Jesus Storybook Bible
Fresh grace-filled perspective, drawing each story back around to our Savior and "God's secret rescue plan." There's at least one recording of it as well. I started reading this to Annelise when she was a newborn, and couldn't get through a single story without crying. ; ) (That's a good thing. ; ))
The Children's Catechism
We have the booklet form, which Steve has worked on with Annelise and Cora at bedtime (I put Evie to bed so she's missing out, sigh. Well and she goes to bed earlier/faster/easier. Ha.)
We got the music version when the kids were younger and they enjoyed it, and I loved hearing the Children's Catechism for the first time and getting those solid truths stuck in my head. I think it's very well-done.
There's also an app called Cram that Steve found lately which gives the question, and then with the press of another button gives the answer.
Character First videos and Achieving True Success book
Character training gives us words for what we all want to be (truthful, responsible, diligent, joyful, etc) and what Jesus Christ was and is all the time, in every way, in perfect balance. Using quality names, opposites, definitions, illustrations in history and nature, and practical examples is instructive, inspiring, and motivation. For both children AND parents! ; )
The kids enjoy watching the videos of my friend Robert telling animal stories that illustrate the character quality, and teaching songs and chants with motions. I can put it on for them and go do the dishes, and be blessed myself!
Praising character is probably the very best way to learn and reinforce it for children. These simple homemade sticker charts have helped the kids take ownership of this character thing, and see rewards. When they do something that illustrates a quality (either overtly or not), I tell them to get a sticker and then we decide what quality they showed. They may not understand it all yet, but going thru character qualities in the Achieving True Success at dinner when we remember helps them learn, and stay motivated. When they fill a whole chart with stickers, they can pick anything off Amazon for $15 or less.
Books for Daddy to read to Annelise at bedtime...
Chronicles of Narnia
For Such a Time as This
Daughters of Faith set (we are on set 1 and glad there's a set 2!...she is loving these!)
The Word of Promise audio Bible
We've just started this but it's awesome so far! I didn't realize how dramatic and scandalous and scary the Bible is until I had kids. Then I found myself telling stories and editing out parts or couching it in different terms. Is Noah's ark really a children's story?? A story of God's wrath and death and destruction, people screaming and clawing the sides of the ark to get in? And the list goes on.
No wonder people thing the Bible is boring, when we drain all the juice out of it. (Not that we shouldn't protect our children and only give them what they need a different ages!) But so much about reading aloud is HOW a book is read.
This is a dramatic reading of the Bible, ie, much closer to real life and what really happened. I walked in this morning and Annelise was listening to it on her own (again), and I thought "eek, is this too scary for her?" But then I realized...yes, and we should be scared. We are far too seldom scared, and of what we really should be. God is scary, and we are to fear Him. We are to run to Him out of fear of Him. And children need to fear the Lord from an early age. (Ha, how much easier that would make our jobs as parents right? I SO so often sabotage myself...in parenting, and many other areas too!
Anyway, they have this whole series on Hoopla (which the Howard County library system gives us access to for free!). And probably on Audible, or you can buy it off Amazon. Thank you, Kristin Pierce, for this rec! Her daughters ask for it (instead of the radio) in the car.
Daniel Tiger
No seriously. I love this show and so do the kids. I love how it's teaching them positive (and Biblical) messages for how to handle everyday situations that kids (and um grown-ups too) encounter. When Hurricane Harvey was hitting Texas, what jumped into my head? "Take a grown-up's hand, follow the plan, and you'll be safe." Ha, it was a little freaky how that started playing in my head out of nowhere. And I'm thankful they will for my kids too.
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