educateempowerkids.org

Strengthening Your Child Through

Come, Follow Me

November

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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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Hebrews 1–6 - “Jesus Christ, “the Author of Eternal Salvation”

“Jesus Christ suffered temptation and infirmities so that He can understand and help me.”

B “Empathy” (SC, p. 61)

C Empathy can be described as “the feeling that you understand and share another person’s experiences and emotions; the ability to share someone else’s feelings.”

C Because Jesus Christ suffered for us and experienced the temptations and infirmities we have and will experience He is able to understand what we are feeling.

B Questions for Younger Children:

C How can we turn to Jesus for help when we are having a hard time?

C How can you help others when they are having a difficult time?

B Questions for Older Children:

C Can you think of a time you helped someone who was going through a hard time? How were you able to help them?

H Follow-up question: How did helping them make you feel?

C How can we help others when we may not fully understand what they are experiencing or going through?

NovemberWeek 1

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Role Play: Create a scenario where someone is going through something difficult (i.e. someone who is feeling sad about something,

experiencing the death of a loved one, etc.—you decide). Have one person act as the person going through the difficult trial, and another

practice empathy and try to comfort them. Take turns so that everyone has a chance to practice empathy and understanding.

FAMILY ACTIVITY

“In order to receive God’s blessings, I must ‘harden not’ my heart.”

B “Belief” (SC, p. 38)

C “A cynical young person is almost the saddest sight to see, because it means that he or she has gone from knowing nothing to believing nothing.” —Maya Angelou

C When we do not exercise faith and belief, our hearts may be hardened. As we do exercise faith and have open hearts to the word of God we are blessed.

B Questions for Younger Children:

C How can we exercise faith in God?

C What are some of the blessings God has given you?

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Week 1

B Questions for Older Children:

C Why must we “harden not” our hearts in order to receive blessings from God?

H Follow-up question: What are things that can help us to “harden not” our hearts?

C How can we help and show love towards others who have hardened their hearts or lack faith?

NovemberHebrews 7–13 - “An High Priest of Good

Things to Come”“Faith requires trusting in God’s promises.”

B “Love” (SC, p. 50)

C “Love: a feeling of strong or constant affection for a person, which can be romantic or platonic. Love, in one way or another, often motivates our most important relationships. The love we have for our children pushes us into new situations for growth and learning, and more importantly, allows us to connect” (SC, p. 50).

C Because God loves us unconditionally, He wants what is best for us.

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Discussion: As a family think of scripture stories that show when someone (or a group of people) did or did not put trust in God. Share a summary of some of those stories. What happened as a result of their

trust or lack of trust in God? What can we learn from these stories? How do they apply to us?

FAMILY ACTIVITY

Week 2

November B Questions for Younger Children:

C What is faith?

C How can we show trust in God?

B Questions for Older Children:

C What are things you have done, or can do to put trust in God?

C Think of a time you had difficulty putting trust in God. How were you able to overcome it? What blessings did you receive from exercising faith in Him?

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Week 2

NovemberJames - “Be Ye Doers of the Word, and

Not Hearers Only”“As a disciple of Jesus Christ, I should love all people, regardless of their circumstances.”

B “Love” (SC, p. 50)

C “The sense of security, peace, and belonging that arises with both being loved and loving other people is an essential element of our human experience.”

B Questions for Younger Children:

C What does the phrase “I am a Child of God” mean to you?

C Why does God want us to love everyone?

B Questions for Older Children:

C How can you love someone that posts something you really disagree with on social media?

C What biases do you have towards others and how can you work to overcome them?

“Have your child reach out to someone and tell them that they love them. This can be done in person, but it also could take the form of a

letter, a text, an email, a video chat, etc. The point is to help your child realize that they are empowered to increase love and compassion in the world simply by not being afraid to appropriately demonstrate

their care for another person.”

FAMILY ACTIVITY

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Week 3

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NovemberWeek 4

1 and 2 Peter - “Rejoice with Joy Unspeakable and Full of Glory”

“I can find joy during times of trial and suffering.” B “Optimism” (SC, p. 58)

C “Optimism: A feeling or belief that good things will happen in the future.”

C “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God” (Romans 8:28).

B Questions for Younger Children:

C As you remember that God loves you, how will this help you when you’re upset?

C What is joy?

B Questions for Older Children:

C What is the difference between worldly happiness and eternal joy?

C How can online forums (such as blogs, media pages, lds.org, etc.) help us find hope and joy in times of suffering?

Sit down with your child and list several things that she is apprehensive about. Discuss a positive phrase she can repeat when she feels

overwhelmed (when taking a test or when a performance or game is coming up, for example). Practice saying a simple phrase like ‘I got this’ or ‘I can do this.’ Be sure to sit down afterwards to discuss and

document her experience with this exercise and work to be consistent with its application.

FAMILY ACTIVITY

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November“Through the power of Jesus Christ, I can develop my divine nature.”

B “Initiative” (SC, p. 26)

C Initiative is the power that you have to act or take charge on your own.

B Questions for Younger Children:

C What is initiative?

C How can you take initiative this week?

B Questions for Older Children:

C What can you do to take initiative in developing a Christlike quality this week?

C What holds you back from taking initiative?

Week 4

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