Our focus during Epiphany is ‘You are my Beloved | Care of Self: Care of Others‘. You can learn more about what we’re up to this month here: https://www.westwood.church/epiphany-2021
It’s a timely theme for families as we continue to navigate the emotional intensities and mental health toll of the pandemic on our kids and ourselves. As you support kid(s) thru their emotions, stress, & worries- don’t forget to prioritize yourself with compassionate self-care.
Looking for new ways to help your kid(s) process their feelings? Here are a few.
Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas! Thank you to all the families that helped create our family worship this year! Here are all the activities to print and use during worship!
Hope you are doing alright during this messy December 2020.
It’s Advent! The time in the year when we get ready and wait for baby Jesus. And especially this advent, we are getting A LOT of practice focusing on being hopeful, patient, and waiting. It is not always easy!
Looking for some countdown and crafty ideas to use at home? Check out our Pinterest board of Advent family favorites!
We hope that these coloring page prayers will help you in times when you might feel anxious. Through the words, images, shapes, and opportunities to color and reflect, we hope you will find peace and calm in your life.
Looking for something to do on a chilly day? Here is a 10-minute toddler & preschool yoga ‘class’ that we enjoy at the WECC…grown-ups can play too (or use it to take a parent-break)!
In this new season of ministry, my hope is to provide our families with DIY events that you can pull off with a little planning, a little imagination, and the extra time we have together. This week? The Beach Bash: Home Edition
One of the greatest joys of my time in family ministry has been the beach bash. For the past 3 winters, we’ve gathered together in GSH, dusted off our sandals and Hawaiian shirts, and made memories together to the Sounds of Summer by the Beach Boys. I have to say that this is has been an unanticipated ministry moment for me these past three years, yet I have found it to be one of the best parts of the job. What I love about the beach bash is that it gives us the gift of lighthearted fun, flexes our imaginations, and gathers us together at an event that is messier and louder than anything else we do at church. Why not bring that same energy, imagination, and fun to our homes during this uncertain season?
In an attempt to bring the beach bash to life, I’ve pulled together some DIY ideas for you to pick and choose from to build your party.
First off? Music and atmosphere! What is a party without an amazing soundtrack? To the left is our favorite beach bash soundtrack of the last few years. YouTube has their own playlist, too!
This link will get you to one of our beachy backdrops we’ve used on the screens for the past few years. But if you want to feel like you are scuba diving with the ocean creatures, this is the link for you! I bet your families could have quite the beach or underwater dance parties!
Decor and Activities
Next up, activities and decorations! One of the staples of the beach bash is our grass skirts. Now, if you already have some around you are in luck! But if not, use this tutorial to put your old streamers to good use and make your own! This can decorate your food table, enhance your beach outfit, or both if you really stocked up on streamers! Don’t have green tape or green streamers, a little color never hurt anyone and a rainbow hula skirt sounds amazing! Beach parties require sand, and if you have flour and oil at home you can make your own kinetic (or moon) sand for the party! Finally, dust off your sandals, Hawaiian shirts, and sun glasses! Now is the time to put them to good use! You can even do an at home costume contest! Limbo contests are encouraged and yard sticks from the state fair come in handy for these!
FOOD
Finally, the best part of any party, in my humble opinion, is the FOOD! Traditionally, beach bash has had pizza for dinner and I don’t need to give you directions on that (pineapple is encouraged but not required- this can be VERY divisive :)).
But my new and favorite addition to beach bash this year was our dessert- SNO KONES! You don’t need a fancy machine and sugary syrup to make it happen, just use a blender or food processor and your family’s favorite juice! There are endless combinations and they taste just as delicious!
There is no wrong way to throw a beach bash as long as you use your imagination. I hope you all can find joy in the little things as we gather in this new way. If you want to share the joy you find in your parties, send me pictures and stories! I’d love to see your smiling faces!
In preparation for when your prayers include colorful expletives and your patience hits the tipping point…let’s get our ‘inside day activities’ prep on!
Got any indoor activity ‘winners’ to share? Please include them in our comments!
ELEMENTARY:
https://pe4everykid.weebly.com/fitness.html Totally trying this at my house today! Click on the link to get fitness challenge ideas for every color card! The ‘additional Uno Fitness Exercises’ appear in a google doc with printable Uno cards!
An Alphabet Hunt – Create ‘flashcards’ and hide them around the house. (26 letters = tons of searching!) Add on ideas…create 2 sets of flashcards and spread one alphabet on the floor for your kid to match their ‘found letter’ on.
Westwood Parent Connect 