Dear Parents,
Date Clarification: There continues to be confusion about one of the biggest changes made in the GraceLink curriculum: lessons are designed to be presented FIRST in Sabbath School and then reinforced at home the week following. Churches and teachers and parents who haven't implemented this change continue to be confused about the discrepancy between the distribution dates indicated on the covers of Primary Treasure and Our Little Friend and the dates the lessons in those magazines are being taught in their church. The dates of Primary Treasure and Our Little Friend coincide with the dates on the Bible Study Guide (quarterly) contents page, but there is still much confusion.
I can see wisdom in both ways of presenting the lessons so have nothing to urge except that you talk with Sabbath School leaders and/or Sabbath School secretaries so that the magazines are distributed to children either on the Sabbath indicated by the distribution date or else on the Sabbath when children are expected to begin reviewing the lessons for the next week--depending on which way the lessons are being taught. I'm hoping to find a good way to indicate either date on the cover of the magazines, but haven't hit on it yet.
Our Goal: It is an enormous privilege for me, as editor of Primary Treasure and Our Little Friend, to partner with you in your child’s religious education. Our goal, both through the magazines and this Web site, is to help your child
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understand his/her infinite value to his/her Creator and Redeemer
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learn how to respond to God
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show love their family and friends
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serve others in their world
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find fulfillment in participating in the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
My Correspondence With Your Children. My personal ministry to your children comes via email answers to their messages or questions. I try never to undermine your authority as parent but to reinforce your position and help them understand it. I answer every email I get from children. However, due to their inexperience, they sometimes supply an incorrect email address so my answers bounce back. Please teach them how to use the Dear Mrs. Sox email form so that I can communicate with them.
We are doing everything possible to make this web site safe for your child. Our privacy policy will tell you the details. If you have suggestions, questions, or comments about this site or the magazines, please feel free to email me.
You are in my thoughts and prayers,
Aileen Andres Sox
Editor, Our Little Friend / Primary Treasure
Parenting Links:
A Book You Need: I just got this letter from a Primary child: "Why do parents aways give you lectures? It just gets on my nerves, and please don't say its because they care because they do it all the time. Please tell me why." I answered that perhaps it was because they felt she didn't listen. But I really wanted to write to the parents (which I can't because I don't know the contact info and because of privacy laws, etc.) and say "Run to the nearest bookstore and get a copy of the book How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk." All the books by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish are marvelous, but this one is the basis for the others. It is easy to read (lots of pictures) and the communication skills work well with almost anyone.
North American Division Children's Ministries statement on Children and Baptism: http://childmin.com/Issues/baptism.htm
North American Division Children's Ministries statement on Children and Communion: http://childmin.com/Issues/communion.htm
Protecting Your Children Against Molesters and Predators. It is something no one wants to talk about, but child sexual abuse is a horrible reality in today's world. Most abuse is perpetrated by people your child knows and trusts. People you also know and trust. Recently here in Idaho, Adventist parents, pastors, educators, Sabbath School personnel and others who work with children were privileged to hear presentations on how to protect our children by Cory Jewell Jensen, a highly regarded national expert in this field. Thanks to the volumes of wonderful information available on the internet, you can access Ms. Jensen's material from her appearance on the Oprah show. Follow this link to read her vital information. Especially be sure to download and read the information packet on Understanding and Protecting Your Children From Child Molesters and Predators: http://www.oprah.com/tows/pastshows/tows_2002/tows_past_20020426.jhtml.
Protecting Your Children: Advice from Child Molesters: http://www.safest.org/
Adventist Parenting: www.adventistparenting.org
Links to Check Out With and/or For Your Children:
Guide Magazine: http://www.guidemagazine.org/
VeggieTales Fun: http://www.bigideafun.com/
Your Story Hour: http://www.yourstoryhour.org/
4Kids Organization helps you keep your kids’ internet experiences safe: www.4kids.org/safesurf/
Net Ministries Christian Kids Links provides wholesome Christian web site links for your child: netministries.org/kids.htmls
Safe secular sites for kids: http://www.kidsites.com/
McGruff's Child Safety Center: http://www.mcgruff.org/
It's My Life by PBS Kids is a secular site, but has very good answers to dilemmas faced by many older Primary kids: http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/index.html
Sabbath School Links:
North American Division Children’s Ministries: www.childmin.com
Beginner Lessons and Helps: www.gracelink.net
Kindergarten Lessons and Helps: www.gracelink.net
Primary Lesson Helps: www.gracelink.net
GraceLink Sabbath School Lesson Information: www.gracelink.net
Adventist Mission Quarterly: http://www.adventistmission.org/article.php?id=232
Super Resource: http://www.kidshealth.org/index.html. and lots of answers to lots and lots of the questions kids ask.Lots
Ellen White 'Visionary' for Kids A quarterly electronic magazine focused on youth aged 9-14 published by the Ellen G. White Estate.
KidsBibleInfo.com A Bible information site for kids ages 6-12 that includes Bible lessons, stories, and games.
VOP Kids Zone A Bible study site just for kids from Voice of Prophecy.
