SPORTS Theme Night at Awana Clubs This Week!!

Remind your kids to wear their favorite sports team wear to Awana clubs this week!  It can be Football, Basketball, Baseball, Soccer, Hockey, etc.  College or Pro, either is fine.  And mixing sports and teams is fine too!  Wear it all from head to foot and have fun with it!  We'll be giving extra points for the team that shows the most "team" spirit.

Tweens Cell Phones: Does Your Child Need a Cell Phone?

More than 75 percent of teenagers have cell phones.  That doesn’t even include children as young as six who are getting phones.

We understand that the pace of life causes families to simultaneously run in multiple directions: work meetings, soccer practice, piano lessons, etc. It’s a wonderful convenience to be able to redirect or rearrange transportation on the fly with your kids. Other parents value the safety aspect of giving their children a phone. But moms must weigh these pluses against a growing list of cons to decide if having a phone is a good thing for your child.

1. Is it about status or need? Admit it: while we usually blame our kids for wanting what the “in crowd” has, we can also fall victim to that type of thinking. But just because the majority of her friends have something doesn’t mean that she should.
   We at iMOM highly recommend that you put off giving your child a cell phone with Internet access as long as you can.  Basically, a smartphone can be used as a distracting and addictive toy, and it opens the doorway to a hazardous world via the Internet. [How much phone does your child need?]
2. Does the schedule demand it? For working parents whose young children need to navigate a school bus drop-off or make it to an after-school activity alone, there may be a legitimate need. Just knowing that if something goes wrong your child can reach you or another caregiver can provide great piece of mind. But if you drop your child off at school and pick them up, and they can call you from the school office if they need you in-between, a cell phone is more of a social tool than an emergency tool.
3. Does your child handle other responsibilities well? How consistently your child obeys the rules regarding other types of technology she already has access to (internet, TV, video games) is a good indicator of how well she will respect and obey the rules you lay down for cell phone use. If you’re constantly having to police and correct your child’s use of other media, you’ll have an even greater battle on your hands with the cell phone, because she’ll be using it outside of your sight 99 percent of the time. Think long and hard before you open Pandora’s box.
4. Do you have the backbone to limit its use and take it away? Some parents find it really difficult to take back a privilege or gift once it’s given. Only you know if you have the resolve to do what’s best for your child—despite the tears and protests—if the phone becomes a problem. If you can’t honestly say that you’ll pull the plug, and set limitations, don’t buy the phone.

Team Color Night at Awana Clubs Tomorrow!

As we kick off our last month of Awana clubs, let's show some team spirit one last time by wearing our Awana team colors tomorrow night!  The more the better!  Don't just stop with the shirt.  Wear your team color in socks, pants, hats, accessories.  Make it look like someone threw a can of your teams color paint on you!

And call your fellow team mates and remind them to do the same.  PK might just keep teams on their proper colors for game time even if the teams are unbalanced... maybe!  (We'll see how unbalanced they turn out.)

Sleepover Strategies

So, your child's been invited to a sleepover at a friend's house. ..

1. Be willing to be your child's scapegoat

If you sense that your child doesn't want to go, or you think she's just not ready, tell your child, "You can tell your friend I said no."

2. Create alternatives

If "everyone" is going to a sleepover, and your child doesn't want to go, or you don't want her to go, come up with a fun alternative: invite friends over, ask your child's grandparents to do something with them, or do something exciting as a family.

3. Host the sleepover at your house

That way, you set the guidelines, and your child will feel more secure.

4. Cultivate new friendships

Try to expand your child's friendship circle beyond his school.  Encourage him to make friends with kids through sports, church or other activities.  That way, if "all" of the kids in his class are going to the sleepover, he'll have other friends to spend time with.

Sleepover Criteria by Age

Elementary School

• Must know parents well.

Middle School (This age group tends to want to spend the night out the most)

• Must know parents well, and make sure they're going to be there the entire evening.
• Be aware of any older siblings and other older kids who may be there also.
• If your child is girl, and her friend has older brothers, automatic no.

High School

• Sleepovers are rare.
• You want your children to come home after a night out, so you can check for signs of drinking or drug use.

Note:  Even if your kids go out for prom or homecoming with friends, require them to still spend the night at home.

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Voting Begins! (Ugly Ties on Display this Sunday)

(Ties from 2009!)

IF YOUR CHILD HAS NOT BROUGHT IN AN UGLY TIE YET, MAKE SURE THEY GET THEM DONE THIS WEEKEND AND BRING THEM TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY.  THERE'S STILL ROOM FOR MORE ON THE TABLE AND VOTING BEGINS THIS WEEK!  SO IT'S NOT TOO LATE!

Judge Deborah: Mother of Israel

How's that for timing?  Without even planning it, we managed to get to the ONE JUDGE that was a woman on Mother's Day!  So this Sunday, we'll be coming at Mother's Day from a little different slant, but it'll be fun as always and your kids will learn a thing or two about encouragement when it's all over.

In addition, this is our May Birthday celebration Sunday, so if your child has a birthday this month, make sure they're here for their birthday treat.