The Parish Magazine July and August 2023

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The Parish Magazine - July/August 2023 19
Solving those rainy summer time blues
Ironically, a good solution for parents and guardians seeking ways to relieve
the boredom of children in their care during the rainy summer holidays by
encouraging them to switch off their phones and computers can be found on the
internet where there are hundreds of suggestions.
A good example is at https://www.
eparenting.co.uk/activities_for_kids/100_
screen_free_things_to_do_on_a_rainy_day.php
eParenting has been online since
2004 and provides ideas and resources
to help parents and schools make
education not only interesting but fun.
For the summer holidays it has
published a '100 screen-free things to do
on a rainy day', which, despite the 'e' in
eParenting, means switching off the
electronic devices and resorting to funpacked
games, many of which their
grandparents enjoyed!
Parenting dates back much further
than 2004 and indeed, before the
'electronic screen' which modern life
revolves around for many people.
Parenting was an important part
of God's Creation and throughout
the Bible we find advice on how to be
good parents, and how they, and their
children should love and respect each
other.
From the beginning, God blessed
and encouraged families, commanding
Adam and Eve to 'be fruitful, and
multiply, and replenish the earth' (Genesis
1:28).
We are told that it is the parents'
responsibility to teach their children
God's word. We must instil 'in the heart
of a child, love for our Lord Jesus Christ
and the works of God'. (Deuteronomy
11:18-21)
While Proverbs 6:20-22 says: 'My son,
keep your father's commands and do not
forsake your mother's teaching. Bind them
upon your heart forever; fasten them
around your neck. When you walk, they
will guide you; when you sleep, they will
watch over you; when you awake, they
will speak to you.'
Parenting affects almost every
life-form on Earth and in almost all
non-human cases involves male and
female parents. It is estimated that
the proportion of animal 'species'
which reproduce exclusively by
parthenogenesis — that is from
a single female parent — is in the
order of 1:1,000. Aphids, ants, wasps,
and bees are typical examples of
parthenogenesis in nature.
Among eParenting's free 100
suggestions for a rainy summer day,
you will find making things, playing
traditional games, cooking, putting
on posh tea parties, puppet shows
and plays, a tidying bedroom contest,
undertaking science experiments,
dressing up, cooking and making
jewellery from recycled materials.
Go to work (or church) on your bike day!
Cycle to Work Day on Friday 4 August is the UK’s biggest annual cycling commuting event, and this year is its 10th birthday!
The idea is to encourage workers in the UK to go to work on two wheels, not only for their own health and wellbeing, but for the
world itself. The organisers, cyclescheme.co.uk said: 'It’s an event for everyone, from people who haven’t hopped on a bike since their
school days to committed cycle commuters. What matters is jumping on a bike, and joining a community of cyclists sharing all that’s
good about cycling to work.' Since 2019 participants have clocked over 38 million miles and saved over 6 million pounds of Carbon
Dioxide. If you join https://www.lovetoride.net/cyclescheme you can log your ride, set a cycling goal, share photos and shout about
your reason for riding. To find out more about the day, go to https://www.cyclescheme.co.uk/cycletoworkday … and if you don't go to
work, or it's too far to cycle, but you would like to join in the spirit of the event, why not go to church on your bike!