Toddlerific Vol 1

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~ ~ lllle TIUtll: God gave me my family.
lllil!le V&Se: "Serve one another in love." Galatians S:13
lil!le StnY: David serves his brothers. 1 Samuel 17: 12-19
~nt: Kindness
We all want to belong to a group of people who love and care for us. Toddlers are no
different Your family is the first introduction your child has to belonging to a group.
"My mommy. N ~my daddy, H ~my sister, H ~my brother* -these are
some of the fint social phrases children use. As they grow older,
children undentand that Grandma is Mommy's mother, or Uncle
Dave is Daddy's brother. As you help your child understand family
relationships, emphasize that family members serve one another
because they love each other.
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Make a placemat using old family pictures. Cut the pictull!s to fit onto a piece of
paper or an old placemat In the center of the placemat you could write in large
letters GOO. You can use clear self-adhewe paper to "laminateN the paper or old
placemat. Show the placemat to your child by going over each picture and the family
member's name. Do this by repeating. •God gave us __ (use the family member's
name). God gave us our family.•
4 Sl>ecfill M'te
Parents selflessly se,ve their children every day. 8ut make a fun attempt to serve your
child in a ipecial way. Make a "dateN to serve your little toddler with love. Set the
table with a little extra care, with perhaps a tablecloth and napkins, maybe even use
candlelighl Then dress up in nice clothes or as a maid or a butler. Pour Ofl the service
with a smile. Little ones just love when you pretend, too. But most of all, impreis
upon your toddler that you are overjoyed that God put him or her in your family.
You want to show you love your child by seiving.
As your child is ready for grO\lling steps of faith, talk about being in God's family. The
warmth and care of your human family will help your child learn that it's good to be
part of God's family as well.