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How to Help Your Daughter Set Meaningful Goals This New Year

The Bible says “good planning and hard work lead to prosperity” (Proverbs 21:5). It’s wise to set goals and to teach our children to do the same. Here are a few areas in which we can encourage our daughters to persevere this coming year.

 

Spiritual Growth—Our relationship with the Lord should always be top priority. How do you plan to grow in your faith this year? Ideas might include keeping a daily devotional journal, taking or leading a Bible study with friends, committing to reading six books of the Bible before summer, and so on. Discuss certain areas in which your daughter wants to grow, such as in gratitude, prayer, generosity, etc. Then come up with a plan to pursue growth in that facet of her Christian walk.

 

Relationships—How are you doing at honoring your mother and father? At loving your siblings? Being kind to friends and obedient to authority? Identify any particular relationships you’d like to work on this year, and discuss how you can actively strengthen those family or friendship bonds.

 

School—Working hard to do our best at school is one of the ways we can glorify and honor God. Is there a certain class you’d like to excel in this year? A goal you’d like to reach—such as earning a spot on the Math Olympics team, raising your grade in science, or joining the debate club? Discuss how school is not just about academics but also learning how to respect teachers, forgive our peers, and make God-honoring choices about our actions and beliefs.

 

Personal Interests—God has given us much to enjoy here on earth, and He wants us to use our talents for His glory. What personal interests do you want to pursue this year? Do you want to improve your skills in the activities you currently enjoy, such as piano, karate, soccer, dance? What about trying something completely new? Now is a great time in life to hone a skill or to explore a new one.

 

By taking time now to identify goals for the coming year, we can be intentional about pursuing them in the months to come. However, remember that “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps” (Proverbs 16:9). So even while encouraging your children to become wise planners, make sure you also teach them to be flexible. Often God’s plan turns out to be different from our own, and it’s always in our best interest to trust Him.

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Tween-Friendly Christmas Activities

Remember the days when your little girl wore footie pajamas and pigtails? As our daughters grow older, they may no longer listen for reindeer on the roof, but they still value Christmas traditions and quality family time. Here are some ideas for making this Christmas season special for your growing tween.

 

Cake for breakfast—Girls love to bake! Invite your daughter to bake and decorate a birthday cake for Jesus. Then serve it for breakfast on Christmas morning!

 

Secret St. Nick—Give your tween a small budget for “secret” giving. Take her shopping and encourage her to pick out little gifts and goodies for neighbors or friends at school, then help her deliver them anonymously. Watch as she learns the joy of selfless giving!

 

Outdoor sports—Go ice skating, skiing, or sledding as a family. If you live in a warmer climate, go hiking or swimming over Christmas break. These simple family outings are often a child’s favorite memories over the years.

 

Crafty Christmas—Have fun searching Pinterest together for tween-friendly crafts such as these wooden stick snowflakes or no-sew holiday throw pillows. If you’re truly ambitious, consider selling your creations and giving the money to a ministry or charity of your daughter’s choice.

 

Decorate!—Buy colorful lights and string them around your daughter’s bedroom or homework area. Take her shopping at a home goods store to choose a few fun winter décor pieces she can add to the household decorations. This will encourage her love of design and give her a sense of ownership in your home.

 

Lights, camera, action—Encourage your daughter to create a Happy New Year video where she can highlight blessings from the past year, say thank you for the gifts she received, and share her goals for the coming year. Then send the video to friends and family as a special greeting from your tween.

 

However you choose to spend this holiday season, be sure to thank God for the gift of a growing daughter. Each day she is one step closer to becoming the woman God designed her to be!

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Keeping Christ at the Center of Christmas

 

As Christians, we know Jesus is the reason for the Christmas season. Yet it can be easy to lose sight of that fact when we’re bogged down with the usual tasks this season brings. There’s nothing wrong with shopping, baking, and addressing Christmas cards. Those activities can bring joy to our families and others. But when those tasks start to take center stage in our Christmas preparations, it’s time to recalibrate.

 

Here are some simple ways to keep Jesus at the center of your family’s Christmas celebrations this year.

 

1. Pray! Make good use of all those Christmas cards you’re getting in the mail by praying for each of the families who send you good cheer. Pray together at dinner time that God would bless their health and bring them prosperity in the coming year.

 

2. Not just to the people on your shopping list, but how about identifying a family in your school or church who needs some extra care this holiday season. Make a plan to deliver a meal, a gift card or other blessings.
3. There are lots of ways to keep your heart focused on Jesus even as you go about your Christmas preparations. Play worship music or Christ-centered Christmas songs as you wrap gifts and bake cookies. Go for a drive to admire the beauty of snow or the sunset; thank God for His creation. And for every gift you receive, thank not just the giver but God, too, because He is the giver of all good things.

 

4. Focus on Scripture. As a family, read the story of Jesus’ birth in Luke 2:1–20. Challenge older kids to memorize Mary’s Song, Luke 1:46–55. Choose a Friday night to pop popcorn and watch a nativity film together to reinforce the truth of Scripture.

 

5. Play with your décor. Set up a nativity scene and place the wise men across the room. Leave Jesus out of the display for now; wrap him in a gift box and place him under the tree. Each day, move the wise men closer to the scene. On Christmas morning, have the kids open the Jesus figure and set him in his rightful place within the manger. This is a reminder that Jesus is our greatest gift!
6. Call it what it is. Rather than referring to the holiday only as “Christmas,” try calling it “Jesus’ birthday.” Create a chain of paper rings to count down toward the big day, and each morning ask the kids, “How many days until Jesus’ birthday?”

 

7. Let them eat cake! Every birthday needs a birthday party—with cake and ice cream! Bake (or buy) a “Happy Birthday, Jesus” cake and let the kids eat it for breakfast on Christmas morning. They just might look forward to that as much as the presents. And that would be a victory for Jesus indeed!

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DIY Advent Wreath

Advent is the special time of year when we prepare our hearts for the birth of Jesus. One special way to symbolize this event is with an Advent candle wreath. Each Sunday of Advent, light one of the candles and say a prayer of thanks to God for sending His son to live on Earth and die in our place. You could also choose to read a passage from Scripture or complete your weekly devotional from Faithgirlz Advent Devotional.

Here is a simple step-by-step project to make your own Advent wreath. This is a fun and meaningful activity to do with your children, which will inspire them to focus on the true reason for the season.

 

What you’ll need:

  • Candle platform: This can be anything from a pie plate to a piece of wood to an old picture frame. It just needs to fit five candles and surrounding greenery.
  • Four candles: Traditionally the first candle is blue, although feel free to get creative! Choose any size candles you like; for this wreath, stand-alone candles are best (vs. tall tapers that need individual holders). Just keep in mind they need to last 28 days, so tea lights may not be the best option.
  • Greenery: A traditional wreath is made of evergreen needles, but you can choose artificial flower/greens, pine cones, even ribbon or Christmas ornaments. Make it your own!

 

 

How to assemble:

  1. Place the candles on your candle platform.
  2. Arrange the greenery around the candles.
  3. Display in a (safe) prominent place in your home.

 

How to enjoy:

Starting on the fourth Sunday before Christmas (Dec. 3 this year), light one candle every week. Invite your children to ask questions, share prayer requests, or name their blessings so that each lighting becomes a special time of reflection, gratitude and joy for your family.

 

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Faithgirlz Christmas Gift Guide for Tween Girls

It’s that time of year again! Kids love getting gifts at Christmas, and as parents we’re blessed to give. Why not fill their boxes and stockings with gifts that will not only entertain, but also encourage their faith? Here are some of Faithgirlz’ hottest books and other gift ideas for the tween girls in your life.

Bibles and Bible Tools

 

Faithgirlz Bible—The Faithgirlz Bible (NIV) contains special features designed specifically to capture the heart of girls 9–12 years old, such as quizzes, relatable commentary, highlighted memory verses and much more. Girls will enjoy the shiny cover design, bright pink and purple text, plus several pages spelling out God’s promises and perspectives in the back of the book. There’s even space for girls to write their own notes!

 

 

 

Faithgirlz Backpack Bible—The NIV Faithgirlz Backpack Bible, Compact, Imitation Leather, is just the right size for girls ages 8 to 12 years to grab and go with its small, portable size that will fit in almost any backpack or bag. This Bible shows tween girls that the Bible is real, relevant, and best of all, that the story of God and His people is also their story.

 

 

101 Verses That Stick—Tweens love sticky notes. Put that obsession to good use with this pack of 101 Bible verses written on post-it notes, perfect for sticking to a mirror, locker, desk or other favorite spot. Comes with a magnetic pad!

 

Devotionals

 

 

Glimmer & Shine—Written by Natalie Grant, his daily devotional will challenge and inspire girls ages 8 and up to be their very best selves. Includes 365 devotions, prayers, and interactive weekend pages with quizzes, coloring pages and more.

 

 

 

 

Brave Beauty—As girls grow into young women, they’re likely to have questions, anxieties and fears. This special devotional by Proverbs 31 author and speaker Lynn Cowell offers 100 courage-building moments for tweens ages 8 to 12 to reflect on Scripture and find confidence in God above all else.

 

 

 

 

Promises For You—This beautiful coloring devotional features 60 original works of line art for girls to color as they reflect on Bible verses proclaiming God’s promises. Each coloring and journal page is printed on high-quality, thick stock paper that can withstand markers, pencils or pens.

 

 

 

Fiction Books

 

 

Lena in the Spotlight—Co-written by War Room star and tween blogger Alena Pitts, along with her author mom Wynter Pitts, this new Faithgirlz book series reflects Alena’s own experiences as she reaches for the stars while still making her faith the number one priority.

 

 

 

Glimmer Girls—This four-book series by Christian recording artist (and mom) Natalie Grant follows the adventures of Mia
and Maddie, 10-year-old twin sisters who travel the globe with their famous singer mom. What mishaps will they get into next? There’s always a great lesson learned in the end.

 

 

 

The Lucy Series—Lucy is a feisty tomboy with a tragic history. She questions everything, especially God. This series by Nancy Rue helps girls work through their big questions as Lucy’s wise housekeeper teaches her about God’s love and perfect plan for her life.

 

 

 

The Good News Shoes—Riley Mae Hart is the spokesgirl for Swiftriver Shoe Company, a job that sends her on some crazy adventures where she learns tough lessons about what it means to be a godly young woman. Written by Jill Osborne, this fun three-book series is sure to please readers who love a good page-turner and a happy ending.

 

Faithgirlz - Off the Record - Samantha Sanderson

 

 

Samantha Sanderson—Meet Samantha, an ordinary girl with extraordinary dreams. In this four-book series by Robin Caroll, Samantha and her friends fight crimes drawn straight from today’s headlines, from bomb threats to bullying, all while navigating the rocky terrain of middle school.


 

 

The Sophie Series—Meet Sophie LaCroix, a creative thinker with big dreams to become a famous film director one day. Her wild imagination often lands her in a pickle—but her faith and her friends always come to the rescue. Written by Nancy Rue, each title in this series offers two books in one!

 

 

How-To Activity Books

 

 

101 Ways to Have Fun—Never hear the words “I’m bored” again. This book is filled with activities tweens can do alone or with friends, anytime!

 

 

 

 

Best Hair Book Ever—Created by the editors of Faithgirlz and Girls Life magazine, this full-color book is filled with pictures and instructions for fun, lovely and funky hairstyles that all tween girls will enjoy.

 

 

 

101 Things Every Girl Should Know—Give the gift of expert advice on a wide range of topics of interest to tween girls, such as changing a bike tire to talking to a teacher about a bad grade. What do you do when you’re at a party and you don’t know anyone? What’s the formal way to set a table (and why does it matter)? This random collection of problem-solving strategies helps with everyday stuff, big and small. With tips, advice, and lots of humor, this is a book every girl needs.

 

 

Redo Your Room

 

 

Re-do Your Room: 50 Bedroom DIYs You Can Do in a Weekend—Empower your daughter to express her style with this wonderful collection of simple bedroom décor ideas that she can do all by herself (or as a fun family project with you)!

 

 

Bible Bags and Carriers

 

 

When your tween receives these wonderful Faithgirlz gifts, she’ll need someplace to keep them. Choose a special book bag from our collection of Faithgirlz carriers and messenger bags. She’ll love them all!

 

 

 

From all of us at Faithgirlz, happy shopping—and thank you for keeping Christ in your family Christmas celebrations!

 

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Instilling Thankfulness in Our Children

Our kids today have access to a lot of luxuries. We send them to schools equipped with textbooks and tablets. We fill their bedrooms with toys and crafts and novels designed to entertain and educate. We take them shopping when they outgrow their jeans and snow boots, we feed them three meals a day, we treat them to ice cream and movies and trips to the trampoline park.

 

Compared to many other populations in the world, our children are abundantly loved and provided for. But do they realize it?

 

The risk of giving our children everything they need and much of what they want is that they could come to view this provision as their right rather than a privilege. As parents we can and should help our kids develop a heart of gratitude for their blessings, material and otherwise. Here are some ways to do just that.

 

Give to others. Grateful people are generous people. When we appreciate all we have, we’re more likely to pay it forward as a way of thanking God for our blessings. Cultivate this type of grateful giving in your family by participating in a charity campaign that’s meaningful to you, such as Operation Christmas Child, Toys for Tots, World Vision and so on. Or give your time volunteering to help an elderly neighbor with yard work or watching a single mom’s children for an afternoon. Opportunities to give to others are bountiful not just this time of year but all year round.

 

Go without. Sometimes the best way to appreciate what we have is to experience life without it. Spend a weekend without phones, computers or television. Challenge the kids to give up their toys for a week. Purge your closets and give gently used clothes and other belongings to others in need. If you dare, choose one night a week to turn off the electricity and live by candlelight like in the “olden” days. By sacrificing the comforts we take for granted, we can develop a new appreciation for them—and for the God who gave them to us.

 

Say thank you. We teach our kids to say please, thank you, excuse me and you’re welcome. But gratitude goes far beyond good manners. A simple “thank you” can validate another person—especially the ones we love best. Why not say “thanks” to your husband for mowing the lawn? Thank your children for obeying your instructions to put on their shoes. Thank your family for playing a board game together on a Friday night. Tell them you value your time together. Speak gratitude to the people around you, and you will foster a heart of gratitude in their own lives as well.

 

Count your blessings. This month, in preparation for Thanksgiving, create a thankful tree and encourage the whole family to get involved. Create a tree trunk and branches from brown paper, then cut several leaf shapes out of colored paper. On each leaf, write something you’re thankful for. Tape the leaves to the tree and display your creation in a central area of the house where all family members can see it. Continue adding more leaves as you think of more and more blessings. Make this an annual celebration of thankfulness in your home!

 

From all of us at Faithgirlz, we wish you a Thanksgiving season filled with gratitude!

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Fun Fall Crafts for Tweens

Fall is a great time to get crafty, especially with all the beautiful colors and textures of harvest season. Here’s a short round up of some fun fall crafts for tweens.

 

Melted Crayon Pumpkin Craft


This project will satisfy both the color-crazy girl and the mad scientist type. Plus your front porch will be sooo totally adorbs with these rainbow pumpkins on display!

https://www.dreamalittlebigger.com/post/melted-crayon-pumpkin-craft.html

 

Maple Leaf Mason Jars

Who doesn’t love a little Mod Podge, right? This beautiful craft transforms ordinary leaves and glass jars into festive harvest lamps for indoors or out.

http://sparkandchemistry.com/blog/leaf-mason-jar-candle-holder/

 

Pumpkin Fridge or Locker Magnets

These sweet little magnets are easy to make and super cute to display on your fridge or in a locker. Make a whole bunch to share with friends!

http://www.thebensonstreet.com/2013/09/02/pumpkin-magnets/

 

Button Tree Wall Art

Celebrate fall’s vibrant colors with this beautiful DIY button tree canvas. It makes a lovely original wall hanging for your own home or to give as a special gift.

https://craftsbyamanda.com/vibrant-button-tree-on-canvas-a-giveaway/

 

Fall Glitter Slime

And last but not least, everybody’s favorite DIY product—slime! Here’s a great recipe for fall slime using saline solution instead of Borax!

https://teachingmama.org/fall-slime-recipe/

 

No matter which project you choose, make sure you encourage your tween’s DIY adventures and even get hands-on involved for some quality bonding time. Remember God is the ultimate Creator. We reflect His image; therefore, we were created to create, too!

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Healing Sibling Rivalry

Siblings are prone to bickering; that’s nothing unusual. Put two kids in a household together and eventually they’ll come up with reasons to snap. But as Christians, shouldn’t our homes look different?

 

Jesus says, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). Love is the marker of a true follower of Christ. And who are we called to love? Not just God, but one another. We have to get the message across to our kids that “one another” includes their siblings.

 

If your kids fight, here are three tips for healing the sibling rivalry in your house.

 

  1. Remind your kids your family is a team. God put you together, and He expects you to work together. One of the biggest mistakes our kids tend to make is viewing their siblings as the nemesis, rather than partners according to God’s design.
  2. Give your kids opportunities to practice getting along. Encourage them to read to one another, walk the dog together, play a game together, or make a craft. Explain the ground rules: no bossing, no bickering, no complaining, no eye-rolling. If they do well, reward them. Eventually they may discover the true reward is in the company they keep.
  3. Teach them to pray for one another. This will require your kids to consider one another’s needs rather than focusing only on their own. Plus it’s awfully hard to stay mad at somebody you’re praying for earnestly. Together, through the power of prayer, the entire family can witness what God does with your children’s faithfulness.
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Old Fashioned Fall Family Fun

Too much technology in your house these days? Take a cue from your grandma and enjoy some old-fashioned, tech-free family activities this fall. Here are some classic ideas.

 

Canning—Gather up the last of the farm market’s tomatoes and make a big batch of salsa or spaghetti sauce to enjoy all year round.

 

Corn maze—Get lost in nature, not your iPod. Many local farms host corn mazes, hay rides and campfires this time of year. They’re a great opportunity for fresh air and family bonding.

 

Bird feeders—The simplest way to attract fall and winter birds is to feed them good old peanut butter on a pine cone! Gather pine cones from any nearby pine trees and slather them with peanut butter. Roll in birdseed for an added crunch, and store in the freezer. Set the pine cones outside and watch the birds fly in for a snack.

 

Make a scarecrow—Looking for a fun fall decoration to place in your yard? Stuff a bunch of hay into Dad’s old pants and a flannel shirt (or buy overalls at a thrift store for cheap). Use an empty milk jug for the head, covered with old tights or pantyhose. Let the kids paint on the face, then tie your new scarecrow friend to the front porch lamp post!

 

Fall hiking—Choose a state park nearby and gather the family for a hike. Walking through the woods at peak season is a wonderful opportunity to witness God’s amazing artistry!

 

Pumpkin goodies—Yes, you can buy a can of Libby’s in the store. But making your own fresh pureed pumpkin is much easier than you might think—and it tastes delicious! Just cut a pumpkin in half and discard the pulp. (Save the seeds for roasting later!) Place both halves flesh side down on a shallow roasting pan and cover with foil. Bake at 375 degrees for about 90 minutes or until the pumpkin is soft. Allow it to cool, then puree in a food processor. Keep your fresh pumpkin refrigerated in an air-tight container to use in all your favorite pumpkin recipes!

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Fall Conversation Starters

Football. Back to school. Pumpkin spice lattes. These are the markers of fall, which officially begins September 22.

 

When we consider the season’s change, God’s majesty is clear. He created the trees to turn colors and the wind to blow cold. He designed the harvest to end and the birds to fly south. He even tells the squirrels to store away food and our stomachs to crave hot chocolate! (Well, okay, maybe not that last one.) So much about this time of year signals the Father’s glory.

 

“But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.” (Job 12:7–10)

 

At Faithgirlz, we know how busy family life can be this time of year, and how easy it becomes to get wrapped up in routines and forget to look at the world around you. Yet we also believe it’s important to raise kids who seek God in everyday life. So let’s do it together!

 

Here are some fun conversation starters to get your kids thinking and talking about God’s glory this fall.

 

  • What is your favorite fall leaf color? Why do you think God chose orange, red and yellow instead of purple, pink and blue?
  • Which do you like better—the start of football season or the end of baseball season, and why? Isn’t it amazing how God created our arms and legs to work together in sports?
  • If you had a chance to go hiking for a day all by yourself, what would you pack in your backpack? What would you pray about?
  • Which is better—apple pie or pumpkin pie? Have you thanked God lately for creating apples/pumpkins?
  • If you could design a fall-inspired ice cream flavor, what would it be? Why do you think God gave us taste buds?
  • What is your favorite item of fall clothing in your closet? What items do you think you could part with and give to a family in need?
  • Name five things you can do with a squash. Why in the world do you think God created the squash, anyway? Isn’t He creative?
  • What do you enjoy best about nature in fall? Tell God how much you appreciate it!
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