A pastor friend of mine wanted to know when I would write an article about discipline.  He claims to need it for his little girls.  Well, he and his wife must be doing something right because they are raising two great people who obviously love their parents and others.  

Whether we are looking for ways to “keep the peace” at home, in the toddler room, or at children’s church, it’s not always going to be peaceful.  Yes, there is a time for quiet reflection, and we need to create a space for that to take place.  But, children are naturally curious and loud and playful, and let’s face it, wouldn’t we all like to be uninhibited enough to laugh from our guts or say out loud “that isn’t fair” anytime we are inclined?   

I believe what we need to remember about discipline is what it means to be a disciple.  A disciple is one who follows one who he or she believes to be wise.  As Christians we strive to follow the teachings of Christ, and our children are entrusted to us to lead them in the ways of Christ.  “…Bring [the children] up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” – Ephesians 6.4b 

There are ways of setting the tone during the week and on Sunday morning:

•Show Children Love
•Set Age Appropriate Boundaries and Expectations
•Lead by Example
•Respect Children’s Feelings
•Be Consistent and Fair

Do you have any specific ways that you teach self-control in your ministry with children?

Resources:

Web Article: 
“Teaching Your Child Discipline and Self-Control” from Zero to Three

Book for Teachers: 
Let There Be Peace in the Classroom by Jenni Douglas Duncan 

Books for Young Children:
Today I Feel Silly & Other MOODS That Make My Day by Jamie Lee Curtis
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
Cookies: Bite-Size Life Lessons by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Recently, I listened to an interview with teenagers graduating from high school.  One of the girls had only one wish… that her father would be home from Iraq in time.  Mario, another student at Fort Campbell High School said of his mother’s third deployment to Iraq, “I feel like she’s missing out on a once in a lifetime opportunity.”  These two young people, and others in their graduating class have spent their entire high school years with a parent deployed or between deployments to Iraq since many soldiers now serve a third tour of duty.   

I began to think about how our youngest children are coping with the absence of a parent in harm’s way.  What we need to remember is that children, even infants are complex individuals who experience the world deeply through their senses.  The absence of someone that they love genuinely impacts them, and how they encounter the world.  We, in the church, can help children by remaining a constant and caring presence in their lives, providing opportunities for the children to talk about what they are feeling, and reminding them through our words and actions that God is in the midst of all that happens in the world.   

In what ways does your church reach out to military families?

Helpful Resources: 

My Red Balloon by Eve Bunting

While You Are Away by Eileen Spinelli

Little Listeners in an Uncertain World from Zero to Three

Why a blog? 

This blog exists to support those who care for and care about younger children [0-5] and their formation.  My hope is that this will be an opportunity for learning, teaching, and sharing in a way that glorifies God.  Some entries will contain information on the newest research in child development, some will focus on resources for Sunday school and weekday programs, and others will contain stories of triumphs and challenges in forming our children.  Each will end with a question to ponder, and I welcome your comments and feedback. 

Adoption

Recently I corresponded with several people in children’s ministries on creative and faithful ways to welcome newborns into the church family - not to be confused with Holy Baptism.  But Sue Kamm reminded me of the importance of including adopted children in our recognition of new parents.  In The Gospel According to John and in Paul’s writings, we see the gift of adoption.  

Ephesians 1.3-6 reads, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.”

In the United Methodist Book of Worship you will find an Order of Thanksgiving for the Birth or Adoption of a Child.  This emphasizes the importance of not only welcoming newborns, but also children adopted into a family, for we are all adopted children of God.   Please comment if you have any practices in your church community that welcome adopted children, who are not always newborns, and foster children, who are sometimes in the community for only a short while.

Read the rest of this entry »