Category: Tips &amp; Tricks

¹ Loneliness and Social Isolation: An International Survey.

Notes

² Loneliness Rivals Obesity, Smoking as Health Risk.

³ Jobless Claims Hit 4.4 Million.

2020-04-222020-04-21

How to Make Physical Distancing Work for Your Family

Physical distancing has presented parents with challenges that most of us have never faced before. Even if you already considered your family to be your primary ministry, adjusting to working at home can blur the line between family life and work life.

Many of us at YouVersion are parents, so just like you, we’ve been looking for strategies that will work for our families. Below are just a few approaches we’ve found so far. While we realize every family has unique circumstances, we hope you’ll find something here that’s helpful.

Communicate, collaborate, and coordinate.

When troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy - Jamess 1:2 - Verse Image

If both parents are trying to work from home, remember that you’re on the same team together. Try to set up a schedule that suits everyone. Some of us are taking shifts, where one parent works from 8:30am to 12:00pm, while the other cares for the kids, then switching from 12:30pm to 5:00pm. Make a plan, but leave room to be flexible.

…Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults…

EPHESIANS 4:2

Include your kids.

When troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy - Jamess 1:2 - Verse Image

Ask your children to “help” in ways that make sense for their ages. You might help them make a “Time to Work” sign for you, then explain that when you hang it on the door, that means you need to concentrate. Help them make special artwork for your workspace—especially if you’ll be in video meetings. Your kids are more likely to respect boundaries between work time and family time if they feel invested in both.

Imprint these words of mine on your hearts and minds… Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

DEUTERONOMY 11:18-19

Set realistic expectations.

“Productivity” looks different right now than it did three months ago. And, most of the people you work with are likely dealing with issues very similar to yours. Be a living example of the things you hope to receive from others. Give grace to your coworkers, to your children, and to yourself.

The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Galatians 5:22-23

When troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy - Jamess 1:2 - Verse Image

As much as you can, enjoy this time you have together. It may be hard to remember right now, but just a few months ago, many of us were trying to find ways to spend more time with our kids. It’s true that our current circumstances come with real challenges. But, it’s also true that we have the power to choose how we respond. We can see them as setbacks that are causing us pain, or as opportunities to draw our families closer than ever.

Parents, don’t be hard on your children. Raise them properly. Teach them and instruct them about the Lord.

2020-04-202020-04-17

3 Ways to Help Your Kids Adjust to the New “Normal”

Mother and daughter using a tablet

Ephesians 6:4

Mother and daughter laughing while using a tablet

If you’re like many parents we know, day by day, you’re trying to handle meals, figure out school, and manage your kids’ boredom—all while worrying about your job and your future. We want you to know: We’re here for you.

Regardless of your children’s ages, it’s likely they have a lot of questions about everything happening. Almost overnight, all the daily routines that they relied on for stability changed. One of the best things we can do for them right now is to establish a new “normal.”

Here are 3 things you can try at different times throughout the day to help your kids adjust:

Ask your kids what they’re thinking about. Then listen.

Even if they say difficult or troubling things, try not to show alarm on your face. Your kids need a safe space to talk, and the opportunity to fully express their thoughts and feelings in their own words.

Be the example you want to see in your house.

Take care of yourself spiritually during this time, so that you’ll be able to give your kids the emotional support they need. Here’s where you can find some peace and encouragement for you:

Resources

Pray with your kids, on a schedule.

Praying is just having a conversation with God, telling Him what you’re thinking and feeling, asking for things you need, and thanking Him (even for small victories). You can pray anytime, but doing it together in the morning, at mealtimes, and at bedtimes is an easy way to build some routine into each day. Here’s a simple example:

Dear Jesus, thank You for our family. Help us to love each other, take care of each other, and be kind. Please show us how we can love our neighbors and our friends. Thank You. Amen.

Bonus! Clearly define your days.

If your kids have been used to a weekly schedule—with you at work and them at school or daycare—the days may start blurring together when everyone’s home. Giving each day of the week its own theme can help you build a rhythm, a sense of structure. Here are a few examples:

Taco Tuesday – Don’t have taco ingredients? Make sandwiches, taco style, folded in half.
Wacky Wednesday – Wear socks that don’t match. Type “recipe” into Google, with a list of whatever random ingredients you have, and make that together.
Funny Friday – Play together. Be silly. Make jokes. Watch a funny movie or TV show. Make Friday night Family Game Night.
Special Sunday – Worship God together. Find a church service online. (Many churches are putting their children’s programming online right now.) Watch a video on BibleAppForKids.com together and talk about it.

[Worship Songs Made for Kids]

2020-04-182020-04-17

4 Fun Activities to Try with Your Kids

Mother and son praying

Getting children excited about prayer can be challenging. Images of people praying typically show someone standing calmly with their head bowed and eyes closed. That’s hard for many people, let alone a kid who’s now stuck at home all day.

But prayer is simply talking with the God who says, “let the children come to me.” God loves to hear the honest cries of your children’s hearts.

Helping your kids talk openly with God now will also impact the way they view prayer in the years to come. So, here are 4 easy prayer activities to help your family pursue God through prayer.

Child praying

Count Your Blessings

At the end of each day, spend 5-10 minutes talking about a few things that blessed your family. After everyone’s shared, thank God for the good He’s done in your life that day.

Modeling thankfulness for your kids now will help shape the way they remember hard seasons. (Plus, focusing on your blessings can help lower stress levels.)

Pray Through the Week

Each week, pick a theme with your kids. (It could be a country, a person, or something your children love.)

Every day, have a child pray for that theme and allow whoever prays to choose a theme-related activity for you to do together. (Need activity ideas? You can find Bible-based coloring pages and Adventure Books here.)

Go on a Nature Walk

The next time you go outside, ask your children to point out anything that makes them smile. Take turns thanking God for creating the beauty around you. Try to enjoy the world through their eyes, together.

Pray through Praise Songs

Everything you do can be an act of worship. Pick one of your children’s favorite worship songs and sing it together. Make that song your prayer for the day.

Or, if you or your children are musical, pick a Psalm or the Lord’s Prayer and put it to music.

When prayer is a daily activity that your children look forward to, you help show them that they can talk to God anywhere, at any time, for any reason.

And, by letting go of any expectations for what their prayers should look like, you make space for your kids to creatively express themselves to God.