Written by: Beth Jordahl
It’s Spring! Easter has come and gone. There are flowers, and some warm weather. And since it’s Colorado, there is probably more snow coming!
This is also the season when there is a lot happening. Recitals, rehearsals, school projects, parties, and all of the other end of year activities are right around the corner. Which means that this can be the time when everything piles up.
It can be overwhelming for any of us. It can be especially overwhelming for young Twirl dancers! When little ones get stressed, it tends to cause them to act out. This can look like a lot of different things; throwing fits, refusing to listen, or just not being able to handle everything they need to do.
In these moments, it can be helpful for them (and us) to remember to be gentle.
This month, we are talking about GENTLENESS through the verse Philippians 4:5: “Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.”
The word gentleness in the Bible means a variety of things: equitable, fair, mild, gentle.
It is to lay down our own needs and to respond to others with kindness. Gentleness is being loving, tender, calm, and humble in the things you say and do instead of being harsh or mean. It is a mildness (quiet, gentle) of spirit.
All things we hope our little ones will be and do!
All things that Jesus shows towards us.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” - Matthew 11:28-30
This can be a hard attribute to teach and to share. It isn’t something that comes naturally! Rather it is something that we show, and display and talk about again and again. The more that kids see gentleness in action, the more they will learn how to respond that way.
One of the best ways to help a kid understand is to give them opportunities to practice!
Try out these activities with your family!
Act It Out!
For this, you could grab a mirror or even take photos. Ask your kiddos to think really hard about what a grumpy or mean face looks like. Then when they make that face, look at it together or take a pic. After that talk about what a nice and calm face might look like, then take a picture or look at that one. Next, you can discuss the differences. Ask them why someone might make a grumpy face instead of a happy face. Then you can chat about what that might look like in their own lives! Talk about how when we respond with GENTLENESS, we respond with love. We don’t respond in a grumpy way. Ask them if they have seen these responses in the people around them.
You could take this one step further and let them try acting out a scene. Ask them how they might respond to someone in a grumpy way and then in a gentle way. You could give them various scenarios; a sibling being annoying, a kid being mean, someone asking for help, so on. This gives them a chance to try out different responses in a safe place!
Petting Zoo
This one takes a bit more planning on your part, but can be really worthwhile! Take the whole family to a petting zoo. Interacting with animals can be a unique experience and can help kids learn how their gentle responses helps animals feel safe. Take the chance to share that animals don’t like to be around people who are loud, aggressive, or mean. They prefer people who treat them kindly and quietly. This is also a good time to talk about Jesus as a shepherd in John 8:1-11. Jesus leads us with gentleness and understanding which in turn helps us to feel safe.
Tone & Expression
This is an easy game for driving in the car or while playing with your kids. Give them an example of both harsh and gentle tones. Then ask them to tell you if your tone is harsh or gentle. For example, say “Please stop doing that” in a variety of ways (high, low, harsh, gentle, silly, etc.) Let your kids give you feedback on whether or not they would like to be spoken to that way. You can then discuss tone of voice and how people like to be spoken to. You can give them a chance to try out their different tones as well!
The next couple of months can be overwhelming and busy. It’s a great time to emphasize gentleness in the dance studio, at home, and everywhere we go. As we are gentle, it will be an example of Jesus in our lives. It will help our kids connect with His Grace.