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Family Discipleship

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Parenting Resources for COVID-19

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Midtown parents, how do you lead your family when things are changing so rapidly that the announcements that came out yesterday from the White House or Centers for Disease Control are obsolete today? We all know that children thrive on structure, but how do you give that to them when it feels like chaos all around you?

We’ve pulled together resources that we think are helpful, along with a summary of each. They range from the exclusively spiritual to emotional to practical. As usual, stay in touch with your LifeGroup and let us know if you have any needs by submitting them here. As well, consider single people in your life who may count it a blessing to come help you out!

With all resource recommendations, remember to keep your discernment meter up. Eat the meat and spit out the bones. Take the helpful truth and prayerfully apply it in a way that is most fruitful for you.

Overall Tips

  • Maintain as much of a normal routine as possible

  • Limit how much you and your children look at the news and social media

  • Your kids will mirror how you react

  • Refocus the attention on God’s power and love

  • Pray with your kids

  • Encourage them to talk to you about their worries and fears

Christian Resources

  • How to Talk to Children About the Coronavirus, The Gospel Coalition

    • Three questions to ask kids:

      • 1. Why do Christians not have to fear death? 

      • 2. Why should Christians still be safe, responsible, and wise about the Coronavirus? 

      • 3. Why can Christians live in this dangerous world without fear? 

    • The author walks through the answers to these questions and finishes the article with this:

“Whether through the closing of their school or information they’ve heard in the media, your child will learn of the coronavirus’s dangers. Proactively point them to the Lord’s good and gracious character, along with the gospel’s sweet and sure promises, and you will comfort them amid this present crisis. And it can prepare them for life’s afflictions down the road.”

  • Talking with Kids About the CoronaVirus, Focus on the Family

    • Keep calm and communicate

    • Provide reassurance

    • Stick to the facts (e.g. Centers for Disease Control and National Institutes of Health)

    • Use this time for family fun

    • God is still in control

  1. Get the facts

  2. Validate your child’s fears

  3. Limit media coverage

  4. Discuss disruptions

  5. Maintain perspective

  1. Create a schedule...but hang on to it loosely

  2. Set up your classroom

  3. Use your kids’ currency (referring to consequences/rewards)

  4. Be aware of your kids’ learning style

  5. Don’t be afraid to fail

  6. Be there for your kids

  • Parenting Well in the Midst of a Pandemic, Crossroads Church, Cincinnati, OH

    • Take a deep breath

    • Their concerns are real

    • Be a detective

    • Talk with them about specifics as they’re ready

    • Be developmentally appropriate

    • Turn off the news

    • Hold onto routines as much as possible

    • Don’t play the blame game

    • Fill their minds with God’s truth

    • Share with friends in need

    • Be Jesus to your friends, neighbors, and family

  • How to Support Kids With Anxiety During the Coronavirus, Key Ministry

    • Model the response you would desire from your child

    • Consider involving your kids in your family’s preparations and response to the virus

    • Monitor exposure to attention-grabbing stories in the media

    • Plan ahead by identifying lots of books and activities that can occupy an anxious child’s mind

    • Use videoconferencing technology to connect with relatives and friends

    • Have a 90-day supply of prescription medication on hand

    • Model faith in action

Additional Resources

  • Talking to Children about COVID-19: A Parent Resource, National Association of School Psychologists

    • Model good health practices to them

    • Assure them that adults are working hard to make sure that everyone is safe

    • Maintain a normal routine as much as possible

    • Monitor television and social media use

    • Know that your children might be in need of extra care and attention at this time

Activity Resources

35 Activity Ideas for Kids Stuck at Home, Pop Sugar

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Shepherding Your Family Through COVID-19

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Dear Midtown Parents, 

As you know, our vision for Kidtown is to partner with and equip parents as the primary disciplers of their kids. Now, as we find ourselves unable to gather on Sundays and with our LifeGroups, the importance of you discipling your children is more apparent than ever. 

For families who already have built-in rhythms of discipling your kids, great! Keep doing what you’re doing and tweak your rhythms as you need to. We hope the resources included are helpful as you navigate this time.

For those who don’t have healthy discipleship rhythms built yet, the present situation is actually a great opportunity to begin. All of your normal rhythms are being restructured. While this chaos can lead us to feel frozen and not want to do anything extra, the truth is it’s a perfect time to add in new rhythms while everything feels new to your kids anyway. 

What we aren’t asking you to do:

  • … magically transform into a seminary professor

  • … have answers to all the questions your kids might ask

  • … suddenly have kids who want to focus and pay attention for a 3-hour inductive Bible study

What we are asking you to do:

  1.  Maintain your own spiritual health - Spend time abiding in God’s Word and in prayer. Use the Lent Guide. Fight to stay connected with your LifeGroup in every way you can. Your spiritual health is vital as you shepherd your family.

  2. Spend time together with your kids in God’s Word and in prayer - This should have some formal weekly and/or daily rhythms as well as some informal, “as you go about your day” rhythms.

  • You can listen to Pastor Jon Ludovina teaching on all of this during the main session of Milestones Weekend 2019. (That link will take you to 21:22 when he teaches on Deuteronomy 6 and family discipleship rhythms specifically.)

RESOURCING YOU TO SHEPHERD YOUR FAMILY:

Weekly Family Worship:

We will be putting out weekly Family Worship Guides for you to be able to host a version of Kidtown at home for your family. These will follow what your children would be learning in Kidtown normally on Sundays and can be found on the weekly teaching page for adults. There will be versions available for Toddlers/Preschoolers and for Elementary-aged children. 

Daily Family Devotions:

If you don’t have something you’re doing already, try these simple daily family devotions based on the Lent Guide. (get the e-version of the Lent Guide here)

Morning:

In the morning, read a kid-friendly version of the Scripture reading (try the International Children’s Bible). Ask your children if anything stood out to them, share something that stood out to you, and then pray together, thanking God for what He showed you and asking Him to help you apply it today.

Evening:

In the evening, walk through the Evening Prayer prompts together. This is a great opportunity for you to share first and then allow each child to share.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Parenting Resources for Covid-19

Midtown’s Parenting Resources page

Music for Family Worship

Books for Family Worship