Lovedtodeath Posted August 3, 2011 Share Posted August 3, 2011 I just read an article on the subject and I found it surprising. I was wondering what you all had to say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tangomoon Posted August 3, 2011 Share Posted August 3, 2011 I don't remember. That sounds awful to say, but it just came out of natural conversations around the house, so it wasn't planned out according to any certain approach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigs Posted August 3, 2011 Share Posted August 3, 2011 I just read an article What article? online or print? :bigear: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bairnmama Posted August 3, 2011 Share Posted August 3, 2011 It's hard to say exactly... but we tried to focus on God as Creator first. He made the trees, grass, animals, them... everything! After that, I went to His love for them and the world He created. There are many other concepts I tried to instill: He's perfect, knows everything and is everywhere (omnipotent & omnipresent to give the big words we don't use till they're older). Like the pp said, these things were talked about during everyday things and not sit down specific lessons. Just brought into conversations as the opportunity arose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted August 3, 2011 Share Posted August 3, 2011 1. God created everything in the universe. 2. God is all powerful, all knowing, all merciful, and all good. 3. God loved us so much that He died on the cross so that we have the chance to go to Heaven. This is obviously not in order of importance, but I find that Christ as Savior is harder for young children to understand than "God made everything" and "God can do anything". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacie Leigh Posted August 3, 2011 Share Posted August 3, 2011 That He made them (ie, they are special, here for a reason) That He knows them (because He made them) That He loves them (no matter what they do) The story of his son, Jesus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted August 3, 2011 Share Posted August 3, 2011 Being Catholic the first thing I taught dd was to pray some of our common prayers. ( I specified because I know some other Christians don't do common prayers.) She got good at folding her hands and saying "amen." We were going to church since before she was born so the mass came second nature. There was the phase about 3.5 with "Who Made It" I had to answer God or humans. I don't know what specifically came next. I remember she thought our parish priest was God for a while. I'm not sure how that came about but it was rectified pretty quickly. I suppose after that any specific teaching was when she received her FHC and was confirmed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarcyB Posted August 3, 2011 Share Posted August 3, 2011 I don't know that there was anything we specifically 'taught' first. Our faith is so encompassing to our life, that it's talked about all the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrresistibleGrace Posted August 3, 2011 Share Posted August 3, 2011 That He made them (ie, they are special, here for a reason)That He knows them (because He made them) That He loves them (no matter what they do) The story of his son, Jesus :iagree: Good answer Stacie! I agree with this and would add that we make sure our children know from early on that God is in control and we can always trust Him and His word. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momma aimee Posted August 3, 2011 Share Posted August 3, 2011 uh never thought about it i guess 'in life" vs "in school" is a bit differnt. application: *be quiet respectful of pray academic / be able to say or explain God made everything God made him (me, us) and God crafted us to Work for Him God speaks to us and hears us God Man His Son man for us Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle O. in MO Posted August 3, 2011 Share Posted August 3, 2011 Well, I guess we try to teach our children how much God loves them first. Then we stress that He is forgiving - that there is no condemnation in Christ. We all make mistakes - there is no one perfect - just Jesus, so we must try to be forgiving as well. Third is that God made all of us with free will, free will to choose Him (or not), etc., so we need to respect the free will of other people. Fourth is that if they choose to follow Christ, they must count the cost - it is not an easy path - a relationship with Christ is a humbling road, a dying to oneself, an entire life lesson in patience. I guess these are the four top things we've tried to instill in our two kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forty-two Posted August 3, 2011 Share Posted August 3, 2011 1) That God loves us. 2) That Jesus died on the cross to take away our sins. 3) That Jesus rose from the dead, and therefore so will we. 4) That God creates and strengthens our faith through the means of grace - the Word and Sacraments - and that's why we go to church, to be refreshed and renewed through God's gifts. The above wasn't planned, but it's what came up as we lived our lives, and is a fair representation of what's most important to us - good that it worked out that way :). We also teach the Bible and the catachism through our devotions, which include common prayers and Bible texts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lionfamily1999 Posted August 3, 2011 Share Posted August 3, 2011 I think we started with bedtime prayers, so I guess it's that God loves them, cares about them, and wants them to be and feel safe. Then, it splits up a lot :p I think the next thing with Jocelyn had to do with the Holy Spirit. With Drew is more along the lines of turning to God in times of need. With Luke, we moved on to creation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2squared Posted August 3, 2011 Share Posted August 3, 2011 I remember she thought our parish priest was God for a while. I'm not sure how that came about but it was rectified pretty quickly. All my dc have though the same thing around 3yo. The first time I didn't know what to think, but now I find it cute. Not so cute is when your 3yo whispers (as only a 3yo can), "Does that God in purple have a penis?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tntgoodwin Posted August 3, 2011 Share Posted August 3, 2011 1. God made everything, including them. 2. God loves them. 3. Jesus died for them. 4.??? It's not anything formal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HRAAB Posted August 3, 2011 Share Posted August 3, 2011 God is All-Loving and All-Good (in spite of how we humans have messed it up). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mama Geek Posted August 3, 2011 Share Posted August 3, 2011 We've been reading the bible to dd since she was born. Most of the time we just pick a book and read it for several days until we finish it. Sometimes dh and I will be discussing something specific and read passages on the topic at hand instead. We often say the Lord's Prayer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted August 3, 2011 Share Posted August 3, 2011 (edited) my youngest has SPD (and I'm pretty sure is ASD - we're on the waitlist), so I've really had to pay attention to proactively teaching him. in no particular order God loves us - more than mommy and daddy, and gave us our family God is real He wants to help us do what's right because it will make us happy He is always there Edited August 3, 2011 by gardenmom5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted August 3, 2011 Share Posted August 3, 2011 All my dc have though the same thing around 3yo. The first time I didn't know what to think, but now I find it cute. Not so cute is when your 3yo whispers (as only a 3yo can), "Does that God in purple have a penis?" :lol: Finally someone has been able to beat my toddler in church story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teachin'Mine Posted August 3, 2011 Share Posted August 3, 2011 1. God created everything in the universe.2. God is all powerful, all knowing, all merciful, and all good. 3. God loved us so much that He died on the cross so that we have the chance to go to Heaven. This is obviously not in order of importance, but I find that Christ as Savior is harder for young children to understand than "God made everything" and "God can do anything". Yes - this! And ... listen to His Mama as she'll always lead you to her Son. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hedgehog Posted August 3, 2011 Share Posted August 3, 2011 I don't know that there was anything we specifically 'taught' first. Our faith is so encompassing to our life, that it's talked about all the time. This. God as a creator probably came up first, followed by the concept of God as our loving, Heavenly Father. Everything else follows on from that, really. It depends on the child's questions, quite often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovedtodeath Posted August 4, 2011 Author Share Posted August 4, 2011 What article? online or print?:bigear: It was the August 1st 2011 Public Watchtower http://www.jw.org/index.html?option=QrYQCsVrGZNT I thought that it was odd that all of the scriptures that they chose to teach about God were in the Old Testament. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zenjenn Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 You didn't ask, but just for a Jewish perspective: 1. God is THE Creator 2. God is THE Lawgiver 3. God is THE Comforter 4. God is One. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joyofsixreboot Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 I never had plan. I guess 1. God loves them. 2. God will always love them. 3. God sent Jesus because he loves them. 4. God will never leave them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigs Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 It was the August 1st 2011 Public Watchtower http://www.jw.org/index.html?option=QrYQCsVrGZNT Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alphabetika Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 He's real. He is the creator. He is holy. He is both loving and just. Never really thought about the order, or the "Firsts" but this is what comes to mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specialmama Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 A friend told me about her friend whose child was kidnapped. A 6 year old girl, if memory serves me. It's been about 20 years now and they haven't heard from her, the police haven't turned anything up... it's just a mystery. The only comfort that mom has is that she taught her dd the song Jesus Loves Me, and emphasized that God is with her always, even when you feel all alone, even though you can't see Him. :crying: I've taken that story to heart. If I had to get the foundational stuff in, it'd be: 1) Jesus loves you SOOOOO much. 2) He is with you wherever you are, no matter what, even though you can't see Him. Those 2 truths top it all, IMO. Secondary would be: 3) His grace renews every day. 4) He died so that you could live. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JenniferB Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 The only comfort that mom has is that she taught her dd the song Jesus Loves Me, and emphasized that God is with her always, even when you feel all alone, even though you can't see Him. :crying: This song got me through all sorts of hard times as a child: parents divorcing, boyfriends in the house, etc. etc. This song is so precious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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