strengthening your child through come, follow me · come, follow me program. these tools will help...

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Strengthening Your Child Through

Come, Follow Me

August

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Introduction Our GoalThe purpose of this study aid is to provide parents with additional tools to enhance the Come, Follow Me program. These tools will help families create deeper gospel connections through meaningful topics, questions, discussions, role plays, and other family activities.

This study aid is a supplement, not a replacement, to the Come, Follow Me manual. Aware-ness of your own family’s needs and guidance from the Spirit will be an essential part of using this aid successfully.

Age Groups“Questions for Younger Children” are intended for Primary children, ages 2 to 11. “Ques-tions for Older Children” are intended for Youth, ages 12 and up.

30 Days to a Stronger Child (abbreviated: SC)Throughout the guide, you will see several references to the book, 30 Days to a Stronger Child by Educate and Empower Kids. Although not required to use this guide, we highly recommend owning a copy of Stronger Child to help supplement the material presented here.1

Teaching Kids About “Accounts”Some of the questions in thise study aid refer to “accounts.” This concept, developed in 30 Days to a Stronger Child, refers to five areas that are essential for every child’s develop-ment: Social, Intellectual, Spiritual, Emotional, and Physical. In a way, each of our children has an imaginary account—--like a bank account—--for each of these areas. As parents, we can teach our kids to be aware of the influences that will drain those accounts, and to seek after resources that will help build them up. Gospel learning is also closely linked to these five areas. Helping our children grow in Social, Intellectual, Spiritual, Emotional, and Physical ways not only helps them become stronger children—--it can also help them come closer to Jesus Christ. We have implemented questions regarding each of these “ac-counts” into our study aid as a tool to help children internalize the gospel concepts includ-ed in Come, Follow Me. For a more detailed explanation, see the categories below:

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B Social Account: Not all children are the same. Some may be shy, while others are more outgoing. However, “developing strong social skills is key to a child’s personal development,” so it is important that our children learn how to use their strengths (SC, p. 5). Questions geared toward the social account will cover topics like accountability, friendship, respect, assertiveness, leadership, and boundaries.

B Intellectual Account: Our children can more successfully face challenges when they utilize skills such as critical thinking, creative problem solving, and curiosity. When they strengthen their intellectual muscles, they can have a happier and more productive life (SC, p. 20). Questions geared toward the intellectual account will cover subjects like creativity, critical thinking, initiative, research, growth, and curiosity.

B Spiritual Account: Spirituality can give our children the strength to face challenges in a positive and healthy way (SC, p. 37). Questions geared toward the spiritual account will cover concepts like belief, attention, change, community, gratitude, and love.

B Emotional Account: It is crucial that we nurture our children’s emotional health. To do that, we need to help our kids learn to identify and manage their emotions, and we also need to teach them how to be sensitive to others (SC, p. 54–-55). Questions geared toward the emotional account will cover things like self-confidence, optimism, empathy, positive self-talk, sense of humor, and honesty.

B Physical Account: A healthy body is a happy body! Good nutrition and physical fitness help our kids to have less anxiety and depression, and more energy and optimism. Also, “the more active a child is, the better he or she will feel about their body as it grows and changes” (SC, p. 75). Questions geared toward the physical account will cover topics like body image, play, healthy eating, adventure, exercise, and addiction.

Come, Follow Me truly has the power to bless and strengthen homes and families in miraculous ways.

1. Other Educate and Empower Kids books occasionally referenced throughout this guide are from the 30 Days of Sex Talks series.

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Share your testimonies with one another. Talk about how we can tell when we are prompted to share our testimonies with others or in

sacrament meeting.

Acts 22–28 - “A Minister and a Witness” “Disciples of Jesus Christ share their testimonies boldly.”

B “Belief” (SC, p. 38)

C “A certainty that someone or something exists or that something is true. Everyone believes things about the world they are in. Becoming aware of your beliefs gives you the ability to think about them, make decisions about them, and change them.”

H Consider the opportunities you have to share your testimony. For example, when was the last time you told your family or others about how you gained your testimony of the gospel?

H Help your child to reflect on their testimony and what they do believe. Why do they believe it? A discussion of what a belief is can help them find greater confidence to share with others.

B Questions for Younger Children:

C What is a testimony?

C Why do we need testimonies?

B Questions for Older Children:

C How can you build your own testimony and not rely on someone else’s testimony?

C What is an appropriate testimony to share in sacrament meeting?

AugustWeek 1

FAMILY ACTIVITY

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AugustWeek 1

“The Lord stands by those who strive to serve Him.”

B “Attention” (SC, p. 40)

C “Learning to listen and pay attention to yourself is a skill; it is something you can practice and develop. Cultivating spirituality involves slowing down, sitting still, and taking the time to listen.”

H Help your children understand the importance of being still. (“Be still and know that I am God.” —Psalm 46:10)

H Help them understand that even amidst difficulty, as they pay attention, they will see God’s hand in their lives.

B “Exercise” (SC, p. 84)

C “The term “mind-body connection” indicates how thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and attitudes can positively or negatively affect

biological functioning. In other words, our minds can affect how healthy our bodies are! In return, the physical health of your child can also affect their moods, behaviors, and psychological well-being.”

H When faced with trials, exercise can help us keep a clear and healthy mind which will help us to be resilient.

H When we are physically sound, we tend to recognize spiritual promptings more fully in our lives.

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August

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Week 1


C What are ways we can use exercise to help us pay attention?

C What are things we need to do to pay attention to the Holy Ghost?


C How can we take care of both our body and mind?

C How does following the Word of Wisdom help us gain a better ability to play attention?

As a family, volunteer at a race (bike, run, marathon). Talk about why it’s important to both participate in and support the people who

participate in races.

FAMILY ACTIVITY

AugustRomans 1–6 - “The Power of God unto

Salvation”“The gospel of Jesus Christ invites me to “walk in newness of life.””

B “Change” (SC, p. 40)

C “To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.”

C “Change: to transform or become something else, to replace a habit.”


C What does “change” mean?

C Why is it important for us to change sometimes?


C What are some bad habits you want to change?

C What does it mean to have a change of heart?

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Have everyone decide on one bad habit they want to change. Write it down, and then help each other think of three things they could do throughout the week that will help them make the change and write

them under their larger goal. Encourage each other daily; check in weekly for several weeks and have each family member report their

progress.

FAMILY ACTIVITY

Week 2

AugustRomans 5:3–5 “What tribulations

have we experienced? How have these tribulations helped us to develop patience, experience, and hope?

“Optimism” (SC, p. 58) C “The greater part of our happiness or misery

depends upon our dispositions and not our circumstances.”

H Help foster optimism by looking at the good that came from a difficult situation.

“Positive Self-talk” (SC, p. 64)

C “Help your child learn to pay attention to their inner self-talk: in order to change anything for the better, we must recognize and evaluate what we are doing to begin with.”

H Help children understand that the way we see neutral circumstances is through our thoughts. Our thoughts are optional. We can alter negative thought patterns to positive ones through self-talk.

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Week 2

I like my senseof humor.

I am proudof the way I

treat others.

August B Questions for Younger Children:

C What are things that make you happy?

C How can we keep being positive?


C How can we combat negative self-talk?

C How can social media help self-talk? How can it hurt?

Ask your child to write down a recent time when they used negative self-talk internally. What were the circumstances of that situation?

Share how you are able to overcome negative self-talk.

FAMILY ACTIVITY

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Week 2

I am ...

August

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Romans 7–16 - “Overcome Evil with Good” “If I follow the Spirit, I can overcome sin and prepare for an inheritance with God.”

B “Addiction” (SC, p. 86)

C Sometimes a poor choice or a sin results in an addiction. Through Christ we are able to overcome addiction. Christ’s atonement is always available to us, and can help us change by changing our hearts and giving us strength to seek appropriate help and support..


C What are things that can make the Spirit not be able to talk to us?

C What does the word “addiction” mean to you?


C Can we be addicted to media? How can we safeguard ourselves from that?

C How can we use the Holy Ghost to avoid addiction?

Create a safe zone in your family. Let your children know that in the safe zone they can be free of judgement and feel free to make

comments or ask questions about anything. This will help them either avoid addiction or start the process to overcome addiction.

FAMILY ACTIVITY

Week 3

August

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Week 4

1 Corinthians 1–7 - “Be Perfectly Joined Together”

“My body is sacred.”

B “Exercise” (SC, p. 84)

C Our bodies were given to us as gifts. We need to take care of them as best we can. One of those ways is through exercise.


C What is your favorite type of exercise?

C What are other ways we can take care of our bodies?


C Why is it important for us to understand how to take care of our bodies?

C How can we protect our bodies from harm that others might want to inflict? Does this include our minds?

Have a family activity that includes some kind of exercise: take a walk after dinner, have a dance party, go swimming, etc. Express your

gratitude for your bodies to your children.

FAMILY ACTIVITY

August

Share your testimony of the Law of Chastity. Answer any questions your children might have.

“Did Paul teach that it is better to be unmarried than married?”

B Monogamy vs. Multiple Partners (30 Days of Sex Talks 12+, p. 93)

C In a society that is so focused on a hook-up culture it is important to discuss the benefits of monogamy and abstinence with your children. While it is important to give your children all the facts about sex, explain why following the Law of Chastity can help safeguard them physically, mentally, and spiritually.


C Why do you want to get married someday?


C What is monogamy? What are your thoughts on monogamy? Your friends’ thoughts?

C How can following the Law of Chastity help you in all aspects of your life?

FAMILY ACTIVITY

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Week 4

August1 Corinthians 8–13 - “Ye Are the Body of

Christ” “God provides a way to escape temptation.”

B “Addiction” (SC, p. 86)

C Even when we get addicted to something, we are never left alone. Heavenly Father always has a way for us to come back and overcome temptation and addiction.


C What are temptations?

C What are the steps to repentance?


C What are ways we can avoid temptation? How can we come back after sinning?

C How can coping mechanisms help us avoid temptations?

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Week 5

Bear your testimony about repentance. Let your children know that they can come and talk to you if they think they’ve gotten into trouble.

FAMILY ACTIVITY

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Resources & Information

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C Twitter: @EduEmpowerKids

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C Instagram: Eduempowerkids

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