Celebrating All Our Fathers
(Adapted from the Every Day a Father’s Day June 1981 Friend)
Opening Song: “Daddy’s Homecoming” (Children’s Song Book # 210)
Opening Prayer: Child
Lesson: Mommy
“Celebrating All Our Fathers”
Ask your family what a Dad is and let them respond. Ask them when Father’s Day is.
Tell them that everyday a Father is a Father and it doesn’t end when Father’s Day is over with. What are some the things that your Dad does every day for your family? What is for favorite thing about your Daddy?
Who else could be considered a Father to your family? (Grandfather’s, Heavenly Father, Father of the ward, Father of our Country, and add any others that pertain to your family.)
Talk about what makes each of these Fathers everyday of the year not just on Father’s Day.
Talk about how you can make each of these Fathers happy every day.
Here are the ideas from Every Day a Father’s Day:
Heavenly Father
Learn to obey Heavenly Father’s commandments by listening to the counsel of your parents and the instructions from your teachers. Pray to Heavenly Father often. He is real and He loves you. Avoid temptation. Satan is also real, and he can entice you to do things that are wrong.
Earthly Father
Few things please a father more than having a son or daughter who is unselfish, helpful, pleasant, and kind and loving to everyone.
Learn to work hard, study hard, and play hard. When a father’s family is happy, it helps him to become a better kind of person.
Father of the Ward (Bishop)
In addition to his own family, a bishop has responsibility for the welfare of a larger family—all the members of his ward. Another big responsibility the bishop has is the care and upkeep of the meetinghouse. Some of the money paid to the bishop as a contribution to the Church is used to light and heat the building and to pay for many other necessary supplies. The bishop and custodian are especially grateful when we treat the building and all its furnishings and grounds kindly. Remember—it is really the Lord’s house, a place that can be acceptable to Him and a place where we can worship Him in peace and safety.
Father of Your Country
Just as fathers of countries hope that their people will be loyal, patriotic, considerate, and law-abiding citizens who recognize individual differences and needs, local public officials or “City Fathers” have the same hopes and concerns for their people.
If you show that you remember your fathers’ enduring love for you by the way you live, every day can truly be a Fathers’ Day.
Song: “Fathers” (Children’s Song Book # 209)
Activity: Make cards for some of the Fathers that you love and let them know just how much you love them every day of the year.
Closing Song: “My Dad” (Children’s Song Book # 211)
Closing Prayer: Daddy
For a treat make your Dad’s favorite desert.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Self Reliance
(Maybe it is just my part of the world - Australia - but due to world economic situations we have been receiving much counsel on Self Reliance lately. In the last month we have had a stake welfare day, combined PH and RS Welfare lesson, my husband went to regional training that focused on Self Reliance, a lesson based on Elder Hales talk from General Conference and the list could go on. I actually think it is all a little scary and my family definately needs to improve in many areas!! We were challenged on Sunday by our Bishop to do a FHE lesson on Self Reliance, and here is the one I made up )
Family Home Evening Lesson
Self Reliance
Opening Song: "I will be valiant" Children's Songbook #162
Opening Prayer: Daddy
Lesson: Mommy
I got some inspiration for this lesson from Here at Lds.families.com
Talk briefly how it is important for families to be able to look after themselves. You could mention food storage, 72 hour kits, growing a garden, knowing your scripture stories, saving money etc.
Depending on the age of your child choose as many or few activites from below to show/teach your child - This is a hands on FHE!
Spiritual ~
Share Testimonies with each other. Talk about why it is important to have/develop a testimony
Scriptures - look through scriptures and why it is important for us to know the stories therein
Money ~
Have play money (or real) and get children to put in amounts that is spent on food, house, bills, tithing, etc then show how much is left(probably not much LOL!!) - teach it is important to save some money for emergencies (like broken cars, storms, sickness, if daddy loses job etc)
Car ~
Show children where the oil or water or petrol goes in the car, get them to help you. They will enjoy looking at the engine!
Sewing ~
We all need to know how to repair clothes, sew on a button etc. Older children can sew on some scaps of material or a button, younger children could thread beads on string etc
Emotional ~
The need to be happy and be able to move on even when we are sad. Play some games like "If you're happy and you know it" "If you chance to see a frown - turn it upside down" Sit and talk about feelings etc
Food ~
Eat some food storage. Pack 72 hour kits. We have kits with little cereal boxes, muslie bars,chocolate bars, juice box, dried fruit. These go out of date every 6 months so we sit around and eat the contents and pack new ones.
Shelter ~
Build a shelter out of blankets, tarps or set up a small tent. Ask Child if they could make shelter if needed be?
Closing Song: "Dare to do right" Children's Songbook #158
Closing Prayer: Child
Treat:
Food Storage foods :)
Family Home Evening Lesson
Self Reliance
Opening Song: "I will be valiant" Children's Songbook #162
Opening Prayer: Daddy
Lesson: Mommy
I got some inspiration for this lesson from Here at Lds.families.com
Talk briefly how it is important for families to be able to look after themselves. You could mention food storage, 72 hour kits, growing a garden, knowing your scripture stories, saving money etc.
Depending on the age of your child choose as many or few activites from below to show/teach your child - This is a hands on FHE!
Spiritual ~
Share Testimonies with each other. Talk about why it is important to have/develop a testimony
Scriptures - look through scriptures and why it is important for us to know the stories therein
Money ~
Have play money (or real) and get children to put in amounts that is spent on food, house, bills, tithing, etc then show how much is left(probably not much LOL!!) - teach it is important to save some money for emergencies (like broken cars, storms, sickness, if daddy loses job etc)
Car ~
Show children where the oil or water or petrol goes in the car, get them to help you. They will enjoy looking at the engine!
Sewing ~
We all need to know how to repair clothes, sew on a button etc. Older children can sew on some scaps of material or a button, younger children could thread beads on string etc
Emotional ~
The need to be happy and be able to move on even when we are sad. Play some games like "If you're happy and you know it" "If you chance to see a frown - turn it upside down" Sit and talk about feelings etc
Food ~
Eat some food storage. Pack 72 hour kits. We have kits with little cereal boxes, muslie bars,chocolate bars, juice box, dried fruit. These go out of date every 6 months so we sit around and eat the contents and pack new ones.
Shelter ~
Build a shelter out of blankets, tarps or set up a small tent. Ask Child if they could make shelter if needed be?
Closing Song: "Dare to do right" Children's Songbook #158
Closing Prayer: Child
Treat:
Food Storage foods :)
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Speaking Kindly
Family Home Evening Lesson
“Speaking Kindly”Opening Song: “Jesus Said Love Everyone” Children's Songbook #61
Opening Prayer: Child
Lesson: Daddy
Ask your children what kindess is. Explain that kindess is being nice to people. (show a picture of Jesus) Jesus was always nice to everyone and we should try to be like Him. One way to show kindess is to speak nicely.
Object lesson: Filling Other's Jars
Have an empty clear jar or cup on display. You can have one for each child (you can tape a picture of each child on the jar/cup). Then have a bowl of marbles (or candy) and a bowl of rocks (or something the kids don't like eating). Explain that the bowl of marbles/candy represents nice words (you can tape a picture of a smiley face on the bowl) and the bowl of rocks/yucky food represent mean words (you can tape a picture of a frowny face on the bowl). Explain that every time we say something to others it is like putting something in their jar. Give an example of something said recently and put the appropriate rock or marble in the jar. (ex: child A called child B a snot face. Put a rock in child B's jar. OR child A told child B that he loved her. Put a marble in child B's jar) Do as many examples as hold their attention and make them as relevant to the phrases they use or should be using as you can. (You may want to write them down ahead of time so you can remember which ones you want to discourage or encourage)
Ask the children if they would prefer their jars to be filled with rocks or marbles? How do they feel when a rock gets put in their jar? What about when a marble gets put in their jar? Tell them that we are in charge of fillling each other's jars and we should fill them the way that we want ours filled (the golden rule). You can keep these jars on display throughout the week and add the appropriate rocks/marbles as you hear kind words or not so kind words. Make sure to reinforce kind speaking if you hear unkind words. (We are having issues with our 4 year old talking back, so we'll probably do jars for Mom and Dad as well)
Update: My 4 1/2 year old really latched on to the idea of putting rocks or marbles in people's jars. It really seemed to resonate with her and she was able to easily apply the concept. She was able to come up with many things that were considered rocks or marbles throughout the rest of the evening. My 2 1/2 year old just wanted to put the rocks or marbles in her jar, regardless of why...
Practicing Tone: Let's practice speaking in different ways. First say "No Thankyou" but in an angry voice. Now say "No Thankyou" in a happy voice. Which was a kinder tone? Now try shouting "Go get the book!" Now whisper it. Which was better? Now say "I love you" with a frown and a pouty voice, then with a smile and a sweet voice. Point out that it is much kinder to smile while saying nice things. Emphasize that to speak kindly it's not just the words that matter, but it's the way we speak- our tone, volume, expression/body language. You may want to practice more phrases depending on your children.
Suggested Activity:
Play "Kindness ball toss" by tossing a ball to someone in the family and saying something nice about that person. Prompt young children to say easy things like "Pretty eyes", "I love you", or "Nice shirt."
Craft:
Closing Song: “I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus" Children's Songbook #78
Closing Prayer: Mommy
Treat:
1. For each Goblin Tongue sandwich, spread cream cheese between the top and bottom of a mini bagel.
Help children to decorate their jars, use sequins, beads, stickers, ribbons, whatever you have on hand. (Both my girls loved this part)
Closing Song: “I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus" Children's Songbook #78
Closing Prayer: Mommy
Treat:
Goblin Tongues from FamilyFun.com (mouths and tongues to emphasize paying attention to what words are coming out of our mouths)
RECIPE INGREDIENTS: | |
 | Mini bagels |
| Cream cheese |
| Bologna slices |
2. Use a butter knife or kitchen shears to cut a tongue shape from a half slice of bologna. Then gently press the base of the tongue into the bagel hole.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Honesty
Family Home Evening Lesson
Honesty
Opening Song: "Our Primary Colors" Children's Song Book #258
Opening Prayer: Daddy
Lesson: Mommy
Using a packet of feather ask children to place feathers in different spots around the room. Tell this story - Imagine you were asked to go around the entire neighbourhood and leave a feather on the doorstep of each person.
Using a book or like blow the feathers from their original spots
The next day their assignment is to gather the feathers from the doorsteps
Explain how it would be difficult to collect the feathers as the wind would have blown the feathers away at night.
This is how satan convinces us it is easy to tell a lie or say mean things about people. It's as easy as placing a feather down. However it is very hard to gather feathers once they have been blown away. As with lying or saying mean things, they come out of our mouth easy, but it is impossible to take them back.
Activity: Place a coin (or chocolate coin) in children's shoes and tell this story from President Hinckleys life (a story his father told him or you can see the video on You Tube Mormon Messages HERE )
An older boy and his companion were walking along a road by a field. The saw an old coat and a worn pair of mens shoes. The younger boy suggested they hide the shoes, conceal themselves and watch the owner wonder where his shoes are.
The older boy, thought that would not be nice. He said the owner must be very poor. He suggested instead that they put a silver dollar in each shoe, and then hide and see what the man does when he finds the coins.
Soon the man came tried to slip on his shoes and found the silver dollars. Wonder and surprise showed in his face. He looked around but could find nobody. Then man knelt down and gave a prayer thanking Heavenly Father for whoever put the money there. The man had a sick wife and children without any bread.
The boys hid until the man was gone. The older boy said "Don't you have a good feeling? Aren't you glad we didn't try to trick the man by hiding his shoes?"
Tell the family members to look in their shoes.
Encourage them to be honest and kind to others.
Closing Song: "I believe in being Honest" Children's Songbook #149
Closing Prayer: Mommy
Treat:
Chocolate Coins
Cotton Candy (is this feathery??)
Honesty
Opening Song: "Our Primary Colors" Children's Song Book #258
Opening Prayer: Daddy
Lesson: Mommy
Using a packet of feather ask children to place feathers in different spots around the room. Tell this story - Imagine you were asked to go around the entire neighbourhood and leave a feather on the doorstep of each person.
Using a book or like blow the feathers from their original spots
The next day their assignment is to gather the feathers from the doorsteps
Explain how it would be difficult to collect the feathers as the wind would have blown the feathers away at night.
This is how satan convinces us it is easy to tell a lie or say mean things about people. It's as easy as placing a feather down. However it is very hard to gather feathers once they have been blown away. As with lying or saying mean things, they come out of our mouth easy, but it is impossible to take them back.
Activity: Place a coin (or chocolate coin) in children's shoes and tell this story from President Hinckleys life (a story his father told him or you can see the video on You Tube Mormon Messages HERE )
An older boy and his companion were walking along a road by a field. The saw an old coat and a worn pair of mens shoes. The younger boy suggested they hide the shoes, conceal themselves and watch the owner wonder where his shoes are.
The older boy, thought that would not be nice. He said the owner must be very poor. He suggested instead that they put a silver dollar in each shoe, and then hide and see what the man does when he finds the coins.
Soon the man came tried to slip on his shoes and found the silver dollars. Wonder and surprise showed in his face. He looked around but could find nobody. Then man knelt down and gave a prayer thanking Heavenly Father for whoever put the money there. The man had a sick wife and children without any bread.
The boys hid until the man was gone. The older boy said "Don't you have a good feeling? Aren't you glad we didn't try to trick the man by hiding his shoes?"
Tell the family members to look in their shoes.
Encourage them to be honest and kind to others.
Closing Song: "I believe in being Honest" Children's Songbook #149
Closing Prayer: Mommy
Treat:
Chocolate Coins
Cotton Candy (is this feathery??)
Monday, May 4, 2009
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Friday, April 24, 2009
Service
FYI: The Church has come out with a new Gospel Art Book which sells for only $3.50 in comparison to the Gospel Art Picture Kit that is $30. You can pick one up at a distribution center or order online. It would be a great resource for your Family Home Evenings!
“Service”
Opening Song: "Give, Said the Little Stream" (Children's Songbook, 236)
Opening Prayer: Child
Lesson: Mommy
Lesson: Mommy
As you begin the lesson, “accidentally” spill some crayons, papers, or other materials onto the floor. Wait a moment before picking the items up to give the children a chance to help you. (If no children volunteer, ask the children to help.)
Thank the children for helping you and compliment them for taking an opportunity to serve. Explain that when we help others without asking for something in return, it is called service. Have the children repeat the word service with you.
Talk about ways that we serve every day (cooking food for others, helping to do chores, giving cookies to someone in need). Point out specific ways that your children have served that day (helping to empty the dishwasher, getting a clean diaper for a baby sibling, throwing something away for you, etc). You can also ask them to come up with ways that they have served or service they have seen Mommy or Daddy do, if they are old enough.
Show picture of Jesus Washing the Apostles' Feet (GAPK 226). Point out that Jesus is serving the apostles by washing their dirty feet. Even Jesus served. He was a good example of service and He wants us to serve others. Jesus gave Himself by serving others. He didn’t give gifts that cost money. He blessed the sick to get well, the blind to see, the lame to walk, and the sad to feel happy.
Suggested Activity:
Have children color a picture or card to send to a grandparent or someone who is sick or in need. Explain that it is a service to send something nice to someone.
Go on a walk in your neighborhood with a couple of trashbags and clean up the trash. Explain that you are serving the earth by keeping it clean and you are serving those around you by making their surroundings beautiful.
For older children: Make three small paper hearts for each child. Tell the children that you want to start a “Service in Secret Club.” Encourage the children do secret acts of service for their family members, leaving a heart in each place they did an act of service. For example, they could make a brother or sister’s bed and leave a heart on the pillow.
Closing Song: "I Feel my Savior's Love" (verse 4) (Children's Songbook, 74)
Closing Prayer: Daddy
Treat: Make cookies or a favorite treat (rice krispy treats are quick and easy) together and deliver one plate to the neighbors. You can ding dong ditch and show the kids how fun it is to do a secret service!
Closing Prayer: Daddy
Treat: Make cookies or a favorite treat (rice krispy treats are quick and easy) together and deliver one plate to the neighbors. You can ding dong ditch and show the kids how fun it is to do a secret service!
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Resurrection Eggs
Easter
Opening Song: Did Jesus Really live again? Children's Songbook #64
Opening Prayer: Mommy
Lesson: Daddy
Each year my girls love to do resurrection eggs some time during easter. The FHE leading up to Easter is a good time to get them to start thinking about the real meaning of Easter.
This year I bought a proper set of eggs from our local christian bookstore (No LDS bookstores in Australia :( but in previous years I have always made my own from things around the house to be put into plastic eggs
Here is an example of things you can put in the 12 eggs. You could make as little or as few eggs as you desire. This list comes from Rainbow Castle.org
Allow children to choose eggs one at a time to open. Talk about what is inside. The Empty egg should be kept for last.
1. (Bread) Matthew 26:26
While they were eating Jesus took a piece of bread,
gave a prayer of thanks, broke it, and gave it to His disciples.
"Take and eat it," He said, "This is My body."
2. (Coins) Matthew 26: 14-15
Then one of the twelve disciples, named Judas Iscariot, went to
the chief priests and asked, "What will you give me if I betray
Jesus to you?" They counted out thirty silver coins and gave
them to him.
3. (Purple cloth, representing a purple robe) Mark 15:17
They put a purple robe on Jesus. . .
4. (Thorns) Matthew 27:29
Then they made a crown out of thorny branches and placed it on
His head, and put a stick on His right hand; then they knelt
before Him and made fun of Him. "Long live the King, of the
Jews!" they said.
5. (Scourge-a small piece of rope or thick string) Mark 15:15
Pilate wanted to please the crowd, so he set Barabbas free for
them. Then he had Jesus whipped and handed Him over to be
crucified.
6. (Cross) John 19: 17-18a
He went out, carrying His cross, and came to "The Place of the
Skull," as it is called. (In Hebrew it is called "Galgotha.") There
they crucified Him.
7. (Nails) John 20:25b
Thomas said to them, "Unless I see the scars of the nails in His
hands and put my finger on those scars and my hand in His
side, I will not believe."
8. (Sign) Luke 23:38
Above Him were written these words: THIS IS THE KING OF
THE JEWS.
9. (Sponge) Matthew 27:48
One of them ran up at once, took a sponge, soaked it in cheap
wine, put it on the end of a stick, and tried to make Him drink it.
10. (Spear) John 19:34
One of the soldiers plunged his spear into Jesus' side, and at
once blood and water poured out.
11. (Rock) Matthew 27:59-60
Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a new linen sheet, and
placed it in his own new tomb, which he had just recently dug
out of solid rock. Then he rolled a large stone across the
entrance to the tomb and went away.
12. (Empty) Matthew 28:6
He is not here He has risen just as He said.
Other links to resurrection egg ideas online with different ideas of what to put in the eggs
Easy Fun School
Resurrection eggs scavenger hunt
Closing Song: "He died that we might live again Children's Songbook #65
Closing Prayer: Child
Treat Ideas:
Easter Basket Cupcakes
Chocolate Easter Nests
Opening Song: Did Jesus Really live again? Children's Songbook #64
Opening Prayer: Mommy
Lesson: Daddy
Each year my girls love to do resurrection eggs some time during easter. The FHE leading up to Easter is a good time to get them to start thinking about the real meaning of Easter.
This year I bought a proper set of eggs from our local christian bookstore (No LDS bookstores in Australia :( but in previous years I have always made my own from things around the house to be put into plastic eggs
Here is an example of things you can put in the 12 eggs. You could make as little or as few eggs as you desire. This list comes from Rainbow Castle.org
Allow children to choose eggs one at a time to open. Talk about what is inside. The Empty egg should be kept for last.
1. (Bread) Matthew 26:26
While they were eating Jesus took a piece of bread,
gave a prayer of thanks, broke it, and gave it to His disciples.
"Take and eat it," He said, "This is My body."
2. (Coins) Matthew 26: 14-15
Then one of the twelve disciples, named Judas Iscariot, went to
the chief priests and asked, "What will you give me if I betray
Jesus to you?" They counted out thirty silver coins and gave
them to him.
3. (Purple cloth, representing a purple robe) Mark 15:17
They put a purple robe on Jesus. . .
4. (Thorns) Matthew 27:29
Then they made a crown out of thorny branches and placed it on
His head, and put a stick on His right hand; then they knelt
before Him and made fun of Him. "Long live the King, of the
Jews!" they said.
5. (Scourge-a small piece of rope or thick string) Mark 15:15
Pilate wanted to please the crowd, so he set Barabbas free for
them. Then he had Jesus whipped and handed Him over to be
crucified.
6. (Cross) John 19: 17-18a
He went out, carrying His cross, and came to "The Place of the
Skull," as it is called. (In Hebrew it is called "Galgotha.") There
they crucified Him.
7. (Nails) John 20:25b
Thomas said to them, "Unless I see the scars of the nails in His
hands and put my finger on those scars and my hand in His
side, I will not believe."
8. (Sign) Luke 23:38
Above Him were written these words: THIS IS THE KING OF
THE JEWS.
9. (Sponge) Matthew 27:48
One of them ran up at once, took a sponge, soaked it in cheap
wine, put it on the end of a stick, and tried to make Him drink it.
10. (Spear) John 19:34
One of the soldiers plunged his spear into Jesus' side, and at
once blood and water poured out.
11. (Rock) Matthew 27:59-60
Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a new linen sheet, and
placed it in his own new tomb, which he had just recently dug
out of solid rock. Then he rolled a large stone across the
entrance to the tomb and went away.
12. (Empty) Matthew 28:6
He is not here He has risen just as He said.
Other links to resurrection egg ideas online with different ideas of what to put in the eggs
Easy Fun School
Resurrection eggs scavenger hunt
Closing Song: "He died that we might live again Children's Songbook #65
Closing Prayer: Child
Treat Ideas:
Easter Basket Cupcakes
Chocolate Easter Nests
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