Wise words with...

What do your children care about? 

This week I spent  some time asking a few students from NCS what they thought was important. 

 Josh Yr 6: 'People waste money, they should spend it on things they need. If they don’t need it they should give it to people who need it more.'

Amelia Yr 4: 'I would make the world a better place by tidying up the rubbish and not pollute'. 

Jada Yr 6 and Grace Yr 6 : 'The wellbeing of animals. The wellbeing of people. To make sure kids feel safe and are happy. The wellbeing of parents too.'

Isabel Yr 6: 'People that don’t have the resources we have.  That they have the resources that they need'

Annie Yr 2: 'I care about my family, my friends, people in the world, Jesus and God and the bible” “If I was in charge of the world I would get a lot of money from the bank and give it to poor people. When I grow up I will earn money to buy things that take all the rubbish out of the ocean.'

Koby Yr 6: 'It’s important that everyone knows God'

 Chloe Yr 1: 'Family and the environment. If kids were in charge we would have more fun.' 

Theo 3P: 'Living things are important. Nature and animals' 

Family life is busy: packing lunches, driving children to school and sports, homework, work, groceries, washing. It is exhausting!

Yet these moments are fleeting. They will be grown and leave home before we know it. When they leave, we want them to be people who are prepared for the world. People who care about others and the world around them. 

As parents, we are the ones who have the biggest impact on shaping our children. We have the privilege and responsibility of teaching our children about the things that matter. This isn’t easy and it is something we need to be constantly working at. This idea is also one found throughout the bible. 

'These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.  Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.' Deuteronomy 6:6-7

If you are anything like me, this is an area you might like a little (or a lot) of help with. It doesn’t always come naturally but something we need to plan for. ‘Raising KIDS who CARE’ by Susy Lee is a great book with practical conversation starters for exploring stuff that matters together as a family. 

'Raising Kids Who Care’ concludes with these three tips:

• Communicating is everything: Focus first on building a culture of communication in your family.
• Expect more: Kids are amazing and are capable of much more than we give them credit for. Always be watching for ways you can encourage them to respond to issues they see in the world.
• Actions speak louder than words: Role modelling is the most powerful thing you can do as a parent.     

Raising Kids Who Care, 2021

‘If the World were 100 people’  is another great book to introduce young children to the idea of being global citizens. There are 7.8 billion people which is tricky to imagine. Instead, in this book, the whole world is represented by a village of 100 people. It uses beautiful graphics to help children begin to understand big ideas in bite-size chunks. 

We have the ultimate example of someone who cares for the world, the lost and downtrodden in Jesus. He befriended the outcast, he healed the sick, he showed compassion and forgave those who wronged him. The greatest act of love being that he gave his life so that those who believe in him won’t die but have eternal life. 

'Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.' Ephesians 5:1-2

Raising children who care isn’t going to be easy but the reward is huge. At NCS, ‘care’ is one of our three core values. We actively teach our students to follow Christ’s example in the way that they care for others and for our world. We pray that through partnership with you as their parents, our students will grow to be people who know they are loved by us and by God and that this will motivate them to love and care for the world around them.