What’s a little gift that you could give to the EARTH today?

Need some ideas, how about picking up some trash you see on the side walk or in the park?
Recycling is one of the best ways to help our planet.
Using a cup of water, instead of running the water, when you brush your teeth is a BIG help to conserve our resources.

Here’s a little prayer you could say for the Earth.

Dear God, Bless the earth and everything and everyone here.

Help me to do my part for my homeland.  Thank you, Amen.

For the Virtue Lesson Series ,  How to teach your child Kindness, click here.

are a great way to connect with everyone in the family at least once a week, particularly as your kids get older. Keep it short (15 to 20 minutes), keep it light and have fun. It is more important to have positive time together each week rather than solving every problem in the household.

Begin with an encouragement feast.*

Read about your Virtue for the week. Talk about it.

Listen to the Virtues Kids Song of the week. Use the lyrics to sing-along. Dance to the music.

Discuss and problem-solve any issues that are taking place among family members.

Bring out the calendar and write down everyone’s’ activities and appointments for the week. For younger kids, who are no yet reading, you can draw a picture or color code their activities.

Have each person come up with a goal for the week around the virtue of the week and decide on a family goal. Use the activity ideas in your weekly download. Write your goals on the calendar.

Ask the kids how you are doing as parent(s).

End in a fun way (play a game, have some popcorn, sing a song, watch a movie)

It is also a good time to give allowance. You can have a new leader each week and a secretary. A child three and older can be a leader. You might need to help him or her go through the agenda. The secretary will take notes, or pictures J. Date it and put it in a notebook.

***An Encouragement Feast – you put one person in a circle and everyone tells that person what he or she loves about him or her, and then the next person goes in the circle until everyone gets to hear what others love about him or her. (Redirecting Child’s Behavior)

Why is it important for a child to learn about forgiveness?  It keeps their heart clean and healthy.  Which is just as important as keeping their body healthy.  It builds self- respect and community skills.

We are sensitive creatures and Elementary School is the school of bumps and bruises in learning how to relate to others.  This week’s best friend can quickly become the betrayer, the liar, the ‘enemy’.

When a child makes a mistake, how do they make it right and move on?  … with forgiveness.

Here is The Virtues Project definition of Forgiveness:

Being forgiving is giving someone another chance after they have done something wrong.  Everyone makes mistakes.  Instead of revenge, make amends.  Instead of feeling hopeless after a mistake, decide to act differently and have faith that you can change.

This simple technique will give you something to do with your child that will help her/him learn how to forgive.

Remember we are all in this together and many times people don’t know how they hurt us.  We’re not talking about justice, about who was right or who was wrong; we’re making things right in our hearts.

Begin by letting your child tell the story.  Let them have their feelings about what happened.  Ask them if they are willing to forgive.  The Course in Miracles tells us that willingness is all that is required of us.

1. Have them close their eyes and see in their mind’s eye the person standing in front of them.
2. Have them repeat after you:
   I forgive ____________ (say their name or myself) for __________ (not being the kind of friend that I want right now, saying something mean, making a mistake, etc)
   I let God take this over now and to make it right.  I trust God to heal any hurt I feel in my heart.
   I promise to love myself and stop thinking about this.
   I forgive and I am free.
3. With their eyes still closed have them lift this person (or themselves) up, in their mind’s eye, and into the sky until they can’t see them any longer.  This simple motion will help them release.

Do this with your child as often as necessary, until they start doing it for themselves.

If there are amends that need to be made with another, start with this forgiveness exercise.  Help your child decide on what would be appropriate.  Keep it simple and in the heart.

Respect – Motions from Remba Kids on Vimeo.

The Little Green Dragon is always looking for his special place in the world.  Let you child know that he/she is royalty.  This song for kids will help.

Do You Ever Want To Be Somebody Else?

I’m so tired of being plain ol’ me
I want to be somebody else, like royalty
Look here’s the crown of the Prince, I’ll try it on for size
It’s way too big, it slides down my snout, but I feel grand & very wise

Do You Ever Want to Be Somebody Else
Somebody else for a while
Try on his hat, try on her shoes, try on their lifestyles
Do You Ever Want to Be Somebody Else
Somebody else for a day
Jump out of your life and into their lives, just a little get away

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