Teaching Toddlers: The Story of Adam and Eve

Subject	Focus	Time	Activity
Bible	The story of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3)	During breakfast	Read the story of Adam and Eve in a toddler’s Bible.   (One of our favorite children's Bibles.  It also comes in a toddler version which I'm sure is great too!)
Music	Reinforce Bible story through music.	Soon after breakfast	The Adam and Eve Song
Letter Awareness	To recognize the capital letters “A”, “B”, and C	Morning, before nap	Read alphabet books and sing the ABC song.  This site has a great list of ABC books. ABC Memory Game Get 6 index cards and 3 different colored markers.  On two index cards write A, on two write B, and write C on the last two (each letter should be a different color).  Review all the letters with your child.  Place the cards face down.  Turn over one card.  Say the letter’s name.  Turn over the other cards until you find the same letter.  Make piles of the same letters.  This game can be made more challenging by continuing to add more letters (once your toddler has mastered the letter names).
Math	To recognize a circle, square, and triangle	Any time of the day	Cut 3 triangles out of one color of construction paper.  Cut 3 squares out of another color of construction paper.  Cut 3 circles out of another color of construction paper.  Mix the shapes up.  Model for your child as you place the shapes in groups based on their shape.  Say while pointing to each shape, “This is a square.  Can you say ‘square?’  Let’s put it over here.  This is a circle.  Can you say ‘circle?’  We’ll put it here.  This is a triangle.  Can you say ‘triangle?’  It goes over here.  Now it’s your turn, can you put this square with the other square?”  Guide your toddler’s hand to the square pile and tell him to put the square there.  Continue with the other shapes until all the shapes are put in their correct pile.  Praise, praise, praise your toddler!!!!!!!  Throughout the week, point out squares, triangles, and circles you see in the house or while you are out.  Allow your child to point to the object, trace his/her finger along the outline, and say the shape’s name.
Play time with a  purpose	To learn through play	Afternoon	This is a fun sequencing activity that ties along with the story of Adam and Eve.  Print out the sequencing card template in black and white.  Allow your toddler to color each card.  Cut out the cards.  Re-read the story of Adam and Eve.  As you read, place the cards in sequential order.  Be sure to use the words, “one, two, three, four” as you go.  (Using first, second, etc, will be confusing at this age, unless your child is already very capable of counting up to four.)  Once the 4 cards are in order, briefly retell the story of Adam and Eve by pointing to each card.
Following Directions/ Obeying	To learn to recognize Mommy’s voice and obey what she says	Any time of the day	Show your child a desirable object/toy.  Hide the toy without your child seeing where you hid it.  Give oral directions to lead your child to the toy.  Once your toddler finds the toy, say “Great job listening to Mommy and obeying!!!  Let’s play again!”  If your child is old enough, use this time of the day to briefly talk about how important it is to listen and obey Mommy and Daddy.  Remind him/her that Adam and Eve chose not to obey God and the consequences that followed.  “Just like God wanted what is best for Adam and Eve, Mommy and Daddy want the very best for you because we love you soooo much.”
Art	To express oneself creatively	Afternoon	Just for fun, you can and your child can make a paper plate snake craft.  If you'd like to be really creative, allow your little one to finger paint the snake.  Here's an edible pudding finger paint idea if you are up for it! This fun site has many ideas of various art supplies you can make at home!
Story time	To snuggle and read together in preparation for going to sleep	Before bed	Re-read the story of Adam and Eve (maybe from a different toddler Bible)

A few pictures from our week...

Just for Fun - I Heart Faces Photo Challenge

Just for fun I thought I'd enter a recent picture I took of my spunky 18 month old daughter into the I Heart Faces weekly photo challenge.  This week's theme is "Water."

We are soaking up summer to the fullest this year...enjoying homemade popsicles, swimming in the pool, wearing jellies or going barefoot, playing in the sprinkler, and drawing with sidewalk chalk.

Addison decided that eating the water would be much more exciting than simply splashing in it!  She makes us laugh constantly!

This is my first photo entry.  Hopefully there will be more to come!

Click here

Be sure to check out other amazing photos on the I Heart Faces website!

The Greatest Gift of All

"As you wait in my Presence, enjoy the greatest gift of all: Christ in you, the hope of Glory!"

-Sarah Young

The greatest gift of all...Jesus Christ, the Son of God, cleanser of all our sins, born and raised from the dead so that we may have everlasting life in heaven through faith in Him.  There is no greater gift.

I did not take this picture

I am reminded of the well-known verse, John 3:16.  Instead of thinking, "yes, I know that verse," carefully read each word and allow the depth of them to penetrate your heart.

John 3:16 - "God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son.  Anyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life."

I did not take this picture

I cannot fully understand this gift with my human mind, but I am overwhelmed with gratitude.

I love how Ann Voskamp describes this very same principle in light of counting gifts...

"All gratitude is ultimately gratitude for Christ, all remembering a remembrance of Him.  For in Him all things were created, are sustained, have their being.  Thus Christ is all there is to give thanks for; Christ is all there is to remember.  To know we can count on God, we count graces, but ultimately there is really only One."

So today, and everyday, I am focusing on the indescribable gift of Jesus Christ and the new life He is creating in me.

Colossians 2:6-7
"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."

Strangely Dim

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

That is my desire, that the things of this earth - fancy clothes, a big house, a shiny, new car...the newest, biggest, and best of everything, would have no appeal to me...become strangely dim, in the bright, shining light of His glory and grace.

But feeling that way doesn't come naturally and it isn't easy.

Contentment has become easier for me over the years as my understanding and trust in God has deepened, but I still struggle with it at times.  My most recent bout with discontentment was in regards to our home.  I got stuck in the muck of wanting a bigger home with more storage, more character, nicer landscaping, and just better.  

I realized my discontentment and I knew it wasn't the mindset that I should have.  I thought about what I had read in One Thousand Gifts...

While thinking about Erasmus' quote, "A nail is driven out by another nail; habit is overcome by  habit," Ann noted "I look down at the pen, this pen I keep wielding, one writing her way all the way to one thousand.  This pen: this is nothing less than the driving of nails.  Nails driving out my habits of discontent and driving in my habit of eucharisteo."

"Feel thanks and it's absolutely impossible to feel [discontent].  We can only experience one emotion at a time.  And we get to choose - which emotion do we want to feel?"  -Ann Voskamp

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So I began to counter the feelings of discontentment with the truth of how richly God has blessed us.  I took my gratitude journal off of the kitchen counter, warmed up the black ball-point pen, and began writing the gifts I needed to re-open:

390.  Our home allows us enough margin financially so I can stay home with Addison.  We will never move to a bigger home if it means I must go back to work full-time.  

391.  We have a HUGE, quiet backyard that Addison and Ellie (our dog) love to play in!

392. I can go on our back porch in my bathrobe and no one can see me.

393.  We have met very nice neighbors.

394.  The neighborhood playground, tennis courts, and pool are within a short walking distance from our home - so thankful for these!

395.  We have completed many projects to make our home nicer and we continue to dream of even more improvements we can make.

396.  We've made more memories within these walls than I could ever remember.  Our house has become a home.

397.  Everything works and nothing is broken.

398.  We have the perfect spot for the Christmas tree.

399.  We always have warm, running water, a cool place in the summer, a warm place in the winter, and a dry place in the rain.

400.  Our home is welcoming.

401.  Our home is clean, fresh, alive, and the rooms are spacious.

402.  Our home is ours.

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From there, I went to God's Word and let His words sink in deep:

Philippians 4:12-13 - "for I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do everything through him who gives me strength."

Hebrews 13:5 - "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have"

1 Timothy 6:6 - "But godliness with contentment is great gain."

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My mind then drifted to the homes I saw, with my own eyes, in Costa Rica (the ones pictured below were some of the nicer ones in the area where we were)...

And then I remembered their smiling faces...

How can I ever forget the way they danced?

I began to feel foolish, angry, and embarrassed that those discontent thoughts even entered my mind.  We have SO much more than we could ever need.  We are richly blessed.

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This little sign in our guest bathroom caught my attention...

I bought this while I was in college.  It was on sale and I liked the colors.  Since getting married, it has hung in our guest bathroom.  It wasn't until recently that I even noticed it or re-read the words.  "Blessings...Be sure to count them."  Yes!  What a powerful reminder this was as it was hanging on the very wall of my home.  A reminder to focus on God and not the things of this world.

I am beyond blessed.

Teaching Toddlers: God Made Our World, Week 2 of 2

God Made Our World, Week 2 of 2

18+ Months

(Note: The following activities are intended to be repeated each day for an entire week.)

Subject	Focus	Time	Activity
Bible	The story of Creation (Genesis 1 & 2)	During breakfast	Read the story of Creation in a toddler’s Bible.   (One of our favorite children's Bibles.  It also comes in a toddler version which I'm sure is great too!)
Music	Reinforce Bible story through music.	Soon after breakfast	“The Creation Song” found on page 6
Letter Awareness	To recognize the capital letters “A” and “B”	Morning, before nap	While you are out and about, look for the letters A and B on signs in front of stores, on the covers of books, on signs inside stores, etc.  Addison LOVES her magnetic letters because the letter reader sings the alphabet song, tells each letter name, and says the sound each letter makes through a song.  Addison  has really caught on to the letter names and sounds!  When I am cooking, she enjoys playing with the letters and we talk about the letter names and their sounds.  Focus on A and B.  Cut out big, bold capital letters A and B from cereal boxes or magazines.  Mix them up.  Point to each letter and allow your toddler the opportunity to say whether you are pointing to A or B.  Begin to sort the letters to make an A pile and a B pile.  Teach your child how to use a glue stick and glue the letters onto a piece of construction paper labeled A and one labeled B.  Place these posters in an area he or she can look at often. If your child is older, give him or her a magazine and go on an A or B hunt.  Cut out the letters and allow your child to use a glue stick to glue them to a paper to make a collage.  I would suggest doing all the As on one page and the Bs on another.
Math	To begin counting up to 3	During lunch and playtime	Play “Mommy Says” with your toddler.  Stand together and say, “Mommy says one jump.”  Jump once with your toddler while saying “one”.  “Mommy says two jumps.”  Jump twice with your toddler while counting “one, two”.  Continue this game with counting steps, clapping, etc.
Play time with a  purpose	To learn through play	Afternoon	Day 4: God made the sun, moon, and stars Since most toddlers are asleep at night, show your son or daughter books about the moon and stars.  Take him or her outside and look up at the sky and explain that the moon and stars are up in the sky at night.  During the daylight, look at the shadows the sun’s rays make while talking about the importance of the sun and that God made it for us. Day 5: God made birds and fish Birds - Go outside, sit on a blanket, and look up in the sky.  Tell your child to wait for birds.  When you both spot a bird, point to the bird and tell your child that God made that bird!  See how many birds you can find.  Notice and talk about what they are doing…are they flying, chirping, sitting in a tree?  If your toddler will sit still long enough, begin to count the birds that you see flying by.  Fish – We do not have a fish tank or a pond with fish nearby, so we will be heading to our local pet store to look at the fish.  While there, we will marvel at the little creatures and I will tell Addison that God made the fish.  Note- you can also find the birds at the store and remind your child that God made birds too! Day 6: God made animals and man Animals - While at the pet store (or better yet, the zoo!), continue looking at the other creatures – hamsters, dogs, cats, etc.  Tell your child that God made all the animals.  Once you get home, look through an animal book.  Look at each animal and say, “See the zebra?  God made the zebra.  See the goat?  God made the goat..." Man – God made your son or daughter perfectly in His image.  They are flawlessly made.  Point to each part of your child’s body and tell him or her that God made his/her nose, ear, eye, hair, hands, tummy, back, knee, leg, feet, toe, etc.  This is a great activity to work on naming the body parts as well!  Also, remind your child that God made Mommy, Daddy, brother, sister, grandma, grandpa, friend, etc.  Reassure your child how much God loves them. Day 7: God rested Put a blanket and a pillow on the floor and pretend to take a nap with your toddler (in my house this will last for maybe two seconds!).  Tell your toddler that God rested on the 7th day.
Following Directions/ Obeying	To learn to recognize Mommy’s voice and obey what she says	Any time of the day	Show your child a desirable object/toy.  Hide the toy without your child seeing where you hid it.  Give oral directions to lead your child to the toy.  Once your toddler finds the toy, say “Great job listening to Mommy and obeying!!!  Let’s play again!”
Art	To express oneself creatively	Afternoon	Day 4: God made the sun, moon, and stars Print day four coloring page from http://www.coloring.ws/creation.htm and allow your child to color as you remind him/her how God made the sun, moon, and stars. Get a half piece of black construction paper, mini star stickers, a yellow crayon, and a white crayon.  Tell your child that God made the sun, the moon, and the stars.  Allow your child to put the stickers on the page and you can draw the moon.  On the opposite side of the page draw a yellow sun while talking about the fact that God made all of these.  Remind your child that we see the moon and the stars at night and the sun during the day. Day 5: God made birds and fish Print day five coloring page from http://www.coloring.ws/creation.htm and allow your child to color as you remind him/her how God made the birds and fish. Footprint Fish- http://www.theideabox.com/Footprint_Fish.html http://just4funwithsandy.blogspot.com/2009/05/foot-print-fish.html Handprint Bird- http://crafts.kaboose.com/handprint-bird.html Day 6: God made animals and man Print day six coloring page from http://www.coloring.ws/creation.htm and allow your child to color as you remind him/her how God made animals and man. Look through magazines and go on an animal hunt with your child.  When an animal is found, cut it out and allow your child to glue it to a piece of paper.  Continue to remind him/her that God made the animals.  Go outside and trace the outline of your child’s body with chalk.  If he or she isn’t comfortable or doesn’t understand what you are doing and is scared, have a friend or your husband trace you!  Talk about how God made all people. Day 7: God rested Print day seven coloring page from http://www.coloring.ws/creation.htm and allow your child to color as you remind him/her how God rested.  **Bind all 7 coloring pages together into a book.  Re-read the story with your child on a regular basis.
Story time	To snuggle and read together in preparation for going to sleep	Before bed	We LOVE the little book of mini prayers called "Thank You, God" by Kathleen Long Bostrom.  We’ve been reading it to Addison each night before bed for a while now but I just realized the entire book is the story of creation!

A few pictures from our week...