Parents and Grandparents, Some Helpful Activities as Kids Start School

As school gets in full swing all over the fruited plain, let me suggest an activity or two to help remind your child(ren) about purpose of life. This is an important aspect for each child to remember. In school, around other children, and in consideration of a new school year, a good conversation about purpose of life provides a needed reminder. In fact, it may be just as good for parents and grandparents as it is for those we love.

When considering purpose of life, we want our children to understand two things: 1) A desire to honor and glorify God should motivate everything our children do; 2) This is demonstrated through obedience to God. Ultimately, we want our children to embrace this as their own purpose of life – glorify God by becoming more like Jesus.

Teaching Opportunities for Parents

• Have your child memorize (or better yet, have the entire family memorize) one or two key verses. Be sure you explain them clearly for your child to understand what they mean. I particularly like 1 Corinthians 10:13 and 2 Corinthians 5:9. In 1 Corinthians 10:13 you can review what “whatsoever” means and give many clarifying examples. In 2 Corinthians 5:9 you can talk through what aim or goal means as well as living a life that is well-pleasing in the power of Christ.
• Take time to pray with your children to ask God to grant them the wisdom to live for what God wants from them.
• You can use any tool out of a kitchen drawer or some similar item to illustrate this principle. Ask the child, “For what purpose the designer of the tool make this tool?” Have them consider the uses and purposes of the designer. You can ask other questions like, “Could you use this for other purposes?” “If the designer of this product watched us use it in this way, do you think he or she would be pleased or satisfied?”
• You could go to your local hardware store and buy a carpenter’s pencil or roofing pencil. I use this illustration often with children to help them understand this principle. Ask your child, “Why do you think this pencil is flat?” Help your child understand that the pencil was made this way on purpose. It was made so it would not roll off the roof or roll away in the middle of a project. Plus, it fits nicely on a tool belt and is more sturdy than a typical pencil. It is made with a purpose. So also is your child made with a specific purpose – to glorify God. Give your child the pencil to keep in his or her backpack, put in their desk, or in some way use as a reminder.
• Make a list of specific scenarios and review some of those in conversation with your child. Here’s an example: “If your teacher asked you to sit quietly in class, what are some of the reasons you should obey him or her?” Then listen to the reasons. There may be several good reasons, but you want to especially emphasize that God expects you to obey authority so obeying your teacher brings honor or glory to God. You can quickly brainstorm many of these types of examples.
• Emphasize that no matter how they have done in previous years, this is a new opportunity to honor God in this new school year.

Just do something…

Regardless of the style of school you choose for your children this year, it is still a good opportunity to review purpose of life. From those in a public school, to private, to Christian, to co-op, to homeschool, each child need to take a few moments to consider purpose of life.

For more ideas and other key items: Back to School – Help Your Children Prepare for the School Year