For Parents

Dear Parents,

Date Clarification: There continues to be confusion about one of the biggest changes made in the GraceLink curriculum: lessons are designed to be presented FIRST in Sabbath School and then reinforced at home the week following. Churches and teachers and parents who haven’t implemented this change continue to be confused about the discrepancy between the distribution dates indicated on the covers of Primary Treasure and Our Little Friend and the dates the lessons in those magazines are being taught in their church. The dates of Primary Treasure and Our Little Friendcoincide with the dates on the Bible Study Guide (quarterly) contents page, but there is still much confusion.

I can see wisdom in both ways of presenting the lessons so have nothing to urge except that you talk with Sabbath School leaders and/or Sabbath School secretaries so that the magazines are distributed to children either on the Sabbath indicated by the distribution date or else on the Sabbath when children are expected to begin reviewing the lessons for the next week–depending on which way the lessons are being taught. I’m hoping to find a good way to indicate either date on the cover of the magazines, but haven’t hit on it yet.

A Book You Need: I just got this letter from a Primary child: “Why do parents aways give you lectures? It just gets on my nerves, and please don’t say its because they care because they do it all the time. Please tell me why.” I answered that perhaps it was because they felt she didn’t listen. But I really wanted to write to the parents (which I can’t because I don’t know the contact info and because of privacy laws, etc.) and say “Run to the nearest bookstore and get a copy of the book How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk.” All the books by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish are marvelous, but this one is the basis for the others. It is easy to read (lots of pictures) and the communication skills work well with almost anyone.

Parenting Links:

Protecting Your Children Against Molesters and Predators. It is something no one wants to talk about, but child sexual abuse is a horrible reality in today’s world. Most abuse is perpetrated by people your child knows and trusts. People you also know and trust. Below there are links to sites that can help parents protect their children.

   Advice about Child Molesters: http://www.safest.org/

   Advice about Cyber Bullying: www.cyberbullying.org

Links to Check Out With and/or For Your Children:

Guide Magazine: http://www.guidemagazine.org/

VeggieTales Fun: http://www.veggietales.com/

Your Story Hour: http://www.yourstoryhour.org/

For ideas on how to teach your children the fundamental beliefs of Seventh-day Adventist: www.childmin.org/fundamentals

4Kids Organization helps you keep your kids’ internet experiences safe: www.4kids.org/safesurf/

Safe secular sites for kids: http://www.kidsites.com/

McGruff’s Child Safety Center: http://www.mcgruff.org/

It’s My Life by PBS Kids is a secular site, but has very good answers to dilemmas faced by many older Primary kids: http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/index.html

Sabbath School Links:

Ellen White ‘Visionary’ for Kids A quarterly electronic magazine focused on youth aged 9-14 published by the Ellen G. White Estate.

VOP Kids Zone A Bible study site just for kids from Voice of Prophecy.

Super Resource: http://www.kidshealth.org Lots and lots of answers to lots and lots of the questions kids ask. Lots!

You are in my thoughts and prayers,
Anita Seymour
Managing Editor, Our Little Friend / Primary Treasure

A Book You Need: I just got this letter from a Primary child: “Why do parents aways give you lectures? It just gets on my nerves, and please don’t say its because they care because they do it all the time. Please tell me why.” I answered that perhaps it was because they felt she didn’t listen. But I really wanted to write to the parents (which I can’t because I don’t know the contact info and because of privacy laws, etc.) and say “Run to the nearest bookstore and get a copy of the book How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk.” All the books by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish are marvelous, but this one is the basis for the others. It is easy to read (lots of pictures) and the communication skills work well with almost anyone.

Parenting Links:

Protecting Your Children Against Molesters and Predators. It is something no one wants to talk about, but child sexual abuse is a horrible reality in today’s world. Most abuse is perpetrated by people your child knows and trusts. People you also know and trust. Below there are links to sites that can help parents protect their children.

   Advice about Child Molesters: http://www.safest.org/

   Advice about Cyber Bullying: www.cyberbullying.org

Links to Check Out With and/or For Your Children:

Guide Magazine: http://www.guidemagazine.org/

VeggieTales Fun: http://www.veggietales.com/

Your Story Hour: http://www.yourstoryhour.org/

For ideas on how to teach your children the fundamental beliefs of Seventh-day Adventist: www.childmin.org/fundamentals

4Kids Organization helps you keep your kids’ internet experiences safe: www.4kids.org/safesurf/

Safe secular sites for kids: http://www.kidsites.com/

McGruff’s Child Safety Center: http://www.mcgruff.org/

It’s My Life by PBS Kids is a secular site, but has very good answers to dilemmas faced by many older Primary kids: http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/index.html

Sabbath School Links:

Ellen White ‘Visionary’ for Kids A quarterly electronic magazine focused on youth aged 9-14 published by the Ellen G. White Estate.

VOP Kids Zone A Bible study site just for kids from Voice of Prophecy.

Super Resource: http://www.kidshealth.org Lots and lots of answers to lots and lots of the questions kids ask. Lots!