Parenting Cards by We Choose Virtues: A TOS Crew Review

Parenting Cards by We Choose Virtues - 
Cost: $38.49    Great for Ages 3-11

We Choose Virtues has the following promotion for the months of June to August:

Promo Code BTS20 for 20% off anything in our WCV Store. Welcome Back To School! 

Only one promo code per order

"Words of hope spoken over your child will inspire change" - my favorite quote from the Parenting Cards by We Choose Virtues.  
Teaching character intentionally to our children is our most powerful tool for changing the world!  The Bentz Test Laboratory was delighted to test out a handy new product to help you be more intentional in the words and actions you are teaching to your children.  
The Parenting Cards (available in either NIrV or KJV) feature 12, 5x7, two-sided cards printed full color on heavy cardstock.  They come in a handy zipper bag that help you teach important virtues like:

• diligence 
• helpfulness 
• perseverance 
• gentleness 
• contentment 
• attentiveness 
• honesty
• kindness 
• self-control 
• patience 
• obedience 
• forgiveness 

Each card features an "I am" statement on the front of the card, helping your child begin to visualize the virtue being taught. The 12 cards cover 3 simple rules (Be Kind, Obey, Be a Helper) with the 12 different virtues to focus on.   An easy-to-remember definition of the virtue, what the virtue is NOT, and the focus Scripture are all included on the colorful front side of the card.   

The backside contains several teaching tools parents can use to help the virtue stick:

• "User challenge" - a virtue related challenge for the day - like not saying "I'm bored" for an entire day... 
• "What to say after "I'm Sorry" - part of teaching the proper response, can be the repentance after the wrong response, this section helps you walk through this step together.
• "Teachable moments" suggestions you can use to help reinforce the virtue in hands-on ways. These suggestions are easy to do, and really make a lasting impression!

Additionally, each card introduces another character from "VirtueVille" - an easy way for your child to remember the virtue with a catchy character.
The cards are a handy way to keep the focus virtue visible. I decided to choose a virtue for the week, and posted it on the fridge, best place to get their attention...where the food is.  "I am Helpful!" was our first virtue. With our recent move, there is plenty of opportunities to use this one!

At lunch, we discussed the virtue, read the card together and did some of the teachable moments throughout the week.   This is just the type of easy-to-use, but highly effective teaching tool that I love! 
 A simple demonstration of leaving objects lying around, and seeing who will be helpful by putting them into their proper places, resulted in some very good family discussions.
Always up for a challenge, my testers enjoyed seeing who could best master the "challenge" on the card for the day (finding 5 extra things that need to be done, and doing them without being asked.)  I think we may stay on this virtue challenge for awhile... a lot of unpacking got accomplished!  I've even been known to reward the challenge winners with a sweet treat, stickers may work for your kiddos - but mine know that chocolate gets results!  I'm not above bribery...at times. :-)
 Displaying the Parenting Cards is perfect as a gentle reminder to everyone, including me, of what we are intentionally focusing on. 
This summer is a great time to get out the Parenting Cards and Choose Virtues together! 
The Homeschool Kit  is an optional add on you may want to consider, it includes the following downloadable items for just $7.99:

• Teacher's Handbook - 48 pages to with ideas to implement this into your classroom
• Family Character Assessment - printable self-assessment to see where you are.
• Coloring Pages - 15 pages of printable coloring pages to introduce you to the characters in VirtueVille.
• Butterfly Award - a great incentive tool.
• Sing-along-Song sheets - catchy jingles to help the virtue stick.
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Some members of the Crew took a peek at the Youth Virtue Journal - another great tool you should take a peek at.  

Find We Choose Virtues on Facebook , Pinterest, and their Blog
See what the other members of the Crew thought here

Christianity Cove: A TOS Crew Review

 

 

100 Simple Service Projects   & KidMin Power Pack  by Christianity Cove
 

 

From their website:

"Christianity Cove - with over 700 free Sunday School lesson articles on our blog, and 26 best-selling resources in our library of products, we’ve helped thousands of teachers around the world revitalize their Children’s Ministry programs and fill their classrooms with eager students.”

 100 Simple Service Projects – ideas for kids in grades k-6 to promote a giving spirit. Cost: $19.95

KidMin Power Pack -  19 lesson plans, games, songs, science experiments, service projects and crafts (month specific)  Cost: $19.99


Are you fresh out of ideas, and time?  I have an amazing resource to introduce you to: "Christianity Cove is your one-stop-shop for free Sunday School lessons, Bible games, crafts, skits and activities for Children's Church. Our blog features hundreds of fresh, fun, and creative ideas for helping your students understand the Bible and relate it to their own lives."

The Bentz Test Laboratory reviewed 2 of their downloadable e-books.  100 Simple Service Projects  & KidMin Power Pack - May.

100 Simple Service Projects covers topics like - Service to the Family, Service to the Neighborhood, Service to the Community, Service to Larger Charities in America and Overseas.  In addition, they offer a list of "Best Known, Well Rated & Easiest Fundraising Instructions" as well as instructions for "Kids who want to start their own charity". n

I love the ideas presented in this ebook!  Starting with your home and family, you will find so many well-thought service ideas.  Yes, kids can change the world!  This is a message we have embraced in our homeschool.  Now, I am armed with plenty more ideas, and the research has all been done for me.

We started with our very own "Help a Sibling Day" - using a surprise coupon for completing another sibling's chore.  I thought this could help with some of the issues we've been dealing with.  It was a hit!  Intentionally looking to bless your sibling, really helped decrease the squabbling.

Moving on our neighborhood - we choose to make cookies for our new neighbor.  Hey, this is getting fun...looking for ways to bless those around us...

When we got to our community step - we had lots to choose from.  Elderly, children, animals, the environment, wildlife and community shelters.  We read through the many great ideas and settled on helping our community by adopting the park and picking up trash whenever we are there.  My children have gotten very conscious of the trash, and keeping this area clean for others!

We also took the suggestions of a "book drive" to a larger scale and donated our unsold homeschool curriculum from our Curious Kids Consignment Sale (a fundraiser for our mission trip to India in the fall)  to the homeschoolers devastated by the Oklahoma tornadoes - 13 boxes full!!

On to Large Charities and Overseas section.  The ebook featured 18 charities that are well known and respected that you can get involved with.  Compassion International has long been a favorite of our family., we were introduced to several new ones as well.

This E-book will provide you with numerous ideas to get your children focused on serving.  They begin to be blessed by becoming the blessing!

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
KidMin Power Pack - A Month-by-Month Ebook.  All the ideas and activities can easily be adapted for big groups, small groups, young kids, older kids, and mixed ages.

We got a chance to see - May 2013 edition.   It was filled with object lessons, crafts, games, science experiments, fundraising projects,  snacks and songs for several special days.  Mother's Day, Memorial Day, Ascension Sunday and Pentecost.  Also included, special ideas for May Flowers , Springtime Charities and Ideas to celebrate National Nurse's Week.

One of my favorite parts - the "Kids in the News".  This issue featured an American pastor that is imprisoned in Iraq, and an article about a Two-headed Lamb born in Ghana.

We completely enjoyed this Power Pack!  Starting with the Ascension of Jesus - including a 15 min. Youtube link for the "Real Face of Jesus" discussing the Shroud of Turin (which we had studied in history this year!), the ideas presented were engaging and relevant.  This wasn't the "same old stuff" - it was new, and fresh ideas!

If you are the teacher of children...this is a VALUABLE monthly resource.  The suggestions are easy to do, timely,  and your children will love them.  They even guarantee it.  Plus - you can try it out for just $1 the first month! (Your initial charge today will be just $1 for the current month's edition. After your first month, you will then be charged $19.99/month to continue to receive the latest monthly editions of the KidMin Power Pack. Your subscription will continue for as long as you like. You can cancel your subscription to the KidMin Power Pack at any time.)

You will want to see some of the other treasures the TOS Crew discovered... Outstanding Object Lessons, Bible Science Experiments , Daily Dilemmas: 26 True-to-Life Devotions for Kids , 
Freedom Ride: 12 Lessons of Faith for Today's Teens , "Tween a Rock and a Hard Place" Lesson Blueprints, Bullying & the Bible Lesson Plans, Bible Memory Games, The Divine Dozen: 12 Parables of Jesus Every Child Should Know , Make & Take Bible Crafts ,
New Testament Life Lessons  ,Fruits of the Spirit Activity Kit ,10 Commandments Activity Kit , & Lord's Prayer Lesson Pack

  Click to read more reviews from the Schoolhouse Review Crew