Denise Mistich

Denise is an author as well as spiritual mentor to many people. She writes from her heart to help little ones find their way in life.

Veterans Day

Nov 052013
 

Veterans Day is November 11th. Make sure your children understand the importance of honoring our veterans. I pulled this article out of the archives for you. Hope you enjoy and more importantly, I hope you help a needy veteran this year.

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Veterans Day is a day to remember and be thankful for those who served our country and for those who gave their lives for us. As so many veterans are living in extreme poverty, unable to share in the Veterans Day celebrations themselves, shouldn’t it also be a day to bless a veteran with a kind act or  a token of appreciation. We don’t think children are ever too young to know there are people who need them.

Veterans Day Activities

There are many activities you can do with children to teach them to honor our veterans. One of the best sites I have found on the topic is The VA Kids Teacher’s page. This site is filled with activities and teaching tools. Our focus for the little ones this year, however, is to teach them to give a helping hand to someone in need, especially a veteran.

Help Someone in Need on Veterans Day

Children can, with the help of their teachers and youth ministers,  form a team or club and collect some very basic items to share with Veterans in need.

I suggest simple items such as hand towels, bar soap, razors and chap stick, but you can find out exactly what the needs are by contacting a homeless shelter for veterans near you.

  • Once you know what the needs are,  make a small poster or handout and pass it out at school and church.
  • Ask for the specific items to be purchased and donated a few days before Veterans Day. Be specific.
  • Set up a clearly marked box to collect the donations.
  • Deliver the box decorated with cards and drawings, to a shelter near you on Veterans Day.

This is a difficult topic for young children, but important for them to learn.

Our goal is to teach children to get patriotic and become good citizens. The most important aspect of good citizenship is prayer. Have your children pray for our veterans and soldiers in active duty. This will set a foundation of prayer for their future and allow them to give their own sadness, cares and burdens for our soldiers and veterans to God.

We pray blessings on you and your children as you set out on your task to help someone in need on Veterans Day 2012.

Visit the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for more information on Veterans Day.

 November 5, 2013  Posted by at 10:03 am Story Time, Tips for Parents and Teachers No Responses »

Thanksgiving Puzzles

Nov 042013
 

 

Thanksgiving is a time to remember our blessings as we spend time with family and friends. That often means the house is full of little ones…with nothing to do.

We want our families to love to come for the holidays. We want to create fond memories. So, let’s look at some fun Thanksgiving ideas over the next few weeks that will keep the little ones busy, while giving their parents a minute to relax.

I’ll start with these Thanksgiving Puzzles from Activity Village. I picked these because they are relevant to the theme and they require thought and creative thinking. Why not give them a little something to boost the brain power?

Thanksgiving Resources from Kids Book Group

A free coloring page with a Thanksgiving theme is available.

Feeling less than thankful? Here are a couple of articles to lift your spirits:

Be Thankful and Enjoy Every Day of Your Life

A Thanksgiving Holiday Tradition

 

 

 November 4, 2013  Posted by at 9:00 am Story Time, Tips for Parents and Teachers Tagged with:  No Responses »

Healthy Halloween snacks your kids are sure to love.

Oct 292013
 

Healthy Halloween snacks come in a variety of shapes and sizes. I went on a quick search for a really cute idea. I didn’t have to look twice to pick this one as a winner.  Thank you Laura, for this adorable idea!

 

Feeding Frenzy…: Veggie Skeleton.

 October 29, 2013  Posted by at 10:10 am Health, Nutrition and Wellness, Story Time, Tips for Parents and Teachers No Responses »

Children and Bedtime Fears and Nightmares

Oct 252013
 

Children and bedtime fears might be a hot topic  for young parents this close to Halloween.  Just a glimpse of a scary movie can really frighten a child, keeping them (and you) from a peaceful night’s sleep.  I have to confess, I had actually posted a list of spooky stories for kids and had to retrieve it after giving it some Biblical thought on Halloween.  You can read more about that here.

If your child is having bedtime fears and nightmares, consult the Word of God. Sure, the Biblical way of thinking is old fashioned, but then, God is rather old.  These scriptures can help you understand fear and its origin, and in turn, help you minister to your child.

  • In its context, this scripture is regarding boldness in sharing faith. But you can clearly see fear is not from God. Power, love and self-discipline is.

2 Timothy 1:7 - For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. (NIV)

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (KJ)

  • This verse tells me if we can get a grasp on God’s immense love for us, fear will subside. When your child is afraid, talk about God’s love. Sing Jesus Loves Me.

1 John 4:18 - There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. (NIV)

  • If they aren’t old enough to understand, they’ll always understand a cuddle. Demonstrate God’s love, by sheltering them with yours. (This might actually be more important than talking and singing.)

What the Sleep Experts Say about Children and Bedtime Fear

 

Excerpt from National Sleep Foundation

Nighttime fears and nightmares are extremely common in children, especially during the preschool years, but they can definitely occur in older children and adolescents as well. They are part of normal development, as children’s imaginations develop and children begin to understand that there are things that exist that can hurt them. There are times that fears and nightmares are the result of a frightening experience, from being scared by a large dog to being in a car accident to watching the news, but other times they seem to come out of the blue. Family conflict and parental anxiety can also play a role. Anything that makes a child more emotionally aroused is going to make his fears worse and make him feel more anxious.

 

 October 25, 2013  Posted by at 9:00 am Spiritual Health, Tips for Parents and Teachers Tagged with:  No Responses »

A Voice from the River

Oct 212013
 

Water is life. Somewhere there is plenty, but in this African village, water is threatened by one greedy man. Can Hemaa and her friends save River Nkwa, and life for her village?

A Voice from the River by Edward Appiah Boakye

Illustrated by Peter Poka Asamoah

A voice came from the river. Sometimes it was loud and clear, but other times it spoke very softly. Only those who were good hearted and brave could hear it call out from the river banks. Hemaa was just such a girl and the voice spoke loud and clear to her!  Find out what Hemaa heard and how she made a difference for her village and her friends in the river!

Copyright 2013 by Edward Appiah Boakye. Published in the United States by Apple Pie Books.

 

Coming in December, 2013.

Editorial Review

This beautifully illustrated children’s book tells the remarkable story of a girl  named Hemaa, who lives in an African village. Hemaa is very wise and knows water is life. When one greedy man threatens to spoil the river, Hemaa accepts the challenge to fight for the river and save the lives of the people in her village.

Hemaa learns very quickly that she will need help from her classmates and teachers and together, they devise a plan. But progress is more important than life itself to some people in her village and Hemaa’s plan to save the river is threatened.

Kids will love learning about African culture, Hemaa’s lifestyle and what this courageous girl does to save the day!

 

 

 

 October 21, 2013  Posted by at 8:48 pm Books for Kids, Featured Books, Uncategorized 1 Response »
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