How To Find Your Faith When You Get Sidetracked

How To Find Your Faith When You Get Sidetracked

  

Reading Time: 4 min 46 sec

 

Developing our faith can feel so elusive. We all have these great intentions of starting a new devotional, studying our Bible, praying for our loved ones, or even journaling; only to get sidetracked, when life gets in the way.

 

We struggle with feelings of discouragement, embarrassment, and even feel a little ashamed. Why is investing in our faith so hard? Doesn’t God want us to have a deep relationship with him? Surely, at this stage in our lives, we should already know how to develop our faith. We lay awake at night and wonder, is my current experience of God all I can expect on earth?

 

We secretly hope our friends never find out the real state of our spiritual lives. We feel like an imposter, as we say all the right things while trying to stuff our discouragement deep inside. We paste on a smile, throw ourselves into more church activities, hoping against hope that God will transform our lackluster relationship into a vibrant friendship with him.

 

So how do we find our faith when we get sidetracked?  How do we experience a thriving relationship with God? How do we throw off our feeling of imposter syndrome and embrace everything God has for us today?

 

Here are three practical ways to move towards Jesus without having to become a nun. 🙂

 

 

Finding Faith: The Goal 

Finding Faith: Journey Together

Finding Faith: All About Community

finding faith

1. Finding Faith: The Goal 

 

We can sometimes get so distracted with the beautiful new cover of the latest devotional that we forget its purpose. We need to ask ourselves, why are we using this resource? Is it because all our friends are using this devotional and we don’t want to be left out?

 

The completion of spiritual resources does not equate with a deep relationship with God.  Let me say this again, God desires a relationship with us, not the completion of a spiritual tool. “Spiritual people are not those who engage in certain spiritual practices; they are those who draw their life from a conversational relationship with God.” -Dallas Willard

 

Our focus as followers of Jesus should be an authentic relationship with God.  We can’t lose sight of the goal. So, what does this practically look like?

 

First, we spend time in prayer, talking, and listening to God. This is key because we could go for days on a nonstop monologue of our thoughts and feelings. It can be easy to forget that just because we can’t see God doesn’t mean he isn’t talking to us. We need to practice listening for God’s voice.

 

Second, don’t feel the need to complete a book, resource, or practice because you need to get all the information to grow. Transformation is not the result of a firehose of information. It is about thoughtful interaction with the current work of the Holy Spirit in your life.

 

Third, we need to ask the Holy Spirit for direction. He is always faithful to lead us to the next step (or resource) in our spiritual journeys.  

 

 

2.  Finding Faith: Journey Together

 

In the United States, we have several unspoken values as a country. One of those values goes by several names: autonomy, self-sufficiency, independence, etc. Our culture will tell us that we are so evolved that we can develop our faith in isolation. As long as we have access to the trendiest tv preacher and the latest women’s devotional, that we can grow all by ourselves.

 

And we can…until we can’t. You see, we forget that Christianity is a counter-cultural way of life.  We were not designed to live a life with God in isolation. We were created to live life together in community.

 

Hebrews 10:24-25, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

 

We wonder why our relationship with God consists of good intentions and half-finished conversations. We need each other to offer support, encouragement, and accountability.  We need to surround ourselves with like-minded people to grow in our faith.

 

Ruth Haley Barton says it this way, “The purpose of journeying together in spiritual friendship and spiritual community (whether there are just two of you or whether you are in a small group) is to listen to one another’s desire for God, to nurture that desire in each other and to support one another in seeking a way of life that is consistent with that desire.

 

She says community is all about listening to each other, nurturing the desire for God in each other, and supporting each other in pursuing him.  Life will happen. Spiritual community offers you encouragement and accountability to pursue Jesus even when your schedule is busy.

 

When we are tempted to push God to the back burner, our community reminds us of who we are and where we are going. We need each other.

 

 

 

3. Finding Faith-All About Community

So, what are we looking for in a community? We need to understand that there is no perfect group. As followers of Jesus, we are all broken people at various stages in our spiritual development. We all desperately need God’s grace (and each other’s) as we pursue Jesus together.

Dallas Willard says like this, “Spiritual formation cannot, in the nature of the case, be a ‘private‘ thing, because it is a matter of whole-life transformation. You need to seek out others in your community who are pursuing the renovation of the heart.”

finding faith

There is no perfect community. Life together will be messy. We are all in the process of transformation. However, here are some of the key values to look for when you are joining a group. One of the ways you can find community is by participating in a small group at your local church.

 

  1. Authenticity- The value of saying the real thing not the right thing.
  2. Encouragement– The value of an encouraging and supportive environment.
  3. Accountability– The value of accountability spoken with grace, wisdom, and love.
  4. Like-Minded– The value of intentionally pursuing Jesus together
  5. Prayer Support– The value of intentionally praying over each other.
  6. Relationships– The value of intentionally forming relationships with each other.

 

Are you hungry to know and experience a deeper relationship with God? Do you dream of participating in an authentic community, where together you encourage one another, in your relationship with Jesus?  If so, join our waitlist for the Deeper Life Community. While you wait, you will receive for FREE our Deeper Life Beginners Guide and will be the first to know when registration opens.  Grab your guide today!

 

Remember these three steps to finding your faith when you get sidetracked. Our focus as followers of Jesus should be an authentic relationship with God. Second, we are on a spiritual journey together. Third, we find support and accountability by participating in community together.

What about you? What is your #1 issue when it comes to pursuing a relationship with Jesus when you get sidetracked?   Leave a comment, and don’t forget to follow Most Important Work on Pinterest!   

 

How to Choose The Best Bible For Your Child

How to Choose The Best Bible For Your Child

  

Reading Time: 3 min 10 sec

 

Do you ever wonder how to choose the best Bible for your child? Are all kids Bibles created equal? What type of Bible should you be looking for?

 

I have a 6th grader this year and I’m looking for an engaging, fun, and informative Bible for my child.” Do you choose a Bible purely based on age-development, or preference?  

 

Or do you choose a Bible-based on educational needs? “I need to find a more challenging Bible for my child. She really needs to focus on developing her reading comprehension. Her current Bible is great but I know she can definitely read at a higher level.”

 

Browsing the shelves at my local Christian bookstore, I was amazed at the plethora of children’s Bibles available on the market. Everyone from recording artists to chefs and leadership gurus had their version of a children’s Bible on the shelves.  It was frankly overwhelming.

 

So how do you cut through all the options and find the best Bible for your child? We are going to share with you the key indicators of quality child’s Bible PLUS our top recommendations for kids. 

 

Grab a latte, sit back, relax, and say goodbye to camping out in the aisle of your local Christian book store for good. 🙂

 

1. Best Bible: How Children Learn

2. Best Bible: How To Choose 

3. Best Bible: Recommendations

Best Bible

 1. Best Bible: How Children Learn

 

The first step to choosing the best Bible for your child is understanding how children learn and process information.  This will equip you with a grid that will help you to remove any stumbling blocks (in your power) that would prevent your child from connecting with Jesus.

 

Children Learn Experientially– Kids learn best by getting their hands messy. This process (partnered with the Holy Spirit) allows them to engage their senses and turn head knowledge into heart transformation.

 

Children Are Visual Learners– Kids can connect with God powerfully through images. Pictures, concrete materials, nature, and art, all of these play a HUGE part in the spiritual development of our children.

 

Children Are Concrete Thinkers- Kids at this stage in their development are typically not able to process abstract concepts.  The stories of Jesus are a wonderful place for children to wonder and experience God through scripture.

 

Children Learn Best in the Context of Community-  

Children form their image of God through relationships with parents, family, neighbors, and friends. They experience God by watching and participating in their local church community. They learn about what it means to live a with-God life through interactions with other adults.

 

Children Are Spiritual Beings- Children are spiritual beings created by God. We are called, as parents to join the Holy Spirit in what he is already doing in the life of our child.

 

2. Best Bible: How To Choose

 

You are at the Christian book store or scrolling through Amazon just ready to find the perfect Bible for your child, what should you look for?   Here are the simple criteria that I use to help me choose the best Bible for my child. This is an adaption of a list found in Listening to Children On The Spiritual Journey.

 

a. Does the Bible communicate a loving God?

 

b. Are the pictures beautiful and or interesting?

Nothing crushes interest in a Bible storybook than boring images. We want to be aware of and intentional about removing obstacles that might hinder our children’s experience of God.

 

c. Are the words concrete and captivating?

 

d. Are the chapters short?

Seriously, we want to set ourselves up for success. Nothing sucks the joy out of Bible reading than trying to plow through an extra-long chapter with a squirmy child.

 

e. Are the stories true to actual text?

Several versions get a little too free with their artistic license. We want to stay as close as possible to the original meaning and text while still meeting children where they are  developmentally.

 

3. Best Bible: Recommendations 

    For those of you who are interested, here is a list of my favorite Bibles for children. Most of these Bibles are well-worn favorites on my own bookshelves. 

    I have to mention that the Jesus Storybook Bible is by far my favorite. I would recommend using that Bible with your child up through the elementary years.  Sally Lloyd-Jones does an amazing job of communicating God’s over the top love for his children. This Bible is a foundation forming tool. It really helps your child form a wonderful picture of the character of God. LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! 🙂

     

    Best Bible

    If you want to know how to get started in living a deep life with God; grab our Deeper Life Beginners Guide (below). And join our community of moms who are hungry for more Jesus in their lives and in the lives of their families. 


    What about you? What is your #1 issue when it comes to teaching your child to love Bible reading?   Leave a comment, and don’t forget to follow Most Important Work on Pinterest!   

     

    How To Fight For Your Child’s Spiritual Survival

    How To Fight For Your Child’s Spiritual Survival

      

    Reading Time: 6 min 19 sec

     

    Mommy!” a yell ripped through a fog of sleep, sending me bolt right up in bed. I scrambled to my feet and raced toward the sound. Throwing open the door, I fell to my knees beside her bed and gathered her up in my arms.

     

    Between gasping sobs, the story of the terrifying nightmare unfolded. She clung to me, refusing to let go.

     

    Fear can be a paralyzing enemy.

     

    We are all in a spiritual battle. Our children are not exempt from the lies, fear, and twisted plans of Satan.  All throughout the Bible, there are examples of Satan’s single-minded purpose for our destruction. It began with the lie in the Garden of Eden, and then he wove his way through the lives of men and women throughout history.

     

    We are going to talk about how to use prayer to fight for your child’s spiritual survival.

     

    1. Pray For Your Child: Protection

    2. Pray For Your Child: Our Role

    3. Pray For Your Child: Warfare Prayers

    1. Pray For Your Child: Protection

     

    In our enlightened culture, the concept of demons and angels can feel like something out of a Hollywood movie, right up there with zombies. The whole idea just doesn’t seem real.  With our obsession with control, we don’t like to spend much time contemplating that there are forces we can’t see that are fighting for our destruction. It can feel so juvenile.

     

    But Peter the apostle has a different message for us, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy, the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” 1 Peter 5:8

     

    He says be alert, resist Satan by standing firm in the faith. And know that you are not alone in your sufferings.  We need to remember that as we face challenging situations or experiences, they are not always a direct result of a demonic attack,  but could also be the result of living in a sinful world where there is pain and suffering.

    Jesus himself underwent a severe (and blatant) testing by Satan in Matthew 4:1-11. It says this, “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

     

    Satan strategically attacks us most often when we are weak. He waited until Jesus was physically and mentally depleted from fasting before he struck. It says, “Jesus was hungry”.

     

    “Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.  “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

     

    Satan strategically attacks our identity. Multiple times he challenges Jesus with these words, “If you are the Son of God”.

     

    “Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

     

    -Satan is a liar. He loves to weave webs of illusion. It says, “He showed Jesus the kingdoms of the world” and then had the gall to tell Jesus that he ruled the world. 

     

    “Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.”

     

    -Satan is also persistent.  He attacked Jesus three times before he finally left. 

     

    We live between the first and second coming. And until Jesus returns, Satan is determined to prevent our children from having a deep relationship with Jesus.  Satan doesn’t fight fair. He doesn’t wait until our children are grown up: to start attacking them with fear, lies about their identity, and anything  else that would drive a wedge between your child and God.

     

     

    2. Pray For Your Child: Our Role  

     

    Our role as parents is to protect and equip our children from Satan’s webs of deceit.  In 1 Peter 5:2-3 it says, “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.”

      

    We are called to be shepherds for our children. Serving them by guarding and protecting their hearts against the schemes of the enemy.

    Here are a couple of ways we can shepherd our children.

    a. Serve as Prayer Warrior

     

    We are called to protect our children by covering them in prayer. We pray protection over their hearts, their minds, their souls, and their bodies. We pray that guardian angels would surround them through the day and night. We pray against the lies of the enemy and that God would replace those lies with his truth. We pray a blessing over them, and that their hearts would always be soft to the things of God.

    b. Equip Your Child

     

    We are called to equip our children with tools needed to resist Satan. God, in his infinite mercy, and love gave us several tools at our disposal to stand firm against Satan’s plans. The first of which is the Holy Spirit, who serves as a guide helping us discern between spirits. (1 Cor. 12:10) We can teach our children to invite the Holy Spirit daily into their lives. Asking him to give them ears to hear his voice.

     

    Ephesians chapter six is another tool that serves as a model for teaching our children to daily put on the armor of God. It says, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

     

    Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 

     

    In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6:10-17

     

    Prayer is crucial to your child’s ability to resist Satan.

     

    c. As An Example

     

    Children learn best through experience, and your daily relationship with God is a living model for your children. As you experience new depths to your relationship with God that hunger and love for God spills out into all of your relationships. You can teach your children how to stand firm against the lies of Satan all day long but what sticks with them is your own relationship with God. More is caught than taught.

     

     3. Praying For Your Child: Warfare Prayers

     

    Preparing and interceding for your child doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Here are a couple of ideas of warfare prayers that are very effective and only take a couple of minutes.

     

    1. Armor of God Prayer

     Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,  and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6:13-17,

     

    1. Protection over Hearts and Minds

    “Father, We ask that you would guard _____(child’s name) and keep ___ (him/her) safe. We ask that you would put a hedge of protection around_____ (his/her) heart, mind, body, and soul. Surround ______(him/her) with your guardian angels and uproot any lies from Satan and replace them with your truth. Remind____ (him/her) of who _____(he/she) is, your beloved child. Let ____(him/her) experience the depth of your lavish love today. We love you and praise you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

     

    1. Protection over Your Child As They Sleep
    2. Pray Protection for Travel
    3. Pray Your Own Prayer Based on Childs Circumstances

     

     

    If you want to know how to get started in living a deep life with God; grab our Deeper Life Beginners Guide (below). And join our community of moms who are hungry for more Jesus in their lives and in the lives of their families. 

     

     

     

     

    What about you? What is your #1 issue when it comes to praying for your kids?   Leave a comment, and don’t forget to follow Most Important Work on Pinterest!   

     

    28 Fantastic Poetry Books for Kids Who Don’t Like Rhymes

    28 Fantastic Poetry Books for Kids Who Don’t Like Rhymes

      

    Reading Time: 2 min 1 sec

     There is something magical about poetry books for kids. Poetry can spark your imagination, let you envision worlds the eye cannot see, and it can stir your heart with its powerful emotion.  Poetry strips away time and space and allows you to experience the world in whole new ways.   

     

    The thought of poetry can strike most of us with feelings of inadequacy. Why does poetry have to feel so complicated? We were all taught that within poetry is this hidden message that if you are reflective (and brilliant) you will be able to grasp its meaning.  It doesn’t work. I reflected the fool out of more poems than I can count and I still walked away scratching my head.

     

                             Why does something so beautiful need an army of interpreters?

     

    So, I staged a revolt.  I knew that if I waited until I felt confident, I would NEVER introduce my children to poetry. So, we started out our poetry journey by taking small steps. Even though I promptly made a ton of mistakes, I learned a couple of things along the way. 

     

    Set yourself up for success by starting with picture books written in rhyme.  Not only are the pictures mesmerizing but the cadence of the words makes it a very easy read.  After you feel confident, add beautiful poetry books for kids that are short, funny, and relatable.  Here is one of our favorite poems called The Naughty Four O’Clocks by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

     

    There were some naughty flowers once, who were careless in their play;

    They got their petals torn and soiled

    As they swung in the dust all day.

     

    They went to bed at four o’clock

    With faces covered tight, To keep the fairy Drop O’ Dew

    From washing them at night.

     

    Poor Drop O’Dew! What could she do? She said to the Fairy Queen,

    “I cannot get those Four O’Clocks, To Keep their faces clean.”

     

    The mighty Storm King heard the tale; “My winds and rain,” roared he,

    “Shall wash those naughty flowers well, As flowers all should be.”

    So raindrops came and caught them all

    Before they went to bed, And washed those little Four O’clocks

    At three o’clock instead.”

     

    Flowers who are tricked into taking a bath? What could possibly be more captivating than that? 🙂  The poem is simple, imaginative. and colorful.  It struck delight in the hearts of my children. You can check out this article to find out my requirements for choosing beautiful poetry books.

     

    My goal is to help my children fall in love with poetry. To accomplish that objective, I want to remove all the stumbling blocks that might interfere. Does that mean that my children will never be able to appreciate the finer nuances of poetry?  No, but it does mean that in the early years we are intentional about establishing a strong foundation of curiosity and delight.

     

    Here are twenty-eight suggestions to help you get started in developing a love of poetry for kids in your homeschool.  These are all books that we have read together and enjoyed. 

    1. Favorite Poetry Books For Kids 

    2. Picture Poetry Books For Kids 

    3. Short Poetry Books For Kids 

    4. Poetry Books For Older Kids

    1. Favorite Poetry Books For Kids

     

    2. Picture Poetry Books For Kids

     

     

    3. Short Poetry Books For Kids

    4. Poetry Books for Older Kids   

     

    Are you wondering HOW do you actually get started homeschooling? Join our community of moms who want to invest in the lives of their children through homeschooling. I also created a 10 Tips to Finding Excellent Curriculum form to help you on your journey. 

     

     

     

    What about you? What are your favorite poetry books for kids? Leave a comment, and don’t forget to follow Most Important Work on Pinterest! 

    How To Inspire A Love Of Poetry In Your Children

    How To Inspire A Love Of Poetry In Your Children

      

    Reading Time: 4 min 57 sec

    This month in prep for Valentine’s Day, we will be talking about the ins and outs of children’s poetry. Have you ever felt intimidated at the thought of teaching poetry to your children? Me too! I have found that though I love the idea of poetry, actual comprehension and enjoyment has escaped me most of my life.

     

    Poetry can feel like a dreaded acquaintance. You know, that person who tries to impress us with their vast knowledge of the complexities of the English language? After every conversation, you walk away feeling exhausted, the frustration of “why don’t you just say what you mean?” still spinning in your head.

     

    I blame Anne of Green Gables among many others with my fascination with poetry. In the opening scene of Anne of Green Gables, the mini-series, you see her walking through a forest quoting The Lady of Shallot, with such rapt attention, that you can’t help but be intrigued.

     

                                            “There she weaves by night and day                                                                                            A magic web with colors gay.                                                                                                  She has heard a whisper say,                                                                                                  A curse is on her is she stay                                                                                                      To look down to Camelot                                                                                               She knows not what the curse may be,                                                                                          And so she weaveth steadily,                                                                                               And little over care hath she,                                                The Lady of Shalott.”

    -Alfred Lord Tennyson

    Poetry gave Anne a voice, a way of embracing beauty in an otherwise dreary existence. She showed us that beautiful words woven together could spark imagination, and produce great emotion in the hearts of its readers.

     

    Several years ago, I knew I wanted to introduce my children to the art of poetry, but I had absolutely no idea how to go about it. I had made a lot of mistakes. Looking back, I feel bad for my poor children (don’t worry this story has a happy ending) after all the shenanigans I put them through.

     

    Years later, despite our misadventures, I now have children who love poetry, to the point where they are starting to write their own. WIN! When it comes to kid’s poetry here are four-time tested ways to help your child embrace a love of poetry.

     

    1. Know Your Audience

    2. Consistency Is Key

    3. Golden Resources

    4. Spark Wonder

     

     

    1. Know Your Audience

     

    The wonderful thing about poetry is that it is not age-specific. Meaning, you can start by introducing your baby to poetry right now! 🙂 Children have a natural appreciation for the cadence of poetry.  All you have to do is listen to them playing hopscotch or jump rope and you will know what I mean.

     

    When I decided that we needed to add poetry into our homeschool day, it was full speed ahead. I started reading poems aloud several times a week. The books I chose were excellent, age-appropriate, and beautiful… for another child.

     

    You see I had failed to consider the uniqueness of my children.  I was in such a rush to introduce them to the finest pieces of poetry, that I forgot that beautiful words, at this age, mean nothing, if they aren’t interesting, or if they aren’t understandable.

     

    Poetry should be enjoyed, it should spark a memory of laughter, delight, and imagination.  A huge red flag that something is wrong is when it becomes just another thing to check off the to-do list.

     

    I had to stop and realign my expectations with my goal. The goal was to develop  a love for poetry, not read all the classics before the age of seven. 🙂 So that meant, focusing on funny, short, poems that centered around topics that were interesting to them. We also read a lot of picture books that were written in verse form which eased our transition into more formal poetry. 

     

     2. Consistency Is Key 

     

    One way to set yourselves up for success is by choosing a time when your children are most engaged to explore poetry. We focus on poetry one day per week and then sprinkle it in whenever we have time. That consistency has been an integral part of developing a love of poetry.  The children know what to expect and it becomes a natural part of our rhythm as a family.

     

    I have also found that giving them something to do with their hands really helps them pay attention. We either utilize Poetry Tea Time (more on that later) or I pull out fidgets, coloring books, or K-nex as a way to keep those little hands busy.

     

    I would encourage you to ask yourself a couple of questions:

     a. Do I have any unrealistic expectations when it comes to poetry?

    b. What topic(s) most enthrall my children?

    c. What is the best time (time of day/day of the week) to introduce my child to poetry?

     

    3. Golden Resources

     

    When you are first starting out, poetry can feel like a chore, until you find the right resource.  I started reading so many poetry books only to put them down because they didn’t meet our requirements.  I cannot stress this enough, sparking a love of poetry in your child is more important than finishing a resource.

     

    Here is what we were looking for in a poetry book:

    a.) Short poems (one page in length)

    b.) Understandable rhyme

    c.) Captivating Illustrations

    d.) Interesting or fun topics

     

    That doesn’t sound that complicated but we went through a huge stack of poetry books before we found one that truly fit us.  For instance, the series Poetry for Young People is amazing (we love it now) but not the best fit for early elementary age children. 

     

    The day we found a poetry book that fit our family it was like a light bulb went off. My children wanted to read it EVERY SINGLE DAY!

    One of those books is Laura Ingalls’s Wilder’s Fairy Stories. It is by far my favorite poetry book for kids.  It is a small collection of fairy poems with beautiful illustrations. This is a must have for our personal library! The words are so captivating that my children instantly fell in love with this book. 

    4. Spark Wonder

     

    One of my favorite ways to include poetry in our weekly rhythm is through Poetry Tea Time. This is a magical time that sparks wonder, delight, and amazing family memories.  Each week, we gather together to eat yummy food and drink hot chocolate as we read and discuss poetry. The addition of snacks fosters the idea that reading poetry together is special.   

     

    Poetry Tea Time can be as formal or informal as you desire. When my kids were younger, they would arrive in full costume, ready to participate in a formal tea.

    I have hosted Poetry Tea Times for penguins, pirates, knights, and princesses.

    There was a time when I never really knew who was going to be showing up to tea. And by celebrating poetry through pomp and circumstance we have created lifelong family memories. WIN!

     

    I make a conscious effort to read poems slowly and with emotion. At the end of every reading, we take a couple of minutes to wonder about the poem. We might wonder about the characters, the setting, the author. We might talk about a word or phrase that caught our attention, what emotions the poem sparked, and what we might add to the story.

     

    This is an organic discussion, meaning I never drag it out, some conversations last three minutes others last longer. I have found that when my children enjoy poetry, they take the lead on diving deeper into what we are reading.   They have memorized, recited, illustrated, and wrote stories that are based on the poems they have enjoyed.

     

    When you take the time to know your audience, set realistic time limits, find those golden resources, and spark wonder you might be surprised at how poetry isn’t intimidating at all. 🙂

     

    You can grab your own copy of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Fairy Poems for your collection here.  It is a book you will be reading to your grandchildren. 

    Are you wondering HOW do you actually get started homeschooling? Join our community of moms who want to invest in the lives of their children through homeschooling. I also created a 10 Tips to Finding Excellent Curriculum form to help you on your journey. 

     

     

    What about you? What are your favorite ways to foster a love of poetry in your home? Leave a comment, and don’t forget to follow Most Important Work on Pinterest! 

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