Did you happen to get a peek at the June issue of Focus on the Family’s Club House Jr. magazine for children this month? Grab a copy and flip to page 18. Look at the teeny-tiny words on top of the page. Probably, I’d say, 8-point font. Maybe smaller.
Yep… That’s me! My name is misspelled... Yet another way to keep me humbled.
Focus on the Family has two magazines especially designed for children, Clubhouse Jr. for children 3-7 and Clubhouse for children 8-12. I’ve been blessed with opportunities to create stories and activities that help support Biblical themes for Clubhouse Junior’s monthly magazines. In June’s issue, you’ll find information on the club’s “Try Athlete” summer challenge, a recipe for Pizza for Breakfast to delight dads on Father’s Day, and several wonderful stories, both fact and fiction. This magazine is full of good stuff! But please stay with me on page 18 for a moment.
Coming up with an activity to support June’s theme was challenging. When I read the description, I scratched my head.
Let it be or let it in. Think about what influences you. Let the peace and Word of Christ rule your life.
How can we help young children understand the wisdom of these words while engaging them in an activity they will enjoy?
After much thought and prayer, the tried-and-true celery stalk experiment came to mind.
What child of the ’60s was not mesmerized by the thin lines of color making their way from a mason jar’s blue water, up the stalk, and into the celery’s limp leaves? I was surprised that my random polling of children listed only a few who had heard of this experiment. Even if your child has studied the path nutrients take to parts of a plant using the celery experiment, this activity bears repeating. There are more lessons to learn from those color-soaked leaves.
"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Philippians 4:8
A typical five or six-year-old might not look at the colored leaves and immediately understand how the choices they make will significantly impact who they become. However, it is a visual parents can use to explain the boundaries they've put in place. Consider guiding your children through this experiment to lay the groundwork for future discussions on making good choices. Long after you have tossed the wilted celery stalks and poured jars of colored water down the drain, the image of the color transformation will stay in their memory. Inevitably, situations will present themselves when a reminder of the experiment's results can provide a solid, concrete visual of how we are affected by the things we soak in.
The window of time when parents make choices for their children is small. By using every opportunity to explain why some things are allowed and even encouraged while others are not, we help prepare them to make wise decisions as they grow more independent.
Let's go a step further than teaching children what to do. Let's teach them why. Point them to the source of truth. Point them to God's Word. Memorize and repeat the words of Philippians 4:8 often. Make it a goal to have your children memorize them too. Beautiful fruit will grow in the hearts of those who soak in "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable" and think about things that are "excellent" and "praiseworthy".
I had just finished making the final edits to my article before submitting it to Clubhouse Jr. when my husband poked his head into my writing loft.
"Wanna go to a movie?"
Ready to start my weekend with a relaxing date night, I immediately accepted. As I made my way to get dressed, I took another look at the flowers I used to document the colored water experiment. Red, blue, and green flowers glared at me with raised eyebrows. It occurred to me I hadn't checked the rating of the movie we were on our way to see. Would it be filled with bad language and questionable morals? I was convicted by this activity designed for children. I knew I'd never be able to look at a movie lineup again without my thoughts returning to white flowers drinking from jars of colored water.
I am a mother, a grandmother, and a teacher. I see the value of using concrete objects to teach children the truth of God's Word. The beauty of teaching children is that we learn with them. How important it is for us to apply the truths we teach! The lessons that speak the loudest are those our children observe as we live out our faith in front of them. Join me in my commitment to soak in good stuff while encouraging children to do the same!
My Clubhouse Jr. "Soaked In" Experiment
Watch this time-lapse video to see how quickly white flowers
changed to become like the colors they were soaking in.
Great reminder that we are what we soak in!
A great visual activity to illustrate the idea that you ARE what you soak up! Thanks, Ann
Wonderful lesson!