Teaching Our Children to be Kind

Kindness is a character quality that is rarely displayed in our society. A person who is benevolent is seen as weak by many. Webster defines the word kind as the following: having a gentle nature, with a willingness to help others. To be kind in today’s world is to be completely contrary to the society we live in.

The Bible commands Christians to show compassion and serve others. How can parents instill a desire to be kind in their children? Read on for some ideas that will help you encourage your children to be kind, even in today’s world.

Model Kindness
We are our children’s first teachers. Often the character traits we feel are lacking in our children are lacking in our own lives. If you want your children to be kind, you have to be kind. Your children need to see you going out of your way being gentle and serve others, even when it isn’t easy, even when the other person doesn’t deserve it.

The only way you can be kind to others is to live a life that is 100% sold out to Jesus Christ. On our own, we have no hope of truly being gentle and serving others, with God’s help there is nothing we can’t do.

True kindness goes so much deeper than the surface, it is a genuinely caring for others and sacrificing our wants and needs to serve others. St. Francis said, “Preach the Gospel, if necessary use words.” Our actions are the only sermon that some will ever hear. Let’s be intentionally kind and make what we say and do count for eternity.

When our children see us serving and loving the unlovable, they will follow our example.

Practical Ways to Model Kindness
we need to be consciously seeking ways to model kindness to our children. Here are some simple ways you can model kindness and involve your children in the process:

Make meals for new mothers or people who are recovering from surgery or illness. Kids love to help in the kitchen and preparing a meal for someone who is in need is a practical way for you to show kindness as a family. Have the kiddos make a card or homemade gift to include with your blessing.

Visit the elderly in nursing homes or shut-ins. Elderly people love seeing children and have a lot of love and wisdom to offer your children. Make pictures, small crafts, or sing for them. Shovel snow or mow a neighbor’s lawn to reach out to others right in your neighborhood. Make cookies take to your local police department or fire department to say thank you for a job well done.

Teaching your children kindness starts with your example. Just like we teach our children practical skills, we teach them character by how we interact with others. Kindness should be a way of life in a Christian home. Start sowing seeds of kindness today and see what God will do!!! For more about homeschool books

Teaching Our Children to Be Money Smart

One of the most valuable skills we can teach our children is how to manage their finances God’s way. The biggest cause of divorce in this country is financial distress. Learning how to manage finances at a young age gives our children an advantage over children who aren’t taught to be money smart. Read on for a few tips to get your child started off on the right foot financially.

Teach Them to Tithe
Some Christians think tithing is simply a way for churches to line their pockets, but the Bible says it is so much more than that. It is a chance for us to partner with God in blessing our finances. The Bible goes so far as to say that those who refuse to pay tithe to the church are robbing God and that their finances are under a curse. I don’t know about you, but I would rather have 90% of my money with God’s blessing, than 100% of it with His curse. Tithing ten percent of our income is a reminder that God is our provider, and all we have are His.

Saving
The next principle we need to teach our children is the importance of saving money. So often, we run our checking accounts to a zero balance and pray that we don’t run into any emergencies. This approach is definitely not Biblical. Proverbs 22:3 says, “The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.” It is wise to plan ahead for needs and emergencies.

The Value of a Dollar
In the past, frugality was seen as a necessary skill for survival. People lived by the admonition “use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.” The average family has $5,000 in credit card debt alone. The Bible says we are to owe nothing, except for a debt of love to each other. Borrowers are slaves of their lenders. We need to teach our children to shun credit purchases and live within their means.

One way we can do this is by having them earn the things they want instead of just handing it to them. This isn’t to say you shouldn’t provide for your child’s needs, but you should make them earn their wants. This can be done by doing extra chores for you or others. Encourage your child to start a business, such as lawn care or babysitting. Selling old toys is another great way for kids to make some cash.

Teach your children the value of buying used. Take them to garage sales and thrift shops and show them how much they can get for the cost of one store-bought item. Kid’s clothes and toys are used for such a short time that buying brand new makes no sense.

Teach them to be Generous
We are blessed to be a blessing. Teaching our children that all we have comes from God, and, therefore, belongs to Him helps to combat the materialism that is so prevalent among kids today. The financial skills you teach today will stick with them for a lifetime. For more about homeschool books.

Teaching Our Children to Share Their Faith

Sharing your faith with others can be intimidating, even for adults. No one likes to risk rejection or being different, especially children. As Christians, we are told to go into the world and make disciples. This doesn’t mean that you have to hand out tracts to everyone you meet or go door to door talking to people about Jesus unless that’s your style. There are other ways to teach our children to share their faith with others in some very practical ways. Read on for some tips that have worked for us!

Probably the easiest way for your children to share their faith is to volunteer. Our children have gained a lot of compassion and honed their social skills while volunteering in our community. Here are a few kid friendly options for your family to explore: Nursing homes or assisted living centers are a wonderful place for children to reach out and share God’s love with others. The elderly love to see children visit and have a lot of love and wisdom to offer young children. We have sung, helped with church services and played board games with our adopted grandparents.

Homeless shelters and soup kitchens are another place where we have been blessed to serve as a family. The simple act of meeting physical needs opens the doors for us to share Jesus with others. My children learned compassion and grew to love serving at our local homeless shelter.

Delivering Meals on Wheels opens the door to form relationships with shut-ins and share the love of Jesus with them in a very practical way.

We have also reached out to others by ministering at a local battered women’s shelter. We have put together care packages for the families that stay there and donated toys for children who are affected by domestic violence.

Another simple way to share our faith is to reach out to neighborhood kids and have a kid’s Bible club. Make invitations and hand them out to neighborhood children and friends. Have your children help with the lesson, entertainment, and snacks. This is a great way for your child to share their faith with their friends in a fun atmosphere.

In our house, we have a time set aside every day for prayer before we start school. We often pray for friends and others in the community. We often send a card or my children will simply tell the person that we prayed for them. We have seen so many miracles happen because we took the time to pray!!!

Plug into outreach events at your church or in your community. Children need to know that they aren’t the future of the church, they are the church! Serving as a family sets the pace for a lifelong desire to serve others and share the love of Jesus with them.

As parents, we lead by example. If our children see us sharing our faith with others, they will naturally follow in our footsteps. So get out there and share the love of Jesus! Your kids are watching!!! For more about homeschooling all in one program.

Teaching Your Child to Make Good Choices

One our biggest responsibilities as parents are to teach our children to make good choices. It’s not enough for them to do the right thing simply because someone tells them to. We need to teach them to choose wisely, even when no one is looking.

Train up a Child
The Bible admonishes parents to “train up a child in the way he should go.” While discipline is a big part of this, it is worthless without training your child. The definition of training is: to teach a particular behavior or skill through practice or instruction over a period of time. This is what the Bible was instructing us to do. Training our children to make good choices is a daily process. Our children learn through trial and error that bad choices have unpleasant consequences, and good choices produce good results.

Start Early
Teaching a child to make good choices starts very early in their lives. We teach them that the stove is hot and if you touch it you will be hurt, so that child is less likely to be injured. We encourage our children to be thoughtful and kind when they play with others. It doesn’t seem like much, but these small everyday choices are setting the foundation for our children later in life. It is so much eas

A Relationship with the Lord Makes All the Difference
When our children make a personal commitment to follow the Lord, their desires change. They no longer want to live for themselves, they want to please God. This doesn’t mean that they won’t slip up, we all do. The power of the Holy Spirit is active in their lives to instruct, convict and restore them to a right relationship with God. Good choices don’t just happen, they are born out of a personal conviction that an action is either right or wrong. We can’t be everywhere, but God is. When we can’t give our children counsel or protect them from making a bad decision, God can. That is why we need to pray that our children develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We need to facilitate that as much as is possible and realize that each child has a free will. We need to cover them with prayer, and extend grace and love when they fail. We need to be agents of restoration and teach them what to do to restore a right standing with God when they make mistakes.

Communicate
As our children get older and their circle of influence widens, it is important that they feel that they can talk to us about anything. Sometimes we won’t like the choices that they make, but we need to extend mercy, grace, and love to them and help them to fix the situation. We have to give them the tools to make things right when they make bad decisions. Keeping the lines of communication open may not keep your child from ever making a bad choice, but it will ensure that your child has a safe place to turn for Godly advice and counsel. Read more homeschool books.

Things Moms with Autistic Children Wish You Knew

At the end of three hours, I was exhausted. When I offered to take care of my friend’s Autistic son for a few hours, I had no idea what I was getting into. My friend made caring for her son look easy, she seemed to intuitively know what he needed and how to handle his frustrations with ease.

Moms with Autistic children have my upmost respect. One in 68 children in America is diagnosed with Autism, with many more that fall on the Autism spectrum that go undiagnosed.

When my friend came to pick her son up, we sat and talked about Autism, and what she wishes people knew about her son. Here are some things moms with Autistic children wish you knew:

• Each child with Autism is unique. Although they share a diagnosis, Autistic children have individual abilities and difficulties. Autism isn’t a one size fits all diagnosis, it’s a spectrum. Children with Autism may have speech and social difficulties, but be extremely intelligent. Children with Asperger’s tend to read and write extremely well. Savanti Autistics can excel in math, art or music. Some children are low functioning and others blend in the crowd.
• Autism doesn’t equal a lack of intelligence. Yes, Autistic kids lack the social and sometimes verbal skills that their peers do, but most Autistic children can learn and tend to retain a lot of information. The way their minds process the information is different from other children. They tend to lack the ability to understand abstract concepts and are very literal in their understanding.
• Autistic children aren’t without emotion. They lack appropriate social skills, but have the same social needs and desires that their peers do. They may not look you directly in the eye as often as other children, but they are listening to what you say and are extremely perceptive.
• Sensory overload is very real. Autistic children are extremely affected by their environment. Their five senses are continually in overdrive, and they easily become over stimulated. This causes them to react differently than other children in social situations.
• It’s not a lack of discipline, it’s Autism. Autistic children’s brains are wired completely different than other children. They process information differently, and lack the social skills to respond appropriately. Autistic children use various behaviors to self soothe, such as rocking or humming. While parents can encourage their children to stop a behavior, the child often lacks the ability to link their actions with inappropriate behavior.
• Moms of Autistic children need your support. Dealing 24/7 with a special needs child is demanding, and can be isolating. Reach out to moms with children who have Autism. Invite them over for a play date with your child, ask them out to lunch, or offer to provide respite care so mom can take some time for herself. Above all else, listen.

 

Moms of Autistic children want you to see their children as more than a diagnosis, they want you to see them as the fearfully and wonderfully made gifts they are. They want you to see them for what they are, children. More about homeschooling all in one program.

Answering Biblical Questions Kids Ask

Homeschooling parents are used to answering the many questions our children have each day. Some questions are easy to answer with a simple Google search. Other are a bit more complex and don’t have a black and white answer.

This is especially true of some of the theological questions our children have. There are concrete facts in the Bible, and there are things that are more conceptual.

The latter needs to be addressed according to the child’s ability to process information, In 1 Corinthians 3:2 the Apostle Paul says, “ I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.”  Just as Paul took into consideration the maturity level of the believers he was addressing, we as parents need to do the same as we instruct our children on spiritual things.

Answering Common Questions

There are some common questions that are bound to be addressed during your child’s life. The Biblical truth that you present doesn’t change as your children grow and mature, but your response will according to their level of academic and spiritual maturity.

Here is the most common question children ask, and appropriate responses, based on the child’s maturity level:

 

Why does God allow people to die?

• Preschoolers are completely unable to comprehend the concept of death. They are just beginning to understand separation. For instance, grasping the concept that when Daddy goes to work, he comes back. Trying to explain the permanency of death would be difficult, as preschoolers have no concept of time. They do understand feeling sad, and we can explain to them that when we are sad, God is sad and He can comfort us. You can also talk about how when people who love the Lord pass away, they get to go to Heaven.

• An Elementary aged child is beginning to understand the concept of death and often will become insecure and worry that they or those close to them will die. Explain that when a person that loves the Lord dies, they are in Heaven with Jesus, even if we can’t see them anymore. Lay out the plan of salvation for your child. At this age, children can begin to comprehend the sacrifice that Jesus made so that people have the chance to be forgiven and go to Heaven when they die.

• Preteens and teens can go in depth and learn that God never intended for us to die. You can build on the teaching on salvation you gave when they were younger and go more in depth as to how physical death came into the world. This is a good time to talk about trusting the Lord, even when we don’t understand His ways.

 

As you can see, it is important to give the child enough information to satisfy their curiosity, but we have to remember to consider the child’s maturity level and spiritual maturity level when we respond so that we don’t confuse them or talk above their heads.

As your children get older, teach them to study the Bible for themselves and see what it says. Giving our children the ability to study the Word of God, and find truth on their own is one of our greatest responsibilities and privileges as parents

Five Facts about Homeschooling

As a homeschooling parent, it’s easy to focus on all of the negative information mainstream media puts out in regards to homeschooling. It seems like everyone has an opinion on homeschooling, and little practical experience to back up their information. We’ve put together a list of five fantastic facts on homeschooling to encourage you in your homeschooling journey.

1. Homeschooling is the best option for educating your children. Among the dozens of decisions we face when parenting our children, none is as important as our decision to homeschool. Public schools are in direct opposition to Christian morals and values. Ninety percent of Christian children who attend public school will leave the faith after graduation. Six hours a day, our children are exposed to secular humanism at its finest. The few hours a day that most parents of public schooled children spend with them are no match for the constant attack on their morals and values. As Christian parents, it is our privilege to train up our children to love and serve the Lord. We are accountable, before God, for the influences that we allow in our children’s lives. We only get one opportunity to raise our children, we need to make it count for the Kingdom of God

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Parents are completely qualified to teach their children. A parent is a natural teacher, we teach our children dozens of life skills without even realizing it. Parents who love their children instinctively want what’s best for their children in every area of their lives, including their educations. With literally thousands of resources available, a dedicated parent can provide an education that is tailored to their child’s specific needs, and is far superior to any classroom education.

3. Homeschooling is affordable. Many parents are concerned about the cost of homeschooling their children. When compared to public schooling, homeschooling can actually save you money. The idea that a public education is free is a myth. Anyone who has had children in public school will tell you that nothing could be further from the truth. When you take into consideration annual fees, meals, transportation costs, and activity fees the money can add up quickly. In comparison, homeschool curriculum is affordable, often one third of the cost of tuition for a private, Christian school.
4. Homeschooled children are socialized. As the parent of two adult homeschool graduates, I can vouch for the fact that homeschoolers possess excellent social skills that easily transfers over to the workplace. Homeschooled children mingle easily with people of all ages. They are often more confident and articulate than their public schooled peers when communicating with a large group of people. Public school categorizes children and their social interaction with people outside of their age group is extremely limited. Homeschoolers have never known these restrictions, and are comfortable carrying on a conversation with just about anyone.

5. Homeschooling prepares children for college. Homeschooled students have been accepted to colleges and universities in all fifty states and several foreign countries. These numbers are increasing as institutions become more familiar in working with homeschoolers. In fact, college professors often state that homeschooled children are better prepared for the intense schedule and independent work skills required to succeed in college. Homeschoolers have also been accepted to all branches of the military, as well as West Point and Annapolis. With the excellent education children receive at home, the sky’s the limit!!!

Reasons to Read to Your Child at Any Age

Some of my happiest memories growing up are those of my mother reading to me. I loved curling up in her lap, her gentle voice taking me on adventures overseas, galaxies, and through time. I learned to associate reading with love, comfort and contentment. It’s no wonder that almost forty years later nothing is as wonderful to me as curling up with a cup of tea and a good book.

 

I read to my children from birth, well into their teen years. We love to sit by the fireplace on a snowy afternoon, bundled in blankets, sipping hot drinks as we drift off to magical places.

When we think of reading to children, we often think of non readers or very young children. The benefits of reading to young children are many, but the benefits of reading to children of all ages are just as many.

 

When you read to your child, you show them how good reading looks and sounds. An excellent reader pays attention to the voice, pace and volume of the piece that’s being read. Learning to read with expression and properly project your voice is a skill that will stick with your child a lifetime. Hearing a proficient reader express themselves through tone of voice also helps children to learn vocabulary words. Listening to a good reader is entertaining, and fosters a love for reading in children.

 

Reading out loud to your child helps with comprehension. When you read out loud to a child, the experience takes on a whole new dimension. The listener can get a better feel for the voice of the writing and gain a completely different perspective than reading a book alone. Reading out loud gives parents time to ask questions and point out important elements in the story that may have gone unnoticed otherwise. This dialog also gives parents a chance to bond with their children and spend quality time together.

 

Reading out loud exposes children to a variety of vocabulary words that they may not experience reading a book that’s at their grade level. Children who are read to learn to listen and use their imaginations in a way that children in our technology crazed world seldom do. All of my children have vocabularies far beyond their peers, and I attribute that to the time spent reading together. Even children who have trouble reading themselves can enjoy and benefit from being read to on a regular basis.

 

In today’s world, our children are programmed to have extremely short attention spans and expect instant gratification. Reading out loud helps them to learn to focus for long periods of time and delay gratification as they wait for the adventure to unfold. Considering eight out of ten children will be diagnosed with ADHD at some point in their school careers, the benefits of reading out loud are needed more than ever. Children who suffer from executive brain function dysfunction or Autism can benefit from this as well. For more about homeschooling curriculum.

Original Statement of Faith

The MorningStar Academy Online Homeschooling Program Statement of Faith begins with the premise that the Bible is God’s infallible written Word. We believe that it was fully inspired by the Holy Spirit and that it is without error in the original manuscripts.

There is one God, existing in three persons — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

 

 

 

 

 

Jesus Christ is God, the Living Word, who became flesh through His miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit and His virgin birth.

He lived a sinless life and atoned for sins of people by dying on the cross as their substitute and accomplished salvation by this action for those who believe in Him.

He rose from the dead in the same body, though glorified, in which He lived and died.

Men and women were originally created in the image of God, but they disobeyed God and are, thus, separated them from their Creator.

Man’s nature is imperfect, and apart from Christ, he is unable to totally please God.

It is the privilege of all people who ask God for salvation to be born again and thus be assured of their salvation from the instant in which they trust Christ as their Savior. This assurance is not based on any action on their part but by the action of God.

Every believer is called to live a life that is in a process of being conformed to the likeness of God. This is only possible via the power of the Holy Spirit who will strengthen the believer so that he will not fulfill sinful temptations but will overcome sin to the glory of God.

Jesus Christ will return to the earth. We believe in the bodily resurrection of Christ, His imminent return, the resurrection of His people to life everlasting, and the judgment of the unbelieving world to everlasting punishment.

Busting Homeschool Myths

When some people think of homeschooling, visions of moms clad in denim skirts and awkward children come to mind. The myths that surround homeschooling are often perpetuated by people who have never homeschooled their children, or have had very little contact with homeschoolers. These myths can leave homeschooling families confused and discourage new families from homeschooling. Read on as we debunk several of the most popular myths about homeschooling.

1. If I homeschool my children, they will never learn to socialize with kids their own age. This myth is probably the most popular myth that surrounds homeschooling, and nothing could be farther from the truth. Homeschoolers attend co­ops, are involved in various community activities, and often minister in their churches. Homeschoolers are accustomed to communicating with people of all ages. The socialization most homeschoolers participate in is far healthier than the socialization their public school peers receive.
2. My child may not learn as well at home. As a matter of fact, most children thrive while learning at home. Their unique interests, abilities and learning style can be taken into consideration when putting together their curriculum. Homeschoolers are free to work at their own pace, unlike public school students who have to stay within the guidelines set by public schools.
3. Hardly anyone homeschools their children. Over 2.5 million children are homeschooled each year in the United States alone. These numbers are estimated to rise as educational standards fall due to a lack of funding, Common Core curriculum, and violence in the schools. The United States has slipped from number one to number twenty four in world academics in the last fifteen years due to these issues. For our children to compete on a global scale, we have to take measures to improve the quality of our children’s education.
4. If my kids are homeschooled, they won’t be able to go to college. Seventy four percent of homeschoolers attend college, compared to forty six percent of public school graduates. Yale and Harvard actively recruit homeschoolers because of the academic excellence homeschooling provides. Homeschoolers have been admitted to colleges in all fifty states, and five foreign countries. Homeschoolers generally have GPAs that are 15­30 points higher than other students. Homeschooled students are more likely to complete their college degrees than public schooled students. Homeschoolers are used to working on their own, and have study and research skills most public schoolers lack.

5. There’s no way I could be qualified to teach my children, I don’t even have a teaching certificate!!! Parents are natural teachers. If that wasn’t true, our children would never learn to walk or talk. Parents love their children and want what’s best for them, and that translates into a desire to see our children succeed, academically, and in every other area of life. There are co­ops, online resources, and tutors to help parents along the way. With literally thousands of options, homeschool parents can customize their child’s education to fit their particular needs and interests. Homeschooling is the best option for educational excellence!!!