Written Prayers with Children

My 7-year-old daughter does not like to pray. At least that is what she tells people. When probed a bit further, what she really means is that she doesn't like to pray out loud. Who knows why? Maybe praying out loud just isn't her best way of expressing herself to God. Maybe she is intimidated by her older brother, who loves to pray out loud. 

She also says sometimes that she doesn't know how to pray, which is probably the real issue. So after pondering for some time how to help find her own way to pray, I noticed that she was showing a great interest in writing, both in English and in German. 

Near the middle of her first grade year, she began to show a real desire to express herself through the written word. She wrote stories, made cards for people, and even wrote a "secret message" for me on the bathroom mirror that showed up after I took a shower.: )

Shortly after observing this, I came across the book, Writing to God: Kids' Edition, by Rachel G. Hackenberg. 

In this book, the author explains how prayer is like a conversation and then offers short prompts for written prayers. It is divided into several sections with writing prompts based on:

• the 5 senses
• feelings
• Scripture verses
• nature
• thankfulness
• ordinary events
• using metaphors and similes (which she calls "using new words and pictures")

I made each child a prayer journal by stapling paper together, and we have been journaling together in our evening devotions. Not every night, but a couple of nights a week. 

And my daughter has been delighted by it. Her prayers are simple and heart-felt. They remind me to take time to enjoy the simple things in life.: )

If you are a Godly Play teacher or work with children in church settings, it might be worth your time to incorporate some of the ideas in this book into your classroom. 

Things that damage a Child's Spirituality

I'm continuing to read From the Ground Up by Kathryn Copsey. I'm on a chapter now entitled "Damaged Spirituality". According to the author, a child's spiritual growth can be stunted or damaged through situations that threaten a child's natural openness, ability to live in the present, freedom of spirit, and the image of God within them. (In the reverse, a child's spirituality will be strengthened through situations where these four key areas are affirmed.) 

Here are some things that work against and can ultimately shut down positive spiritual growth:

• repressing the child's natural curiosity and ability to see the world with wonder
• too much or inappropriate media access that take the joy out of simpler activities and expose them to negative adult values
• discouraging children from making choices
• damaging the sense of trust through inconsistency, unreliability, and insincerity
• shutting down a child's welcoming nature by discouraging or belittling them when they attempt to join in an adult conversation
• overloading the child with too many responsibilities and cares (impairs their ability to live in the present)
• lack of  healthy boundaries
• lack or absence of unconditional love
• when shame is used as a tool of discipline or control

Children whose spirituality has been damaged or stunted will eventually deny their needs and disown them, or lose a voice for them altogether. They then develop coping strategies through behaviors that often drive the adults around them crazy. And though these behaviors can give caregivers gray hair, without them the child would "drown". 

I think we all have made at least one or two of the mistakes above out of ignorance or frustration. And it's scary how many misguided "Christian" parenting books out there actually suggest doing some of them as good parenting. (I know at least one series that highly discourages giving young children choices! But, as Copsey points out, how can they "choose" a relationship with God if they have never been taught to make good choices?)

The good news is that God is much bigger than our mistakes, and that a child's spirituality can be restored. We can make good on our own mistakes, and then we can reach out and help hurting children along the path to restoration. 

I'll be writing about that chapter soon!

Montessori Musings: Spring Practical Life Tray Activity

I wanted to show you this easy Practical Life Activity with a spring insect theme. The children make the pattern on the cards by stringing insect buttons on a pipe cleaner.

This activity trains fine motor skills as the child places the pipe cleaner through the small button holes. Mathematical skills are trained as well through the recognition of patterns. While this activity is mainly for 4-5 year olds, a couple of older children found it interesting as well on Sunday. They began to make up their own patterns after a while instead of following the cards, which is a logical progression.

I found the buttons at a hobby shop, and then made the cards myself by downloading free clip art images.

Linked to Montessori Monday at Living Montessori Now

Celebrating Pentecost

Our Pentecost celebration in Children's Church was rather scaled down this year. First of all, most of the kids that normally come weren't there for various reasons. Secondly, we didn't have our traditional cupcakes to celebrate the church's birthday, because my co-teacher, who wanted to bake them, was sick. But, we made the best of it and had a pretty good time together.

It's the one time of the liturgical year where we get to use the color red!  Our liturgical "clock" below shows the time.

Our focus table.

I told the Godly Play "Mystery of Pentecost" story, which you can read more about here, here and here. 

I limited our Response Time to the following activities: needle-felting with wool, drawing with colored pencils and a Montessori Practical Life activity. Below you can see the materials for needle-felting and drawing. Later this week, I'll show you the Practical Life tray activity.

The kids chose to spend their time needle-felting afterwards. We made things that remind us of spring such as butterflies and birds. I love the butterfly as a symbol of Pentecost, because it implies the transformation that takes place as a result of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We spent some time talking about this together. 

This is a needle-felted symbol of the Trinity.

On a funny note, my daughter spontaneously set up her Playmobil house the same as we do for the church brunches. 

with the adults in the living room doing their thing . . . 

and the kids sitting in a Godly Play circle in the kitchen!  

She even made up her own parable with a vase, flowers and two cows.: )

Linked to Montessori Monday at Living Montessori Now

On the island of Rügen

Rügen is a German island in the Baltic Sea. It is a nature lovers' paradise, and one of the most uncommercialized tourist locales in Europe. It is much-loved by Berliners for weekend get-a-ways, because it is not far away. We have been there many times and visited again over Pentecost. (Berliner schools get the Monday and Tuesday after Pentecost Sunday off!) This time, we were at a the northernmost tip of Rügen called Cape Arkona that is known for its chalk bluffs facing the sea.

The landscape is amazing in any season, but the rapeseed fields in spring were especially breathtaking. I kept thinking that I was in the middle of a Van Gogh painting!

It's rarely what we'd call "hot" on the Baltic sea, and most of the time, we had on long sleeves and jackets. But my kids were determined to go swimming no matter what the temperature was. 

Rügen is also a rock collector's treasure chest. We brought home a lot of souvenirs and a few things for future art projects.

The area around Cape Arkona is also known for its bike trails. We covered many kilometers on our bikes each day and returned home each evening with that wonderful tired but relaxed feeling you get after lots of fresh air and physical exertion.

We also got to ride horses through the forest along the chalk bluffs. I don't have any pictures of us riding, though, because after not having ridden a horse in 20 years, I was too nervous to let go of the reins and take a picture! 

We'll be celebrating Pentecost at our church gathering this Sunday, so stay tuned!

How and why to set up a nature table

We all know that children need rhythm in their daily lives. Any educational philosophy worth its salt agrees on this, from Montessori to Waldorf or Reggio. They also need to understand that there is a rhythm to the world beyond them. (Remember, spirituality at its most basic is an attempt to connect to something greater than ourselves.) Nature Tables are a practical way to help a child understand the rhythm of the greater world around them.

Nature tables highlight both the physical seasons and special holidays. It is a place to put the small "treasures" that children find outside: stones, leaves, sticks, flowers, etc.

Summer Nature Table

Autumn Nature Table

We follow this rhythm with our nature tables: winter, Lent, spring / Eastertide, Ascension, Pentecost, summer, autumn, Advent and Christmas. Our rhythm follows the Christian liturgical calendar, but if you are not religious or of another faith, you could highlight other holidays that are significant in your culture.

Lenten Nature Table

Advent Nature Table

Although I come up with the basic concept and much of the symbolism, I allow my children to add their ideas and help set up the table.

Adding to the Summer Nature Table.

Making felted butterflies for last year's Pentecost Nature Table.

If you've never made a nature table, here are a few tips:

1) Begin your design for the table by asking the question, "What about this season is important to our family?"

2) Less is more. We try not to overcrowd the table with too many things. 

3) Try to use only what you have, have found, or have made before buying new things for the table. 

4) Let your child have input, but give guidance as to what is aesthetically pleasing. 

5) Avoid the table becoming a drop-off point for unrelated things like keys, papers, toys, etc. 

I recently asked my children of all the special activities that we have done through the years what their favorite was. My nine-year-old son answered without hesitation, " The nature tables!" My heart just jumped when he told me that, because they are a true labor of love with and for my sweet ones. 

P.S. - You can find links to all the nature tables I've made by clicking on the "Nature Projects" button above!

Linked to Eco Kids' Tuesday at Like Mama-Like Daughter and Organic Aspirations

and Friday's Nature Table at The Magic Onions

Ascension & Pentecost Nature Table

Dieses Jahr haben wir Himmelfahrt und Pfingsten auf dem Jahreszeittisch zusammen getan. This year we combined the themes of  Ascension and Pentecost to set up our nature table. 

 Unten kann man Jesus mit den Jüngern sehen, 

bevor er zurück zum Vater in den Himmel fährt.

Die Flamme aus Holz stellt das Geschenk des Heiligen Geistes dar.

Here you can see Jesus speaking last comforting words to the disciples

before he returns to the Father. 

The stacking flame represents the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Schmetterlinge sind in der Waldorpädagogik traditionell zum Pfingsten. Diesmal haben wir sie mit dem Filznadel trocken gefilzt. Sie hängen vom Fensterrahmen und sehen so aus, als ob sie "fliegen", wenn der Wind weht.

Butterflies are also traditional at Pentecost, also called Whitsun. 

This year we decided to needle felt them. They are hanging from the top of the window sill and appear to be "flying" when a draft comes through the window.

Meine 7-jährige Tochter wollte auch beim Filzen mitmachen. Bis jetzt habe ich wegen dem schrecklich großen Nadel gezögert sie's probieren zu lassen. 

Aber sie überzeugte mir, dass sie vorsichtig wäre, und benutzte eine Ausstechform um die Fingern zu schützen.

My 7-year-old daughter also wanted to try her hand a needle-felting. I had been a little hesitant after having accidentally stabbed my self a few times with the needle, but I relented when I saw that she would be careful. We used a cookie cutter to make the butterflies and protect little fingers.: )

Dann filzte sie diesen wunderschönen Schmetterling und eine Tulpe.

She went on to make this lovely butterfly hovering over a tulip.

Ein wunderschönes Pfingstwochenende an euch allen!

Have a wonderful Pentecost weekend!

Linked to Eco Kids' Tuesday at Like Mama-Like Daughter and Organic Aspirations