Family Honor Plate and Cards

The Family Honor Plate is a creative ceramic painting activity that is also a part of a family tradition and an awesome parenting tool. Using the fruits of the Holy Spirit, as written in Galatians 5:22, this is a good way to instill the character traits you want your children to have. Plus, even adults need reminders now and then.  

There are also fun questions from the Table Thyme Discussion Cards that lead conversations to a deeper level, help kids learn to articulate their thoughts and lead to special memories of family time, both present and past. The questions are followed with "Why?" to initiate a real conversation rather than simple 2-3 word replies. Even a simple question about dessert can lead to remembering special people and events or just getting to know your family better. Being connected to your kids when they are small can help pave the way to a deeper relationship with them as they get older and live separate lives.

 

Creator Michelle Weber says this about the plate:

Step #1 MOM AND DAD - BE THE EXAMPLE. BE THE ROLE-MODEL:

The virtues are listed in the center of the plate for mom and dad to use as their anchor, their moral compass to guide them in how they need to show up for and to their children.  This is how our children learn what character (Christ's Character) is, what it looks like, what it feels like. Our children are watching us and learning from us. 

Step #2 BE ON THE LOOKOUT:

Look for the good choices and attitude your kids/spouse are making and showing throughout the day. Track it back to the virtues and character it shows.

Step #3 CELEBRATE THEIR CHARACTER:

Turn dinnertime into a celebration when you catch someone making good choices and showing good character and present their meal on the FAMILY HONOR PLATE.  This is when you:

·      Talk about the choices they made and the virtues and character that it showed (Be specific).

·      Talk about how they made everyone involved feel and the impact they had on people and how that is POWERFUL and BEAUTIFUL.

Our Family Experience: My granddaughter volunteered to test this product with her daughter...and the help of her mother/my daughter. Needless to say, the discussion cards did not come into play much with a two-year-old, but the adults see the value of them over the years as the little ones in our family grow older. Actually, I would enjoy using them with my adult family and friends as a way to connect/re-connect.

With a toddler doing the painting, our plate is not beautifully painted, but the women in our family all admit we are NOT artistic at all. My granddaughter suggested this painting project is more suitable for 4+. Even with constant supervision, toddlers are a bit too free-spirited to do a structured craft like painting.

Personally, I think Audrey painted a beautiful plate that will be a reminder of God's love for her and that her family loves and cherishes her... and care as much about her first steps of faith as we did her first steps as a toddler. The plate is an outstanding family project with multiple ways to use ranging from each family member doing their own to doing one as a family to present as a gift to someone else (like grandparents).

I love everything about this and highly recommend it. Look below for links to purchase and for social media links.

Click here to buy Family Honor Plate and Discussion Cards 

Family Honor Plate website 

Family Honor Plate on Facebook 

Follow @HonorPlate on Twitter
Family Honor Plate on Instagram 

 “Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255:  “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”):  Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

Charlie the Tramp by Russell Hoban

Charlie the Tramp is celebrating 50 years with a new hardcover release. Winner of the 1968 Boys Club of America Junior Book Award, the book was authored by Russell Hoban (Bread and Jam for Frances; Emmit Otter’s Jug-band Christmas) and illustrated by Lillian Hoban. Lillian illustrated 6 of Russell's books, but is best known for a young chimpanzee named Arthur and his little sister, Violet. 

Charlie the Beaver wants to be a tramp when he grows up. “Tramps don’t have to learn how to chop down trees and how to roll logs and how to build dams. Tramps just tramp around and have a good time. Tramps carry sticks with little bundles tied to them. They sleep in a field when the weather is nice, and when it rains they sleep in a barn.” Charlie sets off with his bundle. But when he hears water trickling, he can’t get to sleep. Will he be able to resist the urge to make it stop? As Grandfather Beaver says, “You never know when a tramp will turn out to be a beaver.” (publisher)

This is a cute story, with delightful illustrations, about the adventures of a beaver who decides he wants to be a tramp when he grows up. With the encouragement of his parents and grandfather, young Charlie sets out to a nearby field to be a tramp. He returns home at mealtimes to do some chores in exchange for his food, but travels back to the field to sleep. But...a noise keeps distracting him. A stream of water is singing much to loudly and Charlie goes over to investigate. When Charlie does not show up for breakfast, his family makes an interesting discovery.

I don't remember this book from my childhood, but would have been too old for it by the time it was written. But, had I been younger, this would have been one I enjoyed. Some may say it is a bit outdated, but I don't find offense at any of it. I see a family who is encouraging a little boy to explore his aspirations within a safe boundary. This is a charming tale of natural instincts and a nurturing family with the sense to know that children need a bit of freedom to explore possibilities. I, too, remember a brief desire to become a tramp as a child. :) My parents calmly explained the pros and cons, and I decided to postpone that dream. 

Charlie the Tramp/Plough website

Amazon

GIVEAWAY: There is also a copy for one of my readers. Simply let me know in a comment (blog or Facebook) that you want to be entered. Deadline is December 10, 2016. USA residents only.
Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway.  Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.  I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Say and Pray Devotions ~ Diane Stortz

Say and Pray Devotions is a very sturdy padded board book that serves many purposes. The left hand side gives a topic, with a short sentence to expand upon it and then the right side gives a short Scripture that could be easily memorized by a 3 or 4 year-old and a simple prayer to use. Examples are listed below:

• YUMMY!
  Good food tastes yummy and helps me grow.
  [God] gives food to the hungry - Psalm 146:7
  Thank You, God, for good food. Amen.
• Good News
  Jesus is our Savior. That's the good news!
  We bring you the good news. - Acts 13:32
  Thank You, God, for Jesus! Amen.

And then there are the illustrations, by Sarah Ward, on all pages that are labeled to help teach reading and word identification. Just as we read the Bible to learn and for it to make an impact on our lives, this simple book can be used the same way for toddlers and younger kids. 

I want to add that this is a very sturdy padded board book. It has easily survived my 14 month old great-granddaughter's attempts to read it by herself and the sticky pages were easily cleaned after she left. I love having a book that I am comfortable with the little ones holding themselves that is also useful for me teaching them simple concepts of my faith. The pictures with just a one word description are fabulous for the younger ones, but can also lead to conversations ranging from what is seen on to telling stories based on imagination. I believe this is going to be a favorite book at my house.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through FlyBy Promotions.

The Biggest Story DVD and CD by Kevin DeYoung

The Biggest Story: How the Snake Crusher Brings Us Back to the Garden by Kevin DeYoung is the overall message of the Bible written for children with pivotal stories and characters highlighted. Starting with the disobedience and promise that demonstrate the promise of Jesus on to his birth, death, resurrection, and the availability of the Holy Spirit for all believers. In Genesis, God promises that there ill be a "Snake Crusher" who will eventually restore God's people to the same relationship He had with Adam and Eve in the Garden. This review, however, is about the DVD and Audio Book available.

The Animated Short Film: Using Don Clark's colorful illustrations from the hardcover of The Biggest Story, the animated short film is visually colorful enough to attract the attention of children as DeYoung uses a variety of highlights to connect Scripture’s message about God’s plan to redeem his rebellious people.

The Audio Book: Written and narrated by author Kevin DeYoung, this tells the story of Eve being tempted by the snake, and of Adam also eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, and then continues on the journey through the Bible, showing the many times God has connecting the dots from the garden of Eden to Christ's death on the cross to the new heaven and new earth.

I have mixed views on this one. I did love the bright colors, but sometimes it felt a little visually overwhelming. I did not always concentrate on the words. There were a few words that seemed a bit difficult for younger children to understand (for instance, "famine" is used several times and that is a concept all kids may not understand), but I am in favor of building a stronger vocabulary. You just may want to make sure the child watching (or listening to audio) understand what is being said. And, it may be useful to help a child understand that God still loved His people, despite being angry at actions. Of course the stories have to be simplified for children and there is a time constraint. While I do have a few issues, I do like both the DVD and CD and see them as good teaching tools for children, and this is definitely a conversation-opener to give your child a clearer explanation of God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, and how God has used others to perform His works and share the good news of Jesus and restore us to Him. Also, both CD and DVD include a brightly colored poster, suitable for framing. They are two-sided so that gives additional options.

I received a copy of these products from Propeller/FlyBy Promotions in exchange for a fair and honest review. "Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”