Strategies for Teaching Health & Manners
November 13, 2019
In This Issue:
Mercy Every Minute  
When Life Hurts 

There are plenty of good homeschool products to teach the kids health and manners. But let’s look at what to do when we, as teachers, have bad health or bad manners. 

Bad Health Hurts

We hurt in many ways when we are sick or unhealthy. Everything seems to fall apart, and we feel guilty for not doing more, depressed for not being better, and just plain miserable. We want to wrap up in a comforter and stay there forever. Instead, let the Holy Spirit comfort you as only He can, and rest in Him!

Lack of sleep is a real thing. We can easily allow our cranky tendencies to rule and feel justified. If you're waking up through the night, use that time to pray. In the morning, pray again. Make it a habit, and it will bring good fruit. It sets the day up in victory and not defeat . . . and napping during the day should not induce guilt—it’s healthy!

Skipping social media at night may help. Our brains take time to put all that information away, keeping us awake, as our minds are not able to shut down. Instead, Bible reading at night can heal our mind and soul. Notice how Satan’s distractions lead us away from God, especially when we are weak or idle?

“I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers” (3 John 1:2).

Bad Manners Hurt

The kids and I just talked this morning about how unkind words can hurt for a lifetime. I am often asking, “Are you building up with those words or tearing down?” Good manners go beyond please and thank you. Manners should be carried over into kindness on our lips, especially to those in our own household. Ouch!

“She opens her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness” (Proverbs 31:26).

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21).

“Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man works not the righteousness of God” (James 1:19-20).

Lord, change us, heal us, and give us wisdom.

~Deborah 

P.S. The current TOS Fall issue has several articles on manners starting on page 52.
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The Familyman's Guide to Health and Manners

Oh, man! I'm way out of my league on this topic. But I'll give it a try. Okay, this is the Familyman's guide to health and manners for your kids.

- Don't eat anything larger than your head.
- Don't burp in mixed company.
- Anything that comes in a cellophane package, is filled with white fluff, and has the shelf life of 50+ years HAS to be good for you.
- Krispy Kreme doughnuts trump all healthy eating.
- Don't spit in the house.
- The underside of a car seat, in between the couch cushions, or a sibling's clothing is not a substitute for a tissue.
- NEVER say, "Well, YOU do it!" after being questioned for bad, unacceptable behavior.
- You do not have to ask permission when you feel the urge to throw up.
- When you've just been to the bathroom, it is NOT acceptable to loudly announce to the entire restaurant what you just did.

There you go!

Be real,
Todd
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Mom’s Choice Award recipient, Manners and Me, is an adorable guide that teaches children how to be considerate and responsible.
For more information, visit  https://mannersandme.com/
Health and Manners: A Part of Worship

God is the Magnificent Creator. We are His handiwork. He gave us an operating manual, the Bible so we can operate at top speed. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit Who lives within us. Health and manners should be a part of our worship to God.

Health and manners are life skills which are best not only taught but caught through careful instruction and modeling. As homeschoolers, we have the opportunity to teach these important subjects in the context of our day rather than as a course to be read and tested. While brushing their teeth, kids can learn proper dental hygiene and the reasons behind the brushing and the flossing. While preparing meals, nutrition and vitamins and minerals essential to our bodies can be pointed out. Doing exercise together is the best way to teach the importance of movement. Different types of activities can be used to illustrate aerobic versus strength exercises, and stretching can be practiced together.

Understanding the effects of bad habits is just as important as knowing the pathways to good habits. Teaching against smoking, drinking, drugs, laziness, and overindulgence can be taught using Biblical instruction. Sickness is a great time to talk about health—what went wrong and how we can avoid and heal further sickness. 

Manners will be a natural flow for some children as they watch Mom and Dad and other adults being polite, using the proper setting at the table, putting others first by opening doors, and helping others. For other children, such as kids with ADHD, a great resource for teaching manners is The Etiquette Factory. Here you can find courses, camps, products, etc. for teaching manners in a fun and interactive way.

Using manners is a life skill born out of proper thinking patterns of honoring others, unity, humility, helpfulness, gentleness, etc. Practical Proverbs for the Younger Student (9-14 year olds) and Practical Proverbs for the Older Student (high school and beyond) by Abiding Truth Ministry, Inc. teach many of these life skills in a Biblical context.

You are the best teacher of health and manners for your children. Educate yourself on making nutritious meals and snacks and practicing healthy living, so you can teach your children healthy habits by both discussion and modeling. Be the best you for the glory of your Maker.

Dara Halydier is an author, speaker, and mom of five grown boys! She homeschooled for twenty-one wonderful years and is now encouraging other homeschooling families. She is the executive director of Abiding Truth Ministry and the author of the Practical Proverbs series and other books. Dara has learned life’s lessons the hard way—experience! The lessons she shares come from truths that she has learned from dealing with chronic pain, having moved thirty-three times, having four boys with learning disabilities, and having overcome a past of abuse to proclaim God’s grace, forgiveness, and freedom. Find out more at  www.abidingtruthministry.com .
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Stacy Farrell
Are We Suffering from an Epidemic of Rudeness?

Rudeness is an epidemic in our culture.

THE DECLINE OF MANNERS

The Scriptures talk about a day when the love of most will grow cold.

People will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, etc.

Some say that day has arrived.

WE’RE RAISING AMBASSADORS.

As homeschool parents, we have the opportunity to influence our culture in a profound and healthy way.

We’re representatives from another country—and our King rules with the Law of Love.

We’re raising ambassadors. How do we train them?

APPLY VIRTUE TO DAILY LIFE.

The fruit of the Spirit, as described in Galatians 5:22-23, is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Applying those virtues to daily life, a number of training targets emerge.

Love can be expressed as
  • listening without interrupting.
  • apologizing when you are wrong.
  • treating others as you wish to be treated.
  • praying for those who are hurting or in need.
  • standing up for those who are being oppressed.

Kindness can be expressed as
  • holding the door open for others.
  • offering to help carry groceries or other packages.
  • offering to others before taking the last cookie, piece of cake, etc.
  • getting a beverage for others when you get one for yourself.
  • speaking words of encouragement.

Faithfulness can be expressed as
  • obeying your mother and father.
  • honoring your elders and those in authority (unless doing so violates a Biblical principle).
  • doing your chores without being asked.
  • asking permission before using that which belongs to another.
  • showing appreciation for home and family by putting things back where they belong when you’re finished with them.

Self-control can be expressed as
  • behaving in a way appropriate for your circumstance (sometimes that means no running or climbing, speaking quietly, and waiting patiently).
  • making eye contact when you talk with someone.
  • shaking hands firmly and confidently when you meet someone.
  • saying "please" and "thank you."
  • practicing basic table manners like washing your hands before you eat, chewing with your mouth closed, not talking with food in your mouth, etc.

SMALL THINGS CAN HAVE A BIG IMPACT.

Don’t underestimate the power of good manners. Even small acts of kindness can have a big impact.

As the light of civility in our culture grows dim, our light of love as expressed through Godly manners will shine all the brighter.

Seize the opportunity to prepare your ambassadors for the profound assignments that await them.

If you haven’t done so already, begin today!


With tenderness and joy (Phil. 1:4),

Stacy 


Stacy Farrell helps parents equip their children to stand for truth in the midst of this crazy culture. She writes about  time management motherhood celebrating manhood philosophy biblical worldview , and  writing . But her favorite job is being wife to Roger and mother to two precious sons. Learn more about her at   HomeschoolAdventure.com
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