Today, we kicked off a week focusing on FOOD! It is essential for life. So let’s have some fun looking at something we all need.
On Monday, we shared 7 Brain foods – choices that help kids stay sharp.
As the school year wraps up, these food choices could help your kids face the end of the year projects and exams.
Click HERE to read the full article from patch.com
The article has Parent Tips for each food choice!
Easter is coming soon! Thursday’s show was for the Kids in your family.
Check out these FUN ideas for your family from www.imom.com.
The Morning Thing is focusing on local ministries this week. WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart talked with Kandee Popham, Executive Director for Place 4 Grace.
Kandee shared how the Place 4 Grace team has learned some valuable lessons this past year. She also shared how God has richly blessed them in the midst of this pandemic.
Kandee shares great news about recent fundraising for the ministry. She also shares about the board’s recent approval for the official opening!
Kandee shares goals for 2021 and the exciting news that Place 4 Grace is hiring multiple positions.
Click HERE to hear their conversation.
For more details on the ministry and how to support them, follow Place 4 Grace online:
Website – https://place4grace.com/
Facebook Page – https://www.facebook.com/Place4Grace
Today, we kicked off Valentine’s Week on the show. Every day, we’ll talk about topics that deal with love.
Today, we shared 10 Valentine’s Day Ideas for your family from Family Life.
Start some new traditions with your children during the holiday of love.
Click HERE to see the full article.
1. Ask the kids to tell you how they think Valentine’s Day began. Write down what they say. Then do some research with the children, online or at the library, and see if their ideas are correct.
2. Designate the month of February as a time to show special love in your home. Read the following paraphrase together of 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (The Message).
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
Then discuss each of the above characteristics of love at the dinner table on separate nights. For example, “Love never gives up.” How have friends and family stood by one another in good and bad times? What did God do after Adam and Eve sinned that showed that He did not give up on mankind?
3. Plan a unique scavenger hunt with the kids for Dad (or Mom). Help the children make and hide clues, taping a small chocolate kiss on each one. Have meaningful gifts at the end of the hunt. Possibilities include handwritten notes of love and appreciation, personal certificates of service (I will wash your car, clean out the garage, cook dinner, etc.), drawings, homemade treats, framed family pictures, etc. To make the scavenger hunt extra special, end your time with a family trip to the pizza parlor or bowling alley.
4. As a family, think of those who may be especially lonely on Valentine’s Day, then brainstorm ways that you could show Christ’s love to them. The kids may want to make unique Valentine cards, bake heart-shaped cookies, or invite them to a special lunch or dinner.
5. Cultivate a sense of appreciation in your children by helping them express appreciation to their grandparents. Have each of the kids write Grandma and Grandpa individual Valentine’s Day notes. On February 14, personally deliver the notes along with an arrangement of flowers or a balloon bouquet. If grandparents live out-of-town, mail each note in a separate envelope and also call Grandma and Grandpa.
6. Make February 14 a “red letter day” for your family. Decorate the kitchen or dining room with hearts, red and white streamers, and heart-shaped balloons. Wear a red outfit or apron and serve the family heart-shaped pancakes; add some red food coloring to the syrup. Make heart-shaped sandwiches for lunch, and choose dinner entrees that are red.
7. Mail each of your children a Valentine’s card from you and your spouse. Share not only why you love your child unconditionally, but also your gratitude to God that your son/daughter is your child.
8. Tell your children how you celebrated Valentine’s Day as a child. Then have the kids call/visit their grandparents to see how they celebrated it. Talk about ways that Valentine traditions have not only changed, but also remained the same.
9. Help the kids make an “I love you because” book for someone special (parent, grandparent, pastor, teacher, etc.). In addition to writing and drawing heartfelt messages, include some favorite photographs and artwork. For a lasting keepsake, have the book bound at a local print shop.
10. With your spouse, decide on personalized ways that you can show love to each of your children on Valentine’s Day. Spend time praying about how to best do this. While love for one child may be expressed by time, another may feel loved by words of affirmation or gifts. You may want to read The Five Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell.
On Monday’s show, we shared a simple way to start family devotions.
Three tips to help you succeed (from Focus on the Family):
Set a reasonable goal – Once a week do something active to teach a spiritual truth. The kids will have fun — and their enthusiasm will fuel you to keep going.
Keep the tie-in time short – Great family devotions get one nugget of truth across after the activity. One. This shouldn’t take more than five minutes. Your kids won’t have time to get bored — and will remember the application. This will fire you up to prepare the next lesson.
With multiple age groups, focus on the older kids – If you bring the level of your devotions down to your youngest, your oldest will think family devotions are only for younger kids. They’ll check out, and you may not get them back for the balance of that devotion — or for future ones. Remember, you’ve got less years to impact your older kids, and likely they’re closer to the bigger dangers. As long as you keep the older kids actively engaged, you’ll find leading family devotions makes a difference, even with your younger kids, and you won’t be tempted to quit.
Click HERE to read the entire article from Focus on the Family, including some great resources for every age group in your family.
We also talked about how to do “devotions on the GO”.
Click HERE to learn more.
Click HERE to access 52 free devotions for your family from Focus on the Family.
Picture from focusonthefamily.com
On Monday, The Morning Thing shared some insight from the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program. We shared tips on supporting healthy relationships and managing disagreements during COVID-19. This is a timely topic as Marcy and Wesley return from quarantine.
September is friendship month and we talked about friendship this morning on the show.
We talked about two different parts of friendship. During the 6 o’clock hour we talked about what we should look for when choosing our friends. If you want to see the full list click HERE.
In the 8 o’clock hour we talked about how to fix a broken friendship. Another list that talks about how we can fix a relationship that was broken because of something that we did. If you want to see that list click HERE.
On Wednesday’s show we talked about birth order. Whether you were born first, middle, or last there are traits that you are more likely to show and reasons why those traits are part of you.
We also talked about the strengths and challenges that each child faces when it comes to birth order.
If you missed anything everything that we talked about and more can be found HERE.
It’s a Week of Encouragement on The Morning Thing. Today (8/27), we took the encouragement to the family.
We shared some fun family activities you can try out on a weekend.
We all know that this school year is going to be different.
We hope that these ideas can help you plan some special weekend activities to keep your family encouraged throughout the week.
Check out these 14 Fun Weekend Family Activities from imom.com
Click HERE to see the list. Some of these activities will have restrictions because of Covid-19.
Go to a local high school football, basketball or any other game. Games will usually cost anywhere up to $5 and are sometimes even free for kids! To make this even more fun, collect plastic bottles and any cardboard/poster board to make signs and noisemakers to cheer your team on.
Take the kids on a mystery trip. Give them clues about your destination as you get closer. It can be something as simple as an ice cream shop or a playground, or a trip to a museum or amusement park. The possible destinations are endless—just make it a surprise!
Put your child in the spotlight and put on a family play. You can make this as simple or detailed as you want by creating costumes, props, tickets, and maybe even some yummy refreshments. This is also a great opportunity to record a home video!
Let your children prepare a meal and serve it to you and your husband restaurant style. This is a great way for them to have fun in the kitchen and a memorable experience for everyone!
Plant flowers (indoors in a flower pot or outside). Let your child pick out what kind of flower he or she wants to plant and teach them how to take care of it.
Get to know the family of one of your child’s friends by having the family over for a cookout.
Let your kids take photos, print them, and make a photo album—then have the kids think of captions. Photo albums are easy, fun, and serve as a great keepsake!
Have a fun, free scavenger hunt. You can make up fun clues and even have a prize at the end! If you aren’t too sure where to start, look up some ideas on the internet to get you going.
Go on a bike ride that ends with a picnic. Map your route before you leave, choosing new and interesting destinations each week. This day will be full of fun, food, and great exercise!
Have a spa hour—paint each other’s nails, do your hair, and let them put makeup on you. To make your spa day even better, wear bathrobes and put on some soothing tunes!
Build an obstacle course and let each family member compete for the best time. You can even make certificates or medals for everyone.
Have a garage sale and let your kids decide how to spend the proceeds on a family day. Who says you can’t have fun and tidy up the garage at the same time?
Plan a secret surprise for someone in need. For example, cook a meal for someone or mow their lawn without them knowing who did it.
Tell ghost stories, look at the stars, and enjoy some yummy s’mores all in the comfort of your very own backyard.
We also shared some ideas for some Family Summer Activity Alternatives During Covid-19 from verywellfamily.com
Click HERE to see the full list.
Even though summer is wrapping up, you can still get some great ideas from this list.
When You Can’t Visit the Pool
When You Can’t Go on Vacation
When You Can’t Have a Party
OTHER fun IDEAS
On Wednesday’s show Hunter talked about some risks that you should let your child take. These are things that you should let your child to in order to teach them how to handle risk responsibly and safely. Kids like being able to do things and allowing them to do some of these things in your presence is better than them attempting it with their friends.
If you missed anything from the show click HERE.
Rise and Shine 