Alright – these next few posts will really be a brain dump of what I hope is useful information for someone. It’s just a few items each post that are useful bits of info that have helped me over the years. If it helps anyone else – then I’m doing what I believe I was called to do…
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All posts for the month August, 2009
Kids really see stuff in two ways:
1. This is either FUN
or
2. this is really BORING
Yep – that’s really the mindset of a kid.
Now let me bring some definition to the information above…
These two viewpoints of the world are really interpretations of the world around them. For instance: an activity or experience that is exciting, engaging, delicious, funny, intriguing, inclusive or tailored to their wants and needs will be interpreted as “FUN”.
on the other hand… any activity or experience that is uncomfortable, uninteresting, over their heads, too predictable, non-engaging, unfamiliar, not welcoming or negative will most likely be interpreted as “BORING”.
Now here’s what you’ve wanted to hear all day: Children will react differently to each of the two ways that they see the world.
1. If they interpret the world around them as being “FUN”, they will engage, participate and have a positive attitude about that activity or experience. With this experience, you can harness that energy and help guide it into a moment of learning, and experiencing God. This, in my vocabulary is called: “CONTROLLED FUN”. Please take note that, “CONTROLLED FUN” is good.
2. If they interpret the world around them as being “BORING”, they will disengage from the activity, despise the adult who is initiating the “BORING” activity or experience and ultimately, make an attempt to create their own “FUN”. When a child attempts to create their own fun in defiance of the “BORING” activity or simply, quite .possibly a non-existent activity, this, in my vocabulary is called: “UNCONTROLLED FUN”. Please note that “UNCONTROLLED FUN” is NOT good.
How’s your Children’s Ministry doing with all of this?