JUNE2011

Hope Fellowship Church

KIDS CHURCH
384-4673
http://kidschurchathope.weebly.com hopekidschurch@gmail.com --

Setting Boundaries
Whether in competitive sports, in school, or at church, children will be given boundaries all throughout their developmental years. Despite what it may seem boundaries actually create personal freedom and a framework for healthy relationships. Boundaries are an essential building block of growing up. Without them, children can never be sure when they are "out-of-bounds." When children are given a clear understanding of what is acceptable, they really have the freedom to shine. Since children do not naturally formulate boundaries, parents must be intentional in helping their children establish their own. The best time to start setting boundaries is when children are between two and three. Boundaries should begin with simple instructions about safety and guidelines for proper behavior. As they begin to grow, they need to embrace the principles behind those rules, so that they can apply them to every area of life. This is important for two reasons. First, as life gets more complicated, it will become impossible to anticipate every situation and make up a rule for your child that applies. Secondly, the principle-based behavior cultivates an environment which allows your child to be comfortable enforcing their own personal boundaries. As always, set boundaries and enforce them in love, constantly keeping in mind the end result.

Ask God:
1. To give you wisdom and discernment as you set parental guidelines and put boundaries in place. 2. To help you be consistent with the boundaries that you set. 3. To help you follow through with the rules that you put in place and the consequences for breaking those rules. 4. To give you and your child an open relationship so that you can discuss freely the rules and expectations you have in your home. 5. To help your child become content with the things that they have and the things that they are allowed to do.

Tips for Setting Boundaries

Set your own boundaries and have consequences for crossing them. Consider choosing a desk drawer as off limits unless the child first receives permission to use the things in it. The contents may not be that valuable, but the lesson modeled will be invaluable. Avoid controlling the child. The goal in parenting is to release the control of the childs actions to himself as he matures. Give choices. Choices help children learn decision-making skills and are the foundation for boundary forming. An example of choices can be as simple as offering corn or green beans for dinner. Set boundaries clearly, without anger, and with as few words as possible. The healthiest boundaries are proactive statements that are shared without feeling guilty. Express when your feelings are hurt by anothers actions. You might say, When you forget to say thank you to me for making your breakfast, it makes me feel unappreciated. This models emotional boundaries as well as physical ones.

Healthy Parenting
Parents with healthy, personal boundaries will have an easier time helping their children set their own. Ask yourself, do you: Recognize your own physical boundaries? Request the proper treatment in public without becoming upset? Share your opinions with your children and allow them to share theirs with you? Take responsibility for your mistakes? Allow your children to make choices? Take the time to explain to your children why you make certain choices?

"He who spares the rod (of discipline) hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him." Proverbs 13:24 (NIV) Teachable Moments:
It takes discipline on a parents part to maintain boundaries and the consequences that follow with breaking them. Teaching children to understand the whys of boundaries is a key. Try this exercise to help. 2. If you were the mom or dad, what, if anything, would you do differently with regards to rules?

Is your child aware of the rules or expectations of your family? Try asking them some of these questions:

1.

If you could get rid of any of the rules in our house, which ones would you get rid

of and why?

discuss.

Use your family pet as an

3.

Back in the days of the Bible, did the people have rules? Can you name some of

example or make up a fictitious pet to Give them an example of Ask them what was wrong Ask them what they would do

them? Which ones do you think would have been the hardest to follow? 4. live? Does God give us any rules? Why do you think He gives us guidelines by which to

something wrong that the pet does. with the behavior and why. to teach the pet not to do that again and why. offense. Ask them what consequences the pet should have if it repeats the

Healthy Habits: When it comes to snacks

Kids usually eat whatever is available. That's why it's important to control the foods that you serve for meals and have on hand for snacks. Here are some basic guidelines:

Work fruits and vegetables into the daily routine, aiming for the goal of 5

servings a day. Make it easy for your child to choose healthy snacks by keeping fruits

and vegetables on hand and ready to eat. Other good snacks include yogurt, peanut butter and celery, or whole-grain crackers and cheese.

nuts.

Serve lean meats and other good sources of protein, such as eggs and

Choose whole-grain breads and cereals so your child gets more fiber. Limit fat intake by avoiding deep-fried foods and choosing healthier cooking

methods, such as broiling, grilling, roasting, and steaming. Limit fast food and other low-nutrient snacks, such as chips and candy.

BUT don't completely ban favorite snacks from your home. Instead, offer them less frequently or for special occasions, so your child doesn't feel deprived.

Limit sugary drinks, such as soda and fruit-flavored drinks. Serve water

and milk instead. (www.kidshealth.org)

Not all animated movies are appropriate for all ages of children. Make sure you know if they are appropriate for yours or not.

Dinner Theater
To make dinner new and exciting and to encourage your

Movies you might be watching

Movie: Kung Fu Panda 2 Genre: Comedy, Childrens, Animated Release Date: May 26, 2011 Cast: Voices of Jack Black as Po; Angelina Jolie as Tigress; Gary Oldman as Lord Shen; Seth
Rogen as Mantis; Jackie Chan as Monkey; David Cross as Crane; Lucy Liu as Viper; Dustin Hoffman as Shifu; Michelle Yeoh as The Soothsayer

family to spend time together, try this fun night: 1. Choose a specific theme for dinner. It could be pretending to be from a certain country, eating only a certain type of food, talking with a particular accent, eating only foods of a certain color and wearing that color to dinner, or anything else you can think of. 2. Try to maintain the theme throughout the entire meal. If your child has ever gotten into character this will be easy for them. 3. See who can be the most creative with the guidelines that you establish before the meal. Let the guidelines exist just to give your child room to make the theme

Spiritual Content:

Kung Fu Panda 2 is set in a fictional Far East, where mysticism is ever presentthough not exactly preached. In Taoism, peace and harmony are achieved through balance, represented by the yin-yang symbol. That symbolhalf black, half whiterepresents the forces at play in our lives: night and day, male and female, good and evil, etc. Po, being a black-and-white panda bear, is a walking, fighting allegory of that balance, and we actually see him turn into a spinning yin-yang symbol near the end of the film. Likewise, the martial arts Po practices have spiritual roots, and Shifu talks about meditation. Prayer bells (not named as such) are taken from a village. A soothsayer makes predictions about the future. One panda seems to receive a psychic twinge from anothereven though the two are separated by countless miles.

Watching the movie with your kids: Kung Fu Panda 2 won't be remembered as an
animated classic. It doesn't have the artistry or resonance that, say, an Up or a WALL-E boast. But like those Pixar films, its moral and message seems more geared toward the adults in the audience than the little kids they likely have in tow. We're told that just because your story starts out badjust because some awful things happen to you doesn't mean your whole life need reflect that. It's what you do, not what others do to you, that makes you who you are. "You gotta let go of that stuff from the past, because it just doesn't matter," Po tries telling Shen. While that's a great, important message for adults, the peacock doesn't quite get the point, and my guess is that the average 6-year-old won't either. But isn't it a little refreshing to hear about a cartoon where the moral of the story is the thing that's not necessarily age appropriateinstead of the content that surrounds it? Kung Fu Panda 2 is largely free of sexual imagery, foul language and gross-out toilet humor. And the violence, while extensive, is actually a shade better than Yosemite Sam getting clobbered with an anvil and a whole lot better than Elmer Fudd getting shot in the face. Which leaves the yin-yang spirituality. And on that one, because it's not shouted from the treetops, many families will be able to use its presence to kick-start a conversation about not only what God thinks about balance in our lives, but also how Eastern spiritual thought doesn't quite line up with His Word. Po is eminently likable here, just for the recorda more realistic hero for those of us who don't always look the greatest or have the correct words. He's a regular panda trying to do the right thing. Is he willing to die for the good cause in which he believes? Yesbut he'd prefer not to.

their own. 4. For dessert talk about how each member enjoyed the meal. Share likes and dislikes; what was funny; who got into it the most. 5. Plan for your next theme dinner and allow the family to choose a topic.

Coming in June: June 12 Living a pure life the story of Samson. (What not to do!) June 19 I will trust Gods Spirit inside me the story of Simon Peter June 26 Church clean-up and picnic day. (kids Grade Kindergarten to Grade 5 will clean the upstairs CE wing - Kids under the age of 5 will hang out with their parents.) COMING IN JULY/AUGUST This summer promises to be another summer of Summer Sunday Fun, as we give the opportunity for families, groups or individuals to hang out with the Kids Church kids and bring some of their favorite activities to a kids level. We are looking for those who are willing to love the kids for one Sunday, and share with them some of who God has created you to be You will be with the children for approximately 1 hour ages 3 11. Attendance can be anywhere from 5 to 25, so please plan accordingly. Feel free to use the great outdoors, our craft areas, our projector and DVD, or ask and we may have other supplies you need. If you are interested in taking one Sunday, please contact Wanda Froese, and sign up for the day that suits your summer schedule.