Getting Started

Are you having trouble getting started with regular Family Time lessons at home? You are not alone! For two or three generations, families have abdicated their role as the primary spiritual teacher in the lives of their children. Home-based spiritual training has not been modeled for most of us. Some have memories of boring devotions in the home which may have led to more family conflict than spiritual learning.

Good news! Spiritual lessons in the home can be fun and exciting. For the eternal sake of our children, please try the Family Time "Quick Start" program suggested below.

QUICK START

Step #1: Pray that God will give you the desire to provide regular times of spiritual training in the home. In prayer, read the following three scriptures to God and take time to listen, hear what God would say to you through His word:

Philippians 2:12 "For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." Can we do it on our own? Who is the source of desire and action?

Deuteronomy 6:7 "These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." Who is there in the life of a child during all these times (church or the family)? How often are parents to provide spiritual teaching?

Psalm 78:5 "The Lord commanded our forefathers to teach their children the law, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children." What is God's plan for passing the faith from generation to generation?

Step #2: Accept the Family Time challenge! Do a Family Time activity three weeks in a row. Your kids won't want to stop because they are having so much fun, and you won't want to stop when you see them absorbing the principles and values of the faith.

Week #1: Video Night!

Tell the children that you are going to start a weekly Family Time. The time is designed to be fun for both children and parents. While having fun we're also going to learn a valuable lesson. Tonight we are going to watch a new video together. Consider making popcorn or some other treat to enjoy while watching the video. Tell the children in advance that you are going to stop the video to talk about a couple key scenes or that after the video you are going to be asking them a couple questions.

In advance: Parents, preview the video and look for the key principle, value or belief being taught in the story. Challenge the kids to find the scene in the video that teaches the key value or prepare a couple questions to discuss after the video. Let the kids know in advance to watch carefully because you will be asking them to answer a couple questions.

Video Suggestions: You will find many of these videos in local video stores, church libraries or Christian book stores. VeggieTales series; 321 Penguin series; Book of Virtue series; Adventures in the Bible series; etc. For your first Family Time pick a short video that is 30 minutes or less.

Week #2: Try an Activity from the Website

Schedule 20 minutes in your day-timer and try an activity! Family Time does not take all night. Most activities can be completed in 20 minutes or less. Review the activities on the Activity page, pick one and download it to use with your kids. Trust God to honor your efforts!

TEACHING TIPS: Gather the supplies you will need in advance. Become familiar with the activity by reading it in advance. Try to put the lesson into your own words. Summarize the main point of the lesson into one sentence. Repeat the main point three times during your Family Time.

Week #3: Go on a Family Outing

Schedule time for the family to do a community or church activity together. Check your church bulletin for ideas.

• Shop together for groceries and deliver them to a church or community food bank.
• Participate as a family in a local Walk-a-Thon to support a worthy ministry.
• As a family, do yard work for a neighbor who is on vacation or is sick.
• Together, make a meal and deliver it to someone who is sick, recovering from child birth, surgery or on home leave from the mission field.
• Participate as a family in a church sponsored concert or activity.

Additional Ideas for Future Weeks

Hundreds of activity ideas are available in the Products (this is an internal link that will change once we switch to eTap) section. There are books for preschoolers down to 18 months, elementary, junior high and high school age children.

If you need an activity for a specific topic then contact Family Time Training at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). We may be able to provide or direct you to the activity you need.

Invite another family to do an activity with you. Involving the friends of your children guarentees that the evening will be a success! When the activity is over the kids can play together. They will remember the evening as a great time.

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