Get Connected In 20 Minutes A Week – Family Is Still A Good Idea

The Parents Coach - column By Timothy Smith | www.ParentsCoach.org
Blog: ParentsCoach.Wordpress.com
Sponsored by www.FamilyValuesCinema.com/TS

A weekly family activity adapted from: 52 Family Time Ideas by Timothy Smith ©2006
Draw Closer To Your Kids as You Draw Your Kids Closer to God
Bethany House Publishers

1. Main Point: The family is God's idea.

2. Materials Needed: Park with playground equipment or indoor mall if the weather is too severe; toy blocks or dominoes.

3. Warm Up: Ask: "How would life be different if there were no families?" (Entertain a few responses, even some wild ones)

4. Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 7:9 Read aloud:
Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps His covenant for a thousand generations and constantly loves those who love Him and obey His commands. NLT

5. Family Discussion:
What Does the Bible Say?
Say: "God designed the family so that parents can help their children know the truth about Him and His world. It's the parents' job to help their children know and love God." (Line up several blocks in a row)
Ask: "Do you know what a generation is?" (Parents are one generation, their kids are the next generation and when you become a parent your kids will be the third generation). Indicate three generations with three blocks. You can set them up like Dominoes, so they will knock each other over as you touch the one on the end.
What should we Do?
Ask: "How can God pass on His love to a thousand generations?" (One parent and one child at a time) Say: "Today we will see how parents can pass on something good to their children and they can pass it on to their kids. It's a chain of good things.

6. Today's Slogan: "Family is a good idea because it's God's idea."

7. Activity: Playground Parable
Go to a neighborhood park or playground that has swings or climbing apparatus. Spend fifteen minutes climbing, hanging, swinging and sliding. Try playing Follow the Leader and have a child be the leader - everyone has to copy what he does - including the parents! Try to emphasize that in families we Follow the Leader and we pass on good things to the younger ones.

8. Adapting for:
Younger Children: Choose a park with equipment designed for preschoolers. If weather doesn't permit outdoor activity, go to a mall that has indoor playground equipment.

Teens: Go to the park at night so there's less of a chance that your teen's friends will see him or her! Afterwards, reward them with an ice cream cone. If weather doesn't permit, then consider doing another indoor activity where you can 'follow' each other; like ice-skating, inline skating, bowling, or scaling an indoor climbing wall.

9. Prayer: "Dear Father God, We praise You for making our family. We praise You for including us in Your family. Thank You for making us part of the chain of blessing for a thousand generations. We will be careful to pass on Your love. In Jesus' name, Amen."

©2009 Timothy Smith

Timothy Smith, M.A., is a family coach, author and speaker from Southern CA.
www.ParentsCoach.org He provides coaching in-person and via Skype®; as well as conferences, seminars and retreats.

Blog: www.ParentsCoach.wordpress.com
Twitter: ParentsCoach
tim@ParentsCoach.org, Tel: 805.376.3500