Raising Kids - Sandpiper Creatives

Should We Switch Curriculum Now?

Are you thinking about switching curriculum, but you know that it sounds crazy at this point in the school year? There are many reasons we may choose to switch curriculum. Perhaps our child isn’t understanding it, we don’t like implementing it, or it just isn’t what we hoped it would be. My friend, Margaret, recently made the decision to completely drop the acclaimed curriculum/program that they were using, and in which they were invested, to begin a different program mid-year. Her story is inspiring, because her decision to change at this point in the school year was a complicated but rewarding journey in which she had to rely on and trust the Lord in so many ways.

by Kimberly Farmer

Screen Bucks for Managing Screen Time

The Struggle is Real, Right?

When our kids jump on their video games, phones, computers, movies or other devices/screens, our heart cringes a little and we wish they were doing something productive or at least healthy or fun. But while our heart is bugging us, our exhausted brain and body is just happy to have a break from the whining or the noise or the attention.

But as we well know from our own time management issues, a “little while” on a screen very quickly multiplies into a lot of time, and even the most wholesome of content on a screen isn’t a healthy or happy way to do life. When screen time takes over, we eventually we see it in our kids’ attitudes, discontentment, and health.

If you’re like me, you may feel that a line has been crossed, and we can’t go back to the good ole days. But we can. It takes a lot of intention, may require creativity, and probably isn’t going to go over well at first, but it’s possible. So, if you are like us, and feel like screens are taking over your kids’ childhood, here is one idea to help us get started reclaiming a healthier balance. It took me ten minutes, index cards, and a marker to create Screen Bucks for my kids (the stickers were just to make them cute :). I have to tell you, when I am faithful to enforce and monitor this plan, it’s totally been working! It’s simple, but it has so many benefits!

by Kimberly Farmer

Middle School: Walking a Healthy Balance Between Structure and Freedom

As my oldest child experiences the middle school years, I find myself needing to transition and develop right along with her. One of the ways adjustment is needed is in the area of our daily routine. While a routine provides necessary structure, my child’s growing maturity reminds me that it is also time for me to introduce some freedoms. This is the perfect time for me to make adjustments, because she is mature enough to handle some freedom, but she is young enough to be trained in how to manage that freedom.

Giving our children structure and also giving them freedom may sound like an oxymoron, but in actuality, these important but opposite elements, which we the parents measure and determine, can and should work together hand-in-hand.

Why are both important? A structured day is necessary to our child’s daily success and sanity, while freedom to make choices and manage time and behaviors is important to experiencing eventual independence and happiness.

by Kimberly Farmer

Growing Godly Character – KidsofIntegrity.com

If you have kids of any age and you want a terrific, thorough, flexible, and free resource to teach them Godly behaviors and character traits, I have a great website for you!

by Kimberly Farmer

A Call to Bible Memorization

Instilling God’s Word and Cultivating Love for It

Around the world, believers are longing for and praying for Bibles – their very own copy. If you are like me, you could walk around your house and gather up 10 Bibles, at least. And with technology, we often don’t use the ones we have, because we can access it on our computers and phones. We don’t memorize it, because we can reach over to a table or bookshelf and look something up. But is that really enough? For my children’s sake, I want to instill the importance of having, reading, memorizing, and following the Word of God. I want them to appreciate the fact that they have the Bible, and I want them to treat it with reverence and love, because it is a precious gift. Corrie ten Boom’s father said to her, “Girl, don’t forget that every word you know by heart is a precious tool that [God] can use through you.”

by Kimberly Farmer

Are We Pushing God on Our Kids?

The Lie

As a young adult, I heard sad and bitter stories surrounding the way some people were brought up in a Christian home. They would speak of how they felt like God and righteousness were pushed down their throat until, as a result, they became “turned off” to wanting to belong to Christ. I, too, had been brought up in a Christian home, but had only thankfulness and joy in my heart to associate with my upbringing. Even so, these accounts affected me and took their toll on my mind without me realizing it as I struggled with fears of raising my own children.