How-do Peeps!
I hope you’re all safe and warm? This storm Eleanor is the worst I’ve seen since we’ve lived here!
Anyhoo, as a mum and a teacher, I am very aware of the responsibility to teach kids the right things. Sadly, we live in a world that doesn’t always support those ideals. These are the things I think they should live by:
- They have a unique purpose: No-one else can be them, they have God-given talents that should be nurtured.
- Teach Them To Give: They need to find the joy in giving otherwise they will only ever look to receive. There is always something you can do for others, if you can’t get to them physically to help with practical things, you can still pray for them or send a message of encouragement.
- Teach them Kindness: Giving is a good start, but it can be done grudgingly. Kindness involves not slagging people off or being angry at them when you’re cross about something else. (I’m still working on that last one as an adult.) Kindness could be as simple as playing with a younger sibling or cousin for their benefit (like with a toy or activity that’s too babyish for the older child).
- Teach them to strive: Too many times I’ve seen children with low self-esteem say they can’t do something…that usually comes from an adult. Children have no “can’t” button (I mean, have you tried to stop a toddler playing with something dangerous?!) so if you teach them to try, they’ll learn from experience. If they don’t try, they’ll be full of fear and doubt.
- Teach them to have fun: They need to know that it’s OK to have a day off from work, to pull silly faces, to get dirty… they learn from you. Even if you’re not a parent or teacher, any child you see regularly will pick up something from you: don’t let it be that work comes above family or that money is something to worry about. Let it be adventure and altruism! 🙂
I pray that you will all be safe and well on this blustery Windsday.
Anna x
Cover photo by Megan Lewis on Unsplash
A Peace of Life 