Labor Day weekend means a lot of different things to folks. For some it is a celebration of work and workers. For others it is the last hurrah of summer, one final opportunity to enjoy the grill and the outdoors before the chill of fall sets in. In Michigan, however, Labor Day has a shared meaning for parents and children alike: back to school. This week will herald the return of school buses on the highways, high school sports, and homework. Classes will resume and soon kids of all ages will be roaming the halls, complaining about this teacher or that assignment.
In our family here at Faith, we have families with children in various educational settings: public school, charter school, homeschool. Regardless of the setting, here are a few things we should remember as our children begin a new year of learning about the world around them:
First, now is a good time to remember learning does not take place only between the hours of 8:00-3:00. Growing up, I can remember my Grandma always reminding me that learning was something I should be engaged in at all times. What’s more, learning encompasses far more than the so-called three Rs. If you haven’t been doing this already, now is a perfect opportunity to use what your children or grandchildren are learning in their school setting to point them to Jesus Christ. Look for opportunities to link things from their school subjects to the truths of Scripture.
Second, and just as important as the first, now is a good time to be praying for your children and grandchildren. I know many of you are already doing this, so consider this an encouragement to continue to do so all the more. For those who aren’t, you cannot pick a better time than today to start! Pray not only for your own children and grandchildren, but pray for their friends, their teachers, the administrators at their school…any- and everyone who will have contact with these little ones.
Third, be aware of the challenges your children will face on a daily basis (all the more reason for points one and two above!). For those outside of a homeschool or private Christian school setting, we must be vigilant about what our children are learning. This means we may have to (*GASP*) talk to our children on a daily basis, not taking their sometimes glib and noncommittal responses as final. Explore, not in an interrogatory fashion, with them the concepts they are learning, and again, look for ways to bring the teachings of God’s Word into the conversation. When you find something you aren’t sure how to answer, don’t be afraid to ask a brother or sister in the church for help. Teaching your little ones to think with a Christian worldview now will be a gift that blesses them throughout their lives.
Just something to think about…
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