This month, I have been struggling what to write….how do you teach a 3-and-4-year-old about fidelity and chastity? I think for this month, taking things down all the way to the basics for them is enough.
What are the basics? Setting an example. Be an example of fidelity and chastity in your own marriage or other relationship. We’ve also had a few conversations about our bodies (see www.valueparenting.com and click on “how to talk to your kids about sex”) and that they are special and can do amazing things that they will learn about when they are 8. The boys seemed to respond to that quite well.
Also during this month, we have talked a little bit about privacy – what it is, why it’s important, etc. in our home and that went great.
As far as setting an example in marriage….that’s been good this month because it’s been a tough month for my hubby and me. He has been pulling 80-hour weeks, and I’ve been picking up the slack at home, doing Christmas alone this year, and we’ve had to work hard to find stress-free time to ourselves. I am extremely blessed in the husband department – my guy is so easy and wonderful to be married to – so it makes it easier. The challenging part for me has been managing the stress and taking care of myself so I can be the best I can for my husband and children. Having gratitude for him and his hard work, thinking of ways to make his life easier, looking for ways to show him I love him and we miss him when he’s not here have all been the focus on the value this month. I think that this alone will give my children a good example of fidelity and chastity this month. What do you think? Do you have any additional ideas or input?
I don’t have older children or teenagers, but I do have a younger brother who is 14. I’ve noticed that with him, it been important for my parents to talk with him, making time for conversation about more adult topics, and teaching him the importance of making certain decisions ahead of time so that when he is faced with temptation, he knows what he wants and what he’s going to do about it. Those are the things I would probably want to focus on doing if I had an older child or teenager. Hopefully my mom will add a little more…..she has LOTS of experience with this topic and teenagers.
Even though this value is a little more challenging to sit down and have an object lesson with, it is definitely an important topic worth investing your time in. The world we live in today really tries hard to belittle values in general, and this one is no exception.
Happy Holidays everyone!
For middle schoolers on up there is a great video by Pam Stenzel that is thee most amazing pro-abstinence video out there. It is called Sex Still Has a Pricetag. Pam was a crisis pregnancy counselor for 9 years and now tours the world with the message on the video. It’s one of those messages you hear and just want to stand up and cheer about.
Public school edition: http://shoppamstenzel.com/p-27-sex-still-has-a-pri… (costs 30 dollars)
Faith based edition: (identical to the one above, yet includes a few minutes at the beginning where she discusses the agency God gave us) http://shoppamstenzel.com/p-13-sex-still-has-a-price-tag-dvd-faith-based.aspx (also costs 30 dollars)
This is the VERY BEST age-appropriate investment I have made for my family regarding this topic.
Here’s the second link again:
http://shoppamstenzel.com/p-13-sex-still-has-a-pri…