New

Do we ever stop and think what it must be like to a baby or child?

Every sensation--sight, smell, sound, texture, taste--is experienced by them for the very first time.

Things we take for granted are still completely novel to them. The world is exciting--one great big opportunity.

They can't wait to experience it.

As they grow older, the senses are less important than the new ideas they encounter.

New words, new concepts, new paradigms.

It thrills them to the core.

We need to make it a habit of getting down at their level, putting ourselves in their mind frame, and then facilitating their excitement and experiences at every age.

Too often, figuring that they'll learn what they need to on their own, as every child does, we lose opportunities to grant them greater growth.

I'm not a teacher to my children. I'm a fascilitator, and I will be for the rest of my life.

Work

It does the heart good.

We've been talking about building our "character houses" recently, and one of my favorite "rooms" is Hard Work.

The girls are still young enough that hard work is pretty much synonymous with fun. :)

Conference 3

One of our favorite ways to celebrate conference is our Conference Candy.

The younger ones get a candy if they tell me an "important word" that they hear. As they get older they must write down the words they hear, or tell me ideas that they are learning.

I give myself a candy every once in a while if I have been staying patient with the kids. ;)

Prophets

Prophets of God live today, and they testify that Christ lives!

I know that my Redeember lives!

Conference 2

We have the names of each apostle and prophet on a card, and a specific toy named on the back of each.

When my girls see an "important name" they turn over that card and play with the toy it lists.

It helps add variety to the long hours of conference. The games help us to feel excited and anticipate the celebration of conference.