Thursday, September 18, 2008

Teaching Your Children Through the Scriptures: Adventures With the Word of God GIVEAWAY

As a parent, one of my most important jobs is teaching my children. I love these verses from Deuteronomy 6:6-7.

And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And
thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them
when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walked by the way, and when
thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

It has been wonderful watching my four year old learn his letters & numbers. And my two year old loves to sing songs and can sing the alphabet and count to 13. But as fun as these things are - my bigger responsibility is teaching my children who they are, where they came from, and what to do to have a happy and fulfilling life. Emmett's favorite song is I Am a Child of God.

I am a child of God
And He has sent me here.
Has given me an earthly home
With parents kind and dear.

Lead me, guide me, walk beside me
Help me find the way.
Teach me all that I must do
To Live with Him someday.


My husband and I take our children to church and they attend primary classes for kids. We pray together as a family and assist the boys in saying their own prayers. We talk daily about gospel principles and how we can make good choices. We try to have a weekly family night, including a lesson geared towards young ones. But reading scriptures with them... we haven't had much luck.


It is hard for me to read, understand, and apply the scriptures in my own life, and for the boys it seems even harder. We have tried scripture books for children, with illustrated pictures, and those are great, but don't encourage us to read daily. And that is a habit I really want to establish for my sons.

Last month I was approached by my mother's neighbor and asked to review her new book, Adventures with the Word of God. I didn't know Becky Irvine before, but received a glowing recommendation from my mom and a few other friends we have in common. She brought me a copy of the book to giveaway, and the e-book (which I'm keeping). It's all about reading the scriptures with your children and looks like it will be successful for even my small children. We have been doing it for about a month now. We don't always do it every day, but much more often than before and pretty regularly.




Becky's concept is to make scripture reading visual, thematic, interactive, and fun for children. Each month features a theme and poster or display that includes small pieces for the kids to choose a daily scripture. My boys fight over who's turn it is, so we always do two. The book gives twelve theme ideas, one for each month of the year. Okay, actually eleven - August & September were combined for one theme that was a bit longer. We started with that one so we could go chronologically & I spent a little time making our cute poster, which I even laminated. Here's a picture of my boys with our little beehive. Next month starts a "fall" theme, with leaves coming off the tree and into little piles. Can't wait! (I actually better get started on the poster.)


You could totally come up with these ideas on your own, but I would never have done it. Becky has done all the hard work for you, including the illustrations, background, and scriptures. To me the best part is that this book could grow with your children. As they get older there are tons of ways to make the scripture reading more meaningful and use this daily program as a spring board into some great family discussions. I love the monthly theme idea too, and we have been trying to tailor our family night lessons to match part of the theme.


You can win your very own copy of Adventures With the Word of God. Just leave a comment on this post and I will choose someone at random. Please leave an e-mail address if it is not public on your blog. The contest is open through Sunday, Sept. 28th. If you don't win this great book, you can buy it here and the CD here.

&
Works For Me Wednesday at Rocks in my Dryer.

42 comments:

Marcy said...

I want to be entered--could use all the help I can get since it all rests on my shoulders now (the teaching-them-right thing) and it's a little intimidating (sob story, yes).

Thanks!

Robinson Family said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Robinson Family said...

I could use all the help I could get too. Family prayer, FHE, and church come alot easier than reading scriptures on a daily basis! This book would be wonderful!

We need to get together with the kids and go to the zoo some time! Let me know when you have a free Friday!

Tori

The Giffords said...

We would love to be entered. Our boys are kind of small, but we need help getting started. What a great idea. kmzgifford@gmail.com

Jeanette said...

I keep trying to win this book. Help a girl out! :-)

Jennifer said...

I would love to win this book! And if I don't win I think I will buy it. It really sounds great. I need to bring more scripture into our daily activities.

Megan said...

HELP! :)

Lacey said...

What a good idea. We struggle at our house with consistancy. Making it fun and exciting could definetley help. This book looks like one that could really help me with ideas on this. I think this will be one I buy. Thanks for the ideas and help.

Jane of Seagull Fountain said...

Does sound like a great book. We have problems reading as a family, as I'm sure lots of people do when you have very young children -- the simplified version v. the real version, etc, etc.

Pick me!

Lindsay said...

Sounds wonderful! The BOM board books just aren't doing it for us anymore. I hope I win!!

Heidi said...

Is it too late to enter the contest?

Rasmussen Family said...

I was able to test out some of the activities on my children and they loved it. Her activities are such a great way to help the children understand how the scriptures can help them and have answers for them. We did the activity about sharing your testimony at work, with your family, in your journal, with your friends, etc. All of the examples came from the scriputres. I didn't realize that Ammon shared his testimony at work (since he was King Lamoni's servant) It totally helps me apply the scriptures to my life. Way to go Becky.

Candice said...

put my number in the lottery! Mine is the winning number. I need to start doing things like this for my little Diddle. I've been trying to help her fold her arms during the prayer, but she struggles after about 4.5 seconds.

Carrie said...

Well that looks like a great book! Our son is about to turn 2 and I've been wondering about good resources for scripture memory. This looks intriguing.

Anonymous said...

Sounds just like something I need! Thank you for the opportunity!
ChristinNJon@yahoo.com

Jackie said...

What an excellent resource! My daughter is almost 3 and I know it is time we start something like this. Thank you so much!

Michele said...

Sounds like a great resource to have! I've been trying to think of ways to incorporate reading the scriptures to our daughter (she'll be two in December)...singing songs from the Children's Song book is working well. We also have a few board books that we read her that focus around the gospel. Sadly I'm not creative enough to have thought of something like this. I need things already done for me...or a pattern to follow!

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a wonderful book. We would enjoy it. Thanks for the chance to win!

Anonymous said...

I would love to be entered!

How fun to find your blog.. I love it when I find other LDS moms who blog :) I am definitely going to have to check that book out next time I am at Desert Book - thank you for sharing :)

Anonymous said...

I'm currently on a search for how to incorporate Scripture memorization into our daily routine -- this would be ideal. Thanks!
Megret
musesofmegret (at) gmail (dot) com

A Stone Gatherer said...

That books sounds wonderful! Not only for my children, but I'd love to show the parents at my church and see if they would like to order one for their family! Hope I win, but otherwise I will give the parents the link to your blog! Where can they order it?

A Stone Gatherer said...

Silly me I should read better! I saw where we can order it! Blessings!

Shauna said...

What a great idea! I would be very excited to win this book!! Thanks for sharing!

Heather said...

What a great idea! I am always looking for ways to get my four kiddos (6 and under) into the Word in a way that is inspiring to them!

Heather

Sherry @ Lamp Unto My Feet said...

What a cool book! I would love to make the Bible be more alive to my children. :D

Anonymous said...

Oh, what a great idea. I need to be entered in this contest. We are struggling to have regular scripture study time, and this would help the little ones, at least. Thanks for the idea.

Kristen M. said...

I love this idea. I think my kids would dig it too. Thanks.

Sarah said...

Looks like a great book!

Ashley said...

This sounds like a great book. I would love to win it - and if I don't, I might just buy it.

Veggiemomof2 said...

Thanks for the reminder of a project I've been wanting to work on too!

Anonymous said...

I'd love to win too! With five kids I need all the help i can get :)

Audra Krell said...

Hi! The joy you find in your children is so beautiful. It got me thinking how much more our God delights in you! Blessings to you!

Anonymous said...

This book looks wonderful. Please enter me!

My email is theyearofme{at}hotmail{dot}com.

Anonymous said...

Please enter me! Who doesn't need a good book on how to share scripture with your children?!

Precision Quality Laser said...

Please enter me too! We just started homeschooling and Bible is the one subject that is lacking in the fun department...lol! God is good though, and the kids are learning Scripture anyway :) They might learn more if it were more fun...

Precision Quality Laser said...

Sorry, forgot to leave my address:
fjgallegos(AT)verizon(DOT)net...

Cobblestones said...

Would love to be entered!!
antoniacobble(at)gmail(dot)com

Kathryn said...

This book looks awesome! I know I definately need help in the scripture-reading department! I would love to win it! Thanks!

Sharon said...

I *so* need this book. I'm terrible at scripture study/reading and I don't want the kids to have the struggles that I do. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

I'd love to win this to use with my daughter!

Anonymous said...

I would love to win this for my five year old little one. Please enter me. Thanks!
Melanie Glenn
msolis4@yahoo.com

Missy said...

Do you know about Seeds Family Worship CDs? I love these things. My kids have learned so much scripture and - bonus! - I have too!