Here are a few of the very handy tools I’ve found for teaching children about justice and mercy. I think kids are very visual, tactile learners, so having a few tangible things they can see has been very helpful for us. We’ve only used a few simple tools, but they all have been extremely effective. Out first tool is the Land of Obey Chart. Below is a picture:
(For more information on the Land of Obey Chart, you can read here.)
The next tool for the month is a Repenting Bench. I just bought a child’s size unfinished wood bench. I’m still in the process of finishing mine (I painted it white and promptly decided I’d rather it be blue), but the picture is of it right now (it’s already been used many times, or course!). Here it is in all its unfinished glory:
(For more information about the Repenting Bench, read here.)
When we didn’t have a bench, we just had a “Repenting Spot” on the step. Getting a bench has been great for us because we now have a crawling, cruising baby and have to keep a gate on the stairs. It’s been interesting to see the ownership the kids seem to have with the bench. Wes (my hubby) and I have tried to keep the Repenting Bench a positive tool (the kids go there to avoid punishment) and so far, for the most part, it seems to be working. (Either that or the boys just spend so much time on it that they’ve grown fond of it!)
Our last tool has been a nice plaque of our Family Laws. We’ve had the Family Laws since I got back from a motherhood retreat last spring, but it was really nice to have a chance to discuss them again. I’m always amazed at how the five laws (peace, respect, asking, order, and obedience) really are all-encompassing. It’s pretty easy to give the kids ownership of the laws because it’s really easy to steer them right back to the laws we already have when they give suggestions for laws.
Last year when we started with the laws, we made a poster that looked like this (needless to say, we were VERY ready for an update!):
To make a new plaque, I bought the unfinished plaque. The kids and Daddy (after our family law discussion) helped paint it…yup…blue. (Can you tell we have a house full of boys around here? Ha ha!) After the paint was dry, I cut the vinyl out on my Silhouette machine. The boys also helped me mount the vinyl and voila! We now have this darling plaque to replace our old poster:
(I don’t think I’m ready to be done, but I’m guessing this will probably do until next year. It’ll be a great excuse to discuss the laws again.)
Well, there you have it: a few simple, delightful tools to make teaching justice and mercy a little easier. We’ve sure had a lot of fun with the tools, and I feel like using them has really helped cement the concepts of this month’s value into their bright little minds. I know it’s definitely helped Mommy remember to pay attention a little more, too! Do you have any additional suggestions that you have found to help with teaching your children justice and mercy?
Brianna Monson says
Megan-thanks for sharing your talents! I love the 5 laws! What did you write under each of the 5 laws (I can’t read the small print) 🙂
Lindsay Ruiz says
Ok, I checked out the Land of Obey chart and think it is fabulous!!! Love, love, the idea. I might try to make my own since I’ve got a house full of girls. Maybe we can move the princess up to the castle to kiss the frog (my kids are on a kissing kick right now). Thanks so much for sharing.
Grandma Honey says
Great ideas you have here.
I also think the greatest teacher of all is the example we set for your children…how we live our lives. That will speak volumes to them, forever.
Karla says
For Justice, we have a chart listing our rules–and then a corresponding spot listing the consequences. That way, it’s always fair. No questions about what the “punishment” will be.
For the mercy part, once every week or so we’ll just wipe out any negative consequences and tell them that because God’s mercy is boundless, we’re going to show them mercy and not punish (apply the consequence) this time. However, usually I reserve that for something that was across the board (all kids involved)–so that I don’t hear “It’s not fair, when I did xyz, you punsihed me.”–or on a day when everybody has racked up a few consequences.