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SSTN # 15 - March 1, 2004


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IN THIS ISSUE OF THE SSTN e-NEWSLETTER:


Egg-Shaped Easter Cards

1) Candy & Bad Behavior?
2) Bringing Toys to Class
3) Age For Passion Movie   

Buggie For Jesus - I'm A BEE-liever!

4) Toys in class    
5) Bringing toys to class     
6) Children's Easter Program?

Jesus Ascending Mini-Movie

7) Bringing Toys to Class
8) Bringing Toys to Class
9) Bringing Toys to Class


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Egg-Shaped Easter Cards

When the cards are cut, colored and assembled, players can play Easter Egg
Scramble and discover a secret Easter message! Now with two black and
white "cross" and "resurrection" drawings to color! Reproducible so your
whole class can make a set!

Find them in the Curriculum section at: 

http://www.christiancrafters.com/curriculum.html 

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1) Candy & Bad Behavior?

I have a problem with a child in my sunday school class.  A single mother
of a very obese 4 year old boy continues to give the child candy during
service prior to Sunday school.  We have place notes in the bulletin for
all parents to refrain from giving the kids sugar before class because it
tends to make them disruptive and we've also sent the info out in the
parent letter hoping that this woman would catch on with out anyone having
to speak to her directly.  She is very defensive when it comes to ANY
thing about this child.  When we have had to bring back to her during
class for hitting or other bad behavior, she is visibly upset, don't at
her son, but at us.  Do you have any suggestions.
 
Thanks and God Bless!!
  
When you walk to the edge of darkness, you must remember two things,
either God will plant your feet on solid ground, or He will teach you to
fly.

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2) Bringing Toys to Class

Hi Sarah,
  We have this happen occasionally and it is frustrating (at least the two
little boy who brought catepillars into church last spring were told by
their parents they would have to wait outside during the service, lol) .
I'm sorry you aren't getting the support you should by the parents and
other leaders.

You mentioned toy box and it set off an idea.
You have set a policy of no toys, and for very good reasons. Write that up
in a note or newletter home, and post it also. This makes sure there are
no surprises. Also, make sure your leadership will stand behind you since
they have said the responsibility is yours.

When the kids are checked in, put a piece of masking tape with the childs
name on it and put it in  a box - you can keep it plain or make it fancy
and give it a name. This way the parents don't take the toy to church and
it is put away during class. I realize this is extra work for your helpers
but maybe if the parents see that the kids aren't going to be allowed to
play with them, they will start leaving them in the car.
Many blessings on your week.
Linda in Edmonds


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3) Age For Passion Movie

Mel Gibson said that he wouldn't let a child under the age of 13 see this
movie.


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Buggie For Jesus - I'm A BEE-liever!

Reproducible buggie crafts, games, lessons, and yummy devotions
to coordinate with your summertime programs or midweek classes.

In the Curriculum section: 
http://www.christiancrafters.com/curriculum.html 


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4) Toys in class    

I have had problems with this and so I started having the kids to put all
their stuff on the shelf for this purpose, "so the toys could watch us and
listen to what we do".  After a few weeks the kids take and put their
stuff on the shelf when they first get to class.
Nancy
NancyK803@aol.com


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5) Bringing toys to class     

Q:  I have been having an increasing problem of children (I teach Pre-K)
bringing toys from home into the Sunday School classroom....  we would
rather children not bring toys from ... home because they are just too
hard to keep track of.
 
A:  I had a similar problem, and I agree with you that families should
leave toys in the car.  My classes were told that noone could play with
their toys in class -- that way nothing would be accidently broken or
forgotten.  Toys brought to class were put up until class ended.  Maybe
one of these three storage ideas will help you:
 
a) Put them up on a shelf. 
b) Put them in a bag on the door knob, if the kids are behaved well enough
to leave them alone.
c) Hanging a supply of plastic shopping bags on the coat rack so toys can
be hung on hangers or hooks with coats.  ( I personally like tucking them
into the arms of coats in coat season -- out of sight but hard to miss
when the kids leave.)   If you have no coat rack, maybe you could get a
coat tree for the entry into your classroom.
 
~~Vicki Logan, Reynolds IN

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6) Children's Easter Program?

Good Morning,
We have a small children's Sunday School, about 15 kids.  Would anyone
have an Easter Program that they've done for (small group) that they are
willing to share?

Thank you,
Florence Manier
Thorne Bay Alaska 99919

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Jesus Ascending Mini-Movie

A unique flip-card pattern that children color and assemble, then watch
the resurrected Jesus ascend into the clouds. Kids make it and take it
home!  Print out as many patterns as you need for a onetime fee. To see a
picture and to learn more, follow this link:
http://www.christiancrafters.com/curriculum.html 


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7) Bringing Toys to Class

I work in a secular day care/preschool in the pre-K setting.  The policy
there is no toys from home.  When the children bring in toys from home,
the teacher has them put it in their cubby.  Since many children attend
preschools, and I would guess most schools have that policy for the very
same reasons you gave, I imagine that if you follow the same policy it
will not be a suprise to the child.  I teach K-5 in Sunday School.  When a
child brings a toy from  home, I give them the choice of putting it
in their pocket (if it's small enough), under their chair, or  on a
shelf.  If they put it in their pocket or under their chair, I let them
know it must stay there until after SS or I will put in on my shelf.  I
assure them that they can have it back after class.Not only do you have
the unnecessary responsibility for the welfare of the toy, you also have
to contend with the certain constant distraction and the competition with
other children.  Many toys are absolutely inappropriate for children
period let alone in a Sunday School class.  If necessary you may need to
put some in a closet or shoe box to be "out of sight/out of mind".  After
you do this "enough" times, both the children and parents hopefully will
get the message that the toy isn't worth bringing.
Terri-Downingtown, PA


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8) Bringing toys to class    

Sarah;
 
My first reaction would be to suggest you quit fighting it.  Have a high
shelf (or the top of a cupboard) where the parents can place toys when
they come into the room.  Let both parents and children know that is the
place all toys which come into the room will go.  When the parents pick
the children up - they also claim the child's toy(s).  That way you don't
have to remember which child brought what toy and it remains the parents
responsibility (where it should be).  If the child throws a fit about not
keeping their toy, the parent deals with it - not you.  I don't know if
that would work in your situation, but maybe if not, it will still spark
an idea that will!  
 
Toye in Alberta Canada

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9) Bringing Toys to Class    

Dear Sarah in California:
 
In our two-year old class parents will often allow their children to bring
toys to Sunday School.  We think parents use the toys to comfort their
little ones while they are separated from them and really don't think that
it would cause a problem.  We gently advise the parents as they sign in
their children that their child's toy will remain safe on the check-in
counter until class is over, and parents can retrieve the toy when they
pick up their child.  We explain the difficulty in keeping home toys safe
and briefly tell them of the inevitable arguments that ensue when their
child sets their toy down momentarily and another child picks it up.  We
often have 15+ two-year olds in our classroom and with limited time to
teach we want to head off problems before they arise.
 
Frankly, we've never had a disgruntled parent, and find a reasonable
explanation results in a reasonable solution.
 
May God continue to bless your ministry.
Patty in W


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