Preparing children
for new school year

PASTOR JOHN ELLISON
NorthWoods Chapel
Posted 8/28/02

School is just days away. Like many of you, my wife and I have made a few runs to area stores to ensure our three children have everything they need - number two pencils, erasers, glue, note books, back packs, shoes that fit their ever-growing feet, some pants, shirts, socks. You get the idea.

Now they are ready to do well, right? No. Now we need to ensure we get them off our insane summer sleeping schedule and start the "early to bed, early to rise" routine. We also ensure the diet is not full of junk food. Oh yeah, they said he needed to get his multiplication tables learned over the summerÖ. All this to ensure that their minds are ready for another school year.

Now, for sure we have children ready for anything, right? Well, no again. You see our children are more than just bodies and minds, they are spiritual beings as well. We have all heard and read the statistics about smoking, drinking, drug usage, pregnancy and other problems that plague our schools. It is not fully confined to the metro areas and reaches into private and public schools.

We canít walk our children through the school each day. But, good newsÖ GOD CAN!

I would recommend the following things to parents of school age children:

1. Get up with them and see them off. Child psychologists tell us that the two most important times in a childís day are the hour they get up and the hour before bed. Make that time special, sit and have breakfast with them and talk to them.

2. Pray with and for your child. You let God and your children know how special and valuable they are to you by audibly praying Godís blessing, help and protection upon them. When a child hears your heart each morning praying for their safety and avoiding temptations, they know you care and they know God does too. They have assurance that they are not alone in the hallways and in the classrooms.

3. Read a short portion of scripture or a childrenís daily devotion with them. Ask them questions about what you read. Donít be "preachy," let them tell you what they think.

4. Touch. Hugs, pats, and kisses depending upon the age are very important. Children and teens need affirming affection. Dad, mom, if they donít get it from you, where will they find it?

I realize that not every parent can do this in the morning. Many of us have jobs that dictate our children get themselves off to school. But I encourage you to find the time when you can make this possible, perhaps around the dinner table or at bedtime.

School is tough at any age. We need to be there for our children. They need to know that even in junior high, the words of Rev. Reuben K. Youngdahl still apply. "You never walk alone."