August 23 KIDS Curriculum

Game Break - Enjoy a fun activity with your kids because God loves when we are joyful in His presence.

This Week's Worship - "We Won’t Be Quiet" & "Undignified" - Watch with lyrics and motions. (You can also listen to our Spotify Playlist.)

Virtual Kids Ministry Video - Watch a quick video from our KIDS team to get you ready for this week's lesson.

 

BIBLE STORY (Younger Kids)

Story Video for Younger Kids - Watch this week's Bible story with your younger kids from Crossroads Kids' Club. This week, our teaching is about the Good News: if we believe in Jesus and what He did for us, we get to be a part of His family forever! 

 

BIBLE STORY (Older Kids)

Story Video for Older Kids - Watch this week's Bible story with your older kids from Crossroads Kids' Club. This week, our biblical story is about how God planned the redemption and rescue of His children from the very beginning. Everything is a part of His story.

 

FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES

Bible Review Activities (PDF) - There are several small activities that we as a staff have set up for you to do with your kids throughout the week. 

Kids Devotionals - Each week, there will be several days of devotionals for your kids specific to that week's lesson.  You can download and print a PDF or access on the Heights App.

Does the start of the school year look different than it did last year?  Maybe you are at a brand new school this year; maybe just changed schools and your child doesn’t know anyone in their class yet, or maybe, you, like a lot of other families, are starting school from home this year. When you think about it, any of those things may make your child nervous or worried.  Or there could be many other things that might be worrying your child.  Anxiety in children is quite common! The good news is that God says we don’t have to feel that way. When faced with worry, the Apostle Paul tells us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phillippians 4:6-8). Isn’t that awesome that God promises us that He hears us and gives us peace when we’re scared and worried?!  

Sometimes, easing your child’s fears will be as easy as a quick prayer and positive reassurance from mom or dad. However, sometimes it takes a little more. Keep reading for more tips and tricks on easing anxiety in children. 

Deep Breathing Exercises

When we are anxious or worried, our bodies go into fight or flight mode. We think we are in danger when really we are not. Our bodies are physically affected. You might notice your breathing becomes faster and more shallow, your muscles tense up, and your heart rate increases. When this happens, less oxygen is getting to your brain, making it difficult to think clearly. 

Taking deep breaths brings oxygen back to your brain and helps your body reduce stress and anxiety, lowers blood pressure and heart rate, and improves focus and concentration! What great benefits to what seems like such a simple task!

There are lots of fun ways to promote deep breathing for kids. You can use bubbles, feathers, or pinwheels to practice deep breathing. There are also several techniques you can use with your child that will make deep breathing easy and fun.

1. Belly Breathing

Calm breathing involves taking slow and controlled breaths, called “belly breathing”.

• Inhale slowly for 4 seconds through the nose.
• Ask your child to pretend they are blowing up a balloon inside their belly. They should be able to feel their belly inflate.
• Pause for 2 seconds, and then slowly exhale through the mouth.
• Ask your child to pretend that he or she is emptying the balloon of air, they should feel their belly deflate.
• Pause for 2 seconds, and then repeat.

2. Square Breathing

Trace the shape with your finger as you breathe.

• Trace the edge of the square and slowly count, 1, 2, 3, 4
• Pause
• On the exhale trace the other side of the square, exhale 1, 2, 3, 4
• Pause
• Repeat on for the next half of the square.

3. Shoulder Roll Breathing 

Using yoga poses as you breathe.

• Take a deep breath in through your nose and relax your entire body.
• Now roll your shoulders up to your ears as you inhale deeply for a count of 3.
• Breathe out through your mouth and roll your shoulders down and back (as far away from your ears as you can get) as you exhale for a count of 4.
• Repeat slowly in a continuous movement of shoulder rolls, while breathing in and out.

Create a Calm Down Safe Space

A calm down area is a safe space for kids to go when they need help self-regulating or calming their bodies and emotions. It is meant to be a place for them to relax, recharge, or even release their pent-up anger or frustration.

1. Find a quiet spot in your house and make it cozy. This would be a fun task your child can help with - they can place a favorite blanket, pillow, or stuffed animal in their safe space.
2. Add calming tools like items that will distract your child and help them calm down. Some of our favorites are:

• Coloring pages and colored pencils
• Silly putty
• Stress balls to squeeze
• Joke books
• Activity books (word searches, crosswords, sudoku, mazes)
• Fidget toys
• A calm-down bottle
• Photos of family members or other images that might be calming like a favorite vacation spot.
• Journal and pens.
• Favorite Bible verses

3. Explain and practice how to use the space beforehand.
4. Give a calm reminder if you notice your child starts to escalate. It’s always best to try and catch a situation early.

Set Up a Worry Time

When you think about your worries a lot, or talk about them over and over, you are only helping your worries grow. If you don’t spend time on them, they will eventually begin to go away. But to say “just stop worrying” is a lot easier said than done! Instead, set aside a dedicated Worry Time to help control the amount of attention you give your worries.

• A parent can set up a certain time each day for Worry Time for their child.
• Time should last about 15 minutes.
• During this time, your child can share with you whatever they are thinking or worrying about.
• There should be no interruptions like TV, phone calls, or other siblings.
• During this time, parents should listen and try to help work through their child’s specific worries with them.
• This is a great time to pray with your child, asking God to take these worries and calm your child’s fears. Remind your child that God is BIGGER than any of our worries!  
• The most important rule about Worry Time is there is NO thinking or talking about worries unless its worry time! If a worry comes up and it’s not Worry Time, it’s important to coach your child into “putting those thoughts away” until Worry Time.  That might look like mentally locking it away and getting busy with something else.  Or, your child can write down their worry and place it in a Worry Jar that can only be opened during Worry Time.
• This might be a very challenging task at first! Your child might need lots of reminders. But after a while, you will find that by the time you get to Worry Time, some of the worries will have gone away on their own!! Over time, you might even find there are no worries to be discussed at all!!!

Write in a Gratitude Journal

A gratitude journal is for thankful thoughts, ideas, reminders of God’s faithful promises, or blessings from the day.  Having your child write down positive thoughts and reminders of God’s faithfulness will help redirect their thoughts from worry to gratefulness. 

• Purchase a gratitude journal or a journal/notebook you already have at home will work just as well.
• Let your child decorate their journal to make it personal and their own.
• Each day have your child write down three things they are thankful for - a family, a favorite teacher, your pet, starting a good book.
• Entries can be big things in life or just simple joys.
• Do it daily and make it a habit.
• Pray and thank God for His faithfulness and blessings!

Books to Read with Your Child

• Wilma Jean the Worry Machine by Julia Cook
• David and the Worry Beast by Anne Marie Guanci
• What To Do When You Worry Too Much by Dawn Huebner, PhD
• What To Do When You’re Scared and Worried by James J. Crist
• Wemberley Worried by Kevin Henkes

Weekly Challenge

Remember that being anxious or nervous about things is natural for both children and adults. As you work with your child through their worries, don’t be afraid to try different things. There is no “one size fits all” approach to guiding your child through this, and it may take a little bit of trial-and-error to get it right and find out what works best for them.

For this week’s challenge, if you haven’t already, I challenge you to start a Gratitude Journal with your family. You can do this as a family or individually. Carve out time each day to focus on positive things God is doing in your life. I also encourage you to share with your child a time you have felt anxious or worried and how God helped you through it. Your child will see that God is always there with us, in good times and bad.    

August 16 KIDS Curriculum

Game Break - Enjoy a fun activity with your kids because God loves when we are joyful in His presence.

This Week's Worship - "Shackles" & "Great Things" - Watch with lyrics and motions. (You can also listen to our Spotify Playlist.)

KIDS Detectives Video - Watch this video to find out about our new activity for our kids.

 

BIBLE STORY / TEACHING (Younger Kids)

Story Video for Younger Kids - Watch this week's Bible story with your younger kids from Saddleback Kids. This week, our teaching is about the brave, young queen Esther.

Teaching Video for Younger Kids - Watch members of our leadership team walk through this week’s story and apply it to your kid's life (geared towards K-3rd grade).

 

BIBLE STORY / TEACHING (Older Kids)

Story Video for Older Kids - Watch this week's Bible story with your older kids from Saddleback Kids. This week, our biblical story is about how Esther courageously saved her people from getting killed. 

Teaching Video for Older Kids - Watch members of our leadership team walk through this week’s story and apply it to your kid's life (geared towards 4th-6th grade).

 

FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES

Bible Review Activities (PDF) - There are several small activities that we as a staff have set up for you to do with your kids throughout the week. 

Kids Devotionals - Each week, there will be several days of devotionals for your kids specific to that week's lesson.  You can download and print a PDF or access on the Heights App. 

As school is about to start, you have found that learning environments are changing everywhere. Some of you will be dropping your kids off to a school, that will look different this year than in the past. Others have decided to start the year off with E-learning or have made a commitment to Homeschooling. Whatever you decide, know that God does NOT change, and he is always here for you.

Below are some tips to preparing you and your child for the school year, no matter what that may look like.

Your Kids will be returning to On-Campus School

Whether this was a hard decision to make, or came easy to you, you made the choice that was best for your family, so Way to Go! Here are some tips for preparing your child for that first day back at school:

1. Talk about everything- Kids at school will talk. As parents, we should talk to our kids first. *Offer a clear and age appropriate explanation of what has happened in the recent months. Here are some great resources about Coronavirus for all age groups.

• Younger kids - Sesame Street
• Elementary - Alex Scheffler's Book
• Older kids - YoungScot

*Keeping a positive attitude when discussing the changes and new rules their school will have will help them feel comfortable and safe when they return. From lunchroom dividers to face shields, to new teachers and emergency protocols.

2. Let them talk- It is most likely that your child is nervous or even thrilled to be returning back to school. Give them an open outlet to communicate their feelings before the first day. Praying and reading scripture is a great way to express worry, fear, and even thanksgiving.

3. Shop for school supplies together. They will get excited when they get to pick out a new backpack and school clothes. Allowing them to pick out their own supplies will make them feel special, as well as give them a bit of normalcy and responsibility!

4. Get back to a routine. Begin your usual school sleep schedule about a week or so before school starts! This will eliminate stressful mornings and prepare them for days ahead. You can even have practice days, like planning some outdoor activities for during school hours so they can practice getting up, dressed, and out the door on time. Once you get home, turn off electronics and encourage reading, create art, or quiet play! 

5. Make an after-school game plan and prepare for the unexpected. Set up a homework station that will be quiet, comfortable, and away from distractions. Also, make a game plan for those unexpected days so you and your child are prepared, whether it’s an extra-long workday or sudden changes within the school or our city. It would even be a great idea to have a sitter lined up for these cases or an after-school care facility.

Your kids will be E-learning or Homeschooled

You have decided to keep your kids home for the first 6 weeks. Or maybe you have chosen to homeschool all year.  Whatever is best for your family is the right decision. Here are some tips for preparing you and your child for that first day of school from home.

1. Create a school environment. No need to recreate a school classroom with all the bells and whistles. This can be more challenging, but finding a quiet and comfortable area where distractions are at a minimum is key.
2. Build a break in the day. E-learning can require long hours so planning several breaks throughout the school time will be very helpful. These can be snack breaks, dance breaks, or time with God. Matthew 11:28 says “Come to Me and I will give you rest.”
3. Create a schedule and routine. Having schedules placed around the house will develop habit and routine. Here is an example of a schedule you could use.

4. Take it outdoors- Play and exercise will be HUGE to having a great school day. You can take a walk outside, go for a bike ride, or even do your schoolwork at the park. 

5. Make learning FUN! Check out the image below for some great ideas.

All parents: Be kind to yourself

Most of all parents, no matter what this school year will look like for your family: Be kind to yourself. You have got this! There will be days that are harder than others, but give yourself GRACE. It may take time for your kids to get in a groove, but remember to lean on the Lord for guidance and peace and they’ll do GREAT!

Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in The LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding, Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”

Weekly Challenge:

In the days ahead, take time in the mornings right when you wake up and thank God for your children and the opportunity for them to learn no matter what that may look like. Pray and ask for guidance as you navigate and plan for the school year.

Reach out to us at [email protected] and tell us specifically how we can pray for your new school situation.

August 9 KIDS Curriculum

This Week's Worship - "What a Friend" & "Undignified" - Watch with lyrics and motions. (You can also listen to our Spotify Playlist.)

Intro Video - Watch a quick video from our KIDS team to get you ready for this week's lesson.

Game Break - Enjoy a fun activity with your kids because God loves when we are joyful in His presence.

 

BIBLE STORY / TEACHING (Younger Kids)

Story Video for Younger Kids - Watch this week's Bible story with your younger kids from Crossroads Kids' Club. This week, our teaching is about how God made his favorite creation: people.  

Teaching Video for Younger Kids - Watch members of our leadership team walk through this week’s story and apply it to your kid's life (geared towards K-3rd grade).

 

BIBLE STORY / TEACHING (Older Kids)

Story Video for Older Kids - Watch this week's Bible story with your older kids from Crossroads Kids’ Club. This week, our biblical story is about how God made people in a special way, in His own image.  

Teaching Video for Older Kids - Watch members of our leadership team walk through this week’s story and apply it to your kid's life (geared towards 4th-6th grade).

 

FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES

Bible Review Activities (PDF) - There are several small activities that we as a staff have set up for you to do with your kids throughout the week. 

Kids Devotionals - Each week, there will be several days of devotionals for your kids specific to that week's lesson.  You can download and print a PDF or access on the Heights App.

Practical Ways to Answer the Call

1. Pray

Yes, we say this at church all the time, but we cannot overemphasize the importance of prayer. You can follow all the right steps, do all the right things, teach all the right lessons, plan the most creative and fun family discipleship times, but if you don't pray, you deprive yourself of the greatest source of power to help you disciple your children. Jesus himself was constantly praying in his ministry and at one point in time, He even taught His disciples that some things are impossible apart from prayer (Mark 9:29). 

Furthermore, pray every day. When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, He told them to say "give us this day our daily bread" (Matt. 6:11). Prayer for your children should be brought before the Father daily. As you are praying daily, also pray persistently. In Luke 18, Jesus taught his disciples to pray and never give up. When things are rough and you feel overwhelmed, pray, keep praying, pray until you think you can't pray anymore, and then keep praying. 

2. Disciple

Jesus invited his disciples to follow Him. He invited them to come and see and to imitate what He did. Just as Jesus disciples imitated the faith of Jesus, your children will imitate your faith. If you want to be an effective disciple maker for your children, you need to first be a disciple, and you need to let your children SEE you being a disciple.

Let your children know that spending time in God’s word is a daily priority to you. Share with them when you see God working in your life. Pray with them. Let them know that giving your time, talent, and treasures to God is important to you. Make worshipping God with other believers a priority in your life, and let them see that you are passionate about worship. Let them see you serve and love others on a continual basis. Don’t keep your faith private from your kids. When they see your faith in action, they will be inspired to have the same faith.

If you are new to the faith, just not sure how to live out the life of a disciple, or have never been discipled before; Let us know. There are plenty of ministers here at the church who would be overjoyed at the opportunity to disciple you and to help you grow in your faith so you can help your children grow in their faith.

3. Be Intentional

Often, being a disciple maker seems like a daunting task because we think of discipleship as sitting down and all studying the Bible in an organized matter. It seems like a lot of work to prepare lessons, you may not feel like you know enough about the Bible to make the lesson, and, if we are honest, it can feel really awkward to lead these times at home where there are a million reactions. When discipling is viewed like this, sending your kids to church and letting their small group leaders handle all the preparation and teaching begins to look like a very good deal. 

However, this is not the way the Bible instructs parents to disciple their children. Deuteronomy 6:7 states “You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up”.  Taking the time to disciple your kids does not mean you have to prepare a thirty minute Bible study for your family to participate in each week.  Instead, discipleship should happen all the time.

You can sing worship songs in the car as you travel from place to place. When you see someone in need, you and your child can care for that person and you can teach them why helping is important in the process. You can teach about humility and loving your neighbor while having a family game night. When they break a rule, you can teach about forgiveness, mercy, and grace.  If you are intentional with your time, there will be many opportunities throughout the day that can be turned into mini discipleship lessons.

If you are interested in learning more about how to be a disciple maker at home, I would recommend Parenting with a Kingdom Purpose by Ken Hemphill and Richard Ross

Weekly Challenge

The KIDS at the Heights team wants to provide as many family discipleship opportunities for you and your kids as we can, and for the month of August we are going to have a School Supply Drive. Serve others by collecting the school supplies found on The Heights EVENT PAGE and drop them off at the church every Wednesday from 10am-2pm in the month of August. Don’t forget to be intentional and use this opportunity to share why you are taking the time to help others!

 

August 2 KIDS Curriculum

This Week's Worship - "Supernatural" & "We Won't be Quiet" - Watch with lyrics and motions. (You can also listen to our Spotify Playlist.)

Intro Video - Watch a quick video from our KIDS team to get you ready for this week's lesson.

Game Break - Enjoy a fun activity with your kids because God loves when we are joyful in His presence.

 

BIBLE STORY / TEACHING (Younger Kids)

Story Video for Younger Kids - Watch this week's Bible story with your younger kids from Saddleback Kids. This week, our teaching covers the story of all creation by God’s hand. 

Teaching Video for Younger Kids - Watch members of our leadership team walk through this week’s story and apply it to your kid's life (geared towards K-3rd grade).

 

BIBLE STORY / TEACHING (Older Kids)

Story Video for Older Kids - Watch this week's Bible story with your older kids from En Theos Studio. This week, our biblical story is about how God created the heavens, and the earth, and everything in it, including us.

Teaching Video for Older Kids - Watch members of our leadership team walk through this week’s story and apply it to your kid's life (geared towards 4th-6th grade).

 

FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES

Bible Review Activities (PDF) - There are several small activities that we as a staff have setup for you to do with your kids throughout the week. 

Kids Devotionals - Each week, there will be several days of devotionals for your kids specific to that week's lesson. You can download and print a PDF or access on the Heights App.

An urgent call to parents

64% of 18–29 year-olds who grew up in church drop out as an adult after having been active as a child or teen (see Barna research). Statistics like these have led to further research into the reasons for this high number of church drop outs among youth and young adults and into what is happening in the Christian homes to develop faith in children. The author Timothy Jones investigated how involved parents were in  the discipleship of their children and concludes that “parents have disengaged from the cosmic battle for the souls of the rising generation” (Jones, Timothy P., Family ministry field guide, how church can equip parents to make disciples. Indianapolis, IN: Wesleyan Publishing House, 2011, 29).

Parents are the primary disciple makers of their children. God instructs parents to teach their kids about Him: “You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up” (Deuteronomy 6:7). The idea is that parents should be discipling their kids daily through various activities. Ephesians 6:4 instructs fathers to bring their children up “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord”. The principle of passing on the faith from one generation to another is also presented in Psalm 78:5-6: “For He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers that they should teach them to their children, that the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, that they may arise and tell them to their children.” 2 Timothy 1:5 & 3:15 presents the example of Timothy who had been taught the Scriptures by his mother and grandmother since infancy.

We want to help you

Parenthood is a sacred call, but it is also hard. That is why we want to come alongside you as Kids at The Heights to equip and encourage you on this journey. One of the ways we want to do this is through this weekly parent equipping blog.

Our mission statement for this blog:

The Kids at The Heights blog is where parents find biblical, practical advice on parenting. Our goal is to help you grow as a disciple maker in your home.

Each week, a member of our Kids Ministry staff will write on a specific subject related to Christian parenting and suggest resources you can consult on this subject. We will try to keep it short, because we know how busy you are as a parent. Each blog post will end with a challenge for our parents. 

Our prayer for you is “now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (Hebrews 13:20-21).

Weekly Challenge

If you have specific subjects you would like us to write about, please email us at [email protected].

July 26 KIDS Curriculum

This Week's Worship - "What a Friend" & "Great Things" - Watch with lyrics and motions. (You can also listen to our Spotify Playlist.)

Intro Video - Watch a quick video from our KIDS team to get you ready for this week's lesson.

Game Break - Enjoy a fun activity with your kids because God loves when we are joyful in His presence.

 

BIBLE STORY / TEACHING (Younger Kids)

Story Video for Younger Kids - Watch this week's Bible story with your younger kids from The Gospel Project for Kids. This week, our teaching is about how the Bible is all about Jesus. 

Teaching Video for Younger Kids - Watch members of our leadership team walk through this weeks story and apply it to your kid's life (geared towards K-3rd grade).

 

BIBLE STORY / TEACHING (Older Kids)

Story Video for Older Kids - Watch this week's Bible story with your older kids from The Bible Project. This week, our biblical story is about heaven and earth and how Jesus is on a mission to bring them together once and for all. 

Teaching Video for Older Kids - Watch members of our leadership team walk through this weeks story and apply it to your kid's life (geared towards 4th-6th grade).

 

FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES

Bible Review Activities (PDF) - There are several small activities that we as a staff have setup for you to do with your kids throughout the week. 

Kids Devotionals - Each week, there will be several days of devotionals for your kids specific to that week's lesson.  You can download and print a PDF or access on the Heights App.

July 19 KIDS Curriculum

This Week's Worship - "What a Friend" & "Great Things" - Watch with lyrics and motions. (You can also listen to our Spotify Playlist.)

Intro Video - Watch a quick video from our KIDS team to get you ready for this week's lesson.

Game Break - Enjoy a fun activity with your kids because God loves when we are joyful in His presence. This week's game: 

 

BIBLE STORY / TEACHING (Younger Kids)

Story Video for Younger Kids - Watch this week's Bible story with your younger kids from Crossroads Kids’ Club. This week, our story focuses on Paul’s determination to tell others about God and Jesus, even during hard times.

Teaching Video for Younger Kids - Watch members of our leadership team walk through this weeks story and apply it to your kid's life (geared towards K-3rd grade).

 

BIBLE STORY / TEACHING (Older Kids)

Story Video for Older Kids - Watch this week's Bible story with your older kids from The Bible Project. This week, our biblical story is about Paul’s final journey to Jerusalem and then Rome, where he preaches the Gospel to many nations.

Teaching Video for Older Kids - Watch members of our leadership team walk through this weeks story and apply it to your kid's life (geared towards 4th-6th grade).

 

FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES

Bible Review Activities (PDF) - There are several small activities that we as a staff have setup for you to do with your kids throughout the week. 

Kids Devotionals - Each week, there will be several days of devotionals for your kids specific to that week's lesson. You can download and print a PDF or access on the Heights App.