Varsity or JV?

My son started playing high school lacrosse this year. He was hoping to make the varsity team even though he is only a freshman and is on the small side. I think he was a little disappointed when he found out he was on the JV team. 

However, he has now played five games and has had some great opportunities. He is one of the leaders on the defense and has had lots of playing time. He will be able to grow as a player and a leader while he is a member of the JV squad, while if he was on varsity he would be fighting for playing time and feeling left behind in his skills. JV is where he belongs for now.

Are your kids ready for varsity scripture study or does JV fit your family for now? It doesn't help to push your kids past the point for which they are ready. You should set them up for success so that they can prepare for the varsity squad. Here's some suggestions: 

1) Allow her to grow through practice:
Don't worry about having the perfect scripture study, do a little each time. Don't give up, practice makes perfect.


2) Let him use the skills he has:
Is he learning to read? Let him read the words he knows. Does he like to draw or act? Use those skills in your study. Have him make a tower or fort with legos to act out parts of the story.

3) Let her be a leader: 
Have her help the younger children. Have her ask questions as you read. Let her choose what to study.

4) Help him have success:
Try studying stories that he is familiar with. Make sure to study in small segments, so the study time is enjoyable, not tedious. 

5) Prepare her for varsity:
Make sure to ask questions that will get her to think. Stop studying in the middle of an exciting story. You will be surprised when she asks to keep studying. Praise her desire to learn, and pick up the story the next day.

Try using my book "Small and Simple Keys of Protection." It will help you set your child up for scripture study varsity success.

Do You Show Your Kids a Mirror?

Have you ever considered why your mouth waters when you see someone else bite into a lemon? Or why you flinch when you see someone get hit by a pop fly?

Scientists have discovered something called mirror neurons which could explain this phenomenon. Through studies of both monkey and human brains, scientists found that the same part of the brain is used when doing an action as when watching someone perform the same action. Proving that watching and doing can elicit the same feelings.

We can apply this new discovery to helping our children learn to love the scriptures.

1) Let your children see you reading the scriptures. I know it is easy to read when the kids aren't around, but consider reading sometimes while they are playing or eating lunch. Let them see that you make scripture study a priority.

2) Read to your kids from the scriptures. As you read, use your voice to add feelings and voices to the stories. Help them see and feel your love of the scriptures.

3) Read and cross reference with your kids. Show them how you can learn from studying the scriptures. Show them how to highlight interesting parts that you would like to remember.

Thanks to the mirror neurons we can now understand that being an example to our kids really does make a difference. Let your kids see themselves in you.