12 Stones launch anti-bullying campaign

I've been hearing their latest single on my local Christian Rock Station. I think it is very cool they are launching this campaign.

http://www.hmmagazine.com/2011/07/12-stones-launch-anti-bullying-campaign/

The next generation

I was impressed when the local middle school Destination Imagination team created an anti-bullying video last year. I am blown away by all the awards and recognition they received for it. WAY TO GO!

Harpool DI team

All One Tribe video

All about me book

All about me book

Around the ages of 4 and 5, Pediatricians check to see if kids know their name, their gender, their address, phone number, and things like that. To make acquiring this knowledge more fun for my girls I wrote a “book” for each of them. It turned out like this:

My name is {insert first name} {insert last name}. I am {insert age} years old and I am a {insert gender}.

My mommy’s name is [this page can be tailored to whoever the child’s guardians are: Mommy, Daddy, Step-parents, grandparents.]

I have [this page can be tailored to siblings and anyone else other than guardians that the child lives with—their relationship, name, an age if appropriate.]

[On this page I talked about their pets.]

We live in {insert city or town}, {insert state}. Our address is {insert street address}. Our phone number is {insert phone number}.

[I finished off the book with “That’s me and my family” and a family picture]

I have also included pictures on most pages. This has helped both my girls learn their information. Now if I could just remember to update it each birthday, it would probably be even better :)

Kids fears: Anxiety and Worry

And because we all have worry, fear and anxiety from time to time:

Psalm 138:3 When I called, you answered me, Lord; you made me bold and stouthearted.

Philippians 4:6-7 (New International Version, ©2010)

⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19 (New International Version, ©2010)

¹⁹ And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on God because he cares for you.

One can make a difference

An example of one person making a difference :)

"R" word

Playing it through

Do you ever have a hard time getting your kids to talk to you? Have you ever listened in on their play time and wondered why they are playing the way they do? Young children work out their feelings through play. Sometimes it is better to listen in and let them play it out, paying attention to how they resolve the situation. Or perhaps you can cross the plane of pretend and ask why a character is acting a certain way. You might be able to offer suggestions to the characters—not directly to your child—and pretend for a little while that these characters of your child’s imagination are as real to you as they are to your child. You might get a glimpse into your child’s mind, their world, when they can’t express themselves the way adults do.

Check out what John Tartaglia says about the role of play in the child’s life:

Serious play

Kids fears: God is big and scary

This one really saddens my heart and I have to wonder if it stems from "hellfire and brimstone," Bible-thumping type teaching. Here are some verses that I hope will give my kids a different perspective:

2 Chronicles 2:6a

^6a But who is able to build a temple for him, since the heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain him?

Isaiah 40:12 Isaiah 40:12 (New International Version, ©2010)

¹² Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand,
or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?
Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket,
or weighed the mountains on the scales
and the hills in a balance?

Jer 32:17 Jeremiah 32:17 (New International Version, ©2010)

¹⁷ “Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.

Teasing part 2: Famous nicknames

Name calling is one of the many faces of bullying. These words can emotionally scar worse than a physical scar. But I remembered there was a famous baseball player called “Schnozz.” Now I wonder if this nickname was started by some bully when he was a kid. I mean, I could see where kids could be bothered by being called “Gimpy”, “Fatty”, “Stinky.” Yet, each of these are nicknames for famous ball players. When did this name-calling turn into a famous nickname? Were they ever bothered by these names? Check out these famous nicknames. Would you consider any of them mean?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_basketball_nicknames

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_baseball_nicknames

Have we learned that certain nicknames are inappropriate and hurtful? Or have some of us made our kids too sensitive? How and where do we draw the line?