of Worship by Robbie Castleman and Ruth Bell Graham

Real Kids, Real Faith: Practices for Nurturing Children’s Spiritual Lives by Karen Marie Yust

The Physical Educator's Big Book Of Sport Lead-up Games: A Complete K-8 Sourcebook Of Team and Lifetime Sport Activities For Skill Development, Fitness and Fun! by Guy Bailey

To Dance With God: Family Ritual and Community Celebration by Gertrud Mueller Nelson

Transforming Children Into Spiritual Champions: Why Children Should Be Your Church's #1 Priority by George Barna