School days have been over long enough now for the kids around the house to be using the age-old “I’m bored” and “I have nothing to do” or “What can we do today?” conversations. I’ve always taught that busy kids are better kids and that boys and girls with nothing constructive to do get into more trouble than kids whose families plan fun things to do.
Same thought pattern is true with church and school environments. If teachers are prepared and have enough lined up for the kids to do to keep their interest, chances are that the classrooms on Sunday and through the week will be active, fun, learning places instead of places where bad behavior flourishes. For several years, our staff had more than 3,000 kids in our children’s church in Atlanta and we used the concept of “team-teaching,” where one adult would quickly take over from another to provide visual, musical, interactive concepts to keep the kids on their toes. What did it cost? The answer includes a lot of work and a lot of prayer, but not necessarily a lot of money. We always operated on a tight budget in the work of the church.
We demanded the top in musicians and teaching personnel. Our pianist and organist were among the very best the large church had to offer. No one, including the adults, came into that large auditorium to play. No one worked in Super Church because they simply wanted to avoid going to the regular services of the growing church. The volunteers came to work, to provide interesting teaching and a fun-filled day long to be remembered by the church kids who came to the services with their parents and the bus kids who rode in on one of the 53 bus routes all over the Atlanta area. We saw remarkable results with the lives of children being changed, which automatically saw the lives of the moms and dads become different. The child was the ticket into the home to deal with the parent who did not have an interest in spiritual matters.
The same is true in our homes, and believe me, I am writing this column from experience today. I have reared three children of my own and have some seven precious grandchildren whom I keep just as often as I can arrange to do so. And, that’s not counting my years of working in Forrest Hills Baptist Church and in a national ministry where we put our practice into teaching other church workers how to motivate and train children.
Steven, my eldest grandson is now visiting from Tennessee and Brendan will be arriving in the next few days from Georgia. Callie Grace, a local Groves resident, was here last week for three days of fishing, swimming and playing on the beach. I do admit I have a huge resource by living on the Gulf of Mexico, which provides hours of playtime with little money involved other than food and cold drinks to share. The packing of the picnic basket and cooler each day is only one of the happy chores we share before leaving for the beach.
Even if you don’t live on the beach, spending a day in its relaxing atmosphere can change not only the lives of the children in your family, but the lives of the adults as well. Everyone needs a break from the office or plant and from the work of the home. Don’t forget towels and sunscreen and come and share our fun. The biggest expense you’ll likely encounter is gas for the car and food for the stomachs. But, oh, what memories you’ll be making for a lifetime. Don’t forget to include the camera to record your adventures and a pail or bucket for all the things you’ll catch in the surf. Steven and Callie caught a collection of crabs of all sizes before they released them at the end of the day.
What are some things you can do with your kids, neighbor kids or relatives during the summer hours especially? Have you thought of gathering them around you and telling them a story? Younger children especially loved stories and older family members really do have a yearning to learn about their family history. Throw in a few photographs and a few collected artifacts and you’re set to go for a good couple of hours. Every adult has the potential to be a really good storyteller if they only practice their craft. You can also take advantage of free story times at the local libraries. Choose a visual to really cap off the time together. No cost involved here with this fun-time treat.
Plan a simple picnic. We have to eat anyway, so why not make it something special? The food choices do not have to be elaborate. Make a few sandwiches or a good salad, some cookies and plenty to drink and head out to a local park, the side of a stream. Half the fun is packing the picnic basket and cooler, spreading the colorful cloth and simply being together. If you find you’re in a really big hurry, stop by a fast food restaurant and pick up the treats to share.
Here’s an idea I caught in a television program the other morning. Plan a fun “stay-cation” for your family. With the high cost of gasoline, much of our travel will be eliminated for this summer. Rather than “vacate,” your home or lawn, plan to stay there and enjoy a special event. Decorate one room or a patio or porch with a theme, make some food to go along with the idea and gather the family for an outing without leaving home. I have in mind a summer luau on the back deck with leis for each neck, some fruit from the islands, music from our stereo and decorations I have on hand from another event. Take pictures and make a photo album together to ensure the kids don’t forget the stay-cation together.
This idea might not go over so well at first, but after you’ve tried it once, the family will likely come around to your way of thinking. Turn off the TV for one night and do something together as a family. Play a board game, a round of cards or listen to music. Choose questions from a prepared stack and let each family member or guest answer the one they pick. Play an old fashioned game of charades. Use a theme to make it more interesting. For instance, I made a group of nursery rhyme characters to use in charades and each family member and guest has to act out one or more the choices. What fun we had playing charades and no cost was involved at all since I used the backside of cards I already had.
Plan quality time to spend with your children. It is far better to build boys than to mend men. Works for girls, too.
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