insight for the future– parenthooddiscovering god’s gift of health & happiness 425 insight...

DISCOVERING GOD’S GIFT OF HEALTH & HAPPINESS

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INSIGHT FOR THE FUTURE–PARENTHOODLearning about families is a good way to prepare yourself for one of life’s most exciting experiences—parenthood. Learning loving and non-abusive parenting skills will help you relate to and work with children. Completing this activity may open the door for you to become a dependable babysitter or to work with children in your own corps or church. You may even learn more about your own parents and family.

THINGS TO KNOW AND DOComplete the Task, plus the number of tasks listed in each section.

TO EARN THIS EMBLEM COMPLETETASKS

1 AND 2

PLUS

2 MIND MATTERS CHOICE TASKS

1 BODY BASICS CHOICE TASK

1 SOUL QUEST CHOICE TASK

1 OTHERS CHOICE TASK

Discuss the following with your troop or leader. Describe a perfect parent. Write these characteristics on a board and work as a group to arrange the attributes in order of importance.

Task 1Complete the following task.

❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ GIRL GUARDS

Create and care for an eggshell or flour sack baby for one week. Keep a daily journal to record your experiences. Make your own or log on to www.leahsapp.com/Science_pages/FLOUR_BABIES.html to print a template you can use for this. Make sure your journal includes:

• A childcare log to show feeding times, diaper changes, sleeping patterns, bath time, etc.

• A baby-sitter log to show who provided care, the cost, and the times the baby was in their care. Make sure your sitters complete the childcare log while the baby is in their care.

Task 2Complete the following task.


HOW TO MAKE AN EGGSHELL BABY

1. Put a pinhole in each end of a raw egg. Blow out the yolk and white part of the egg so that only the shell remains.

2. Use permanent markers to make facial features on the shell and add yarn hair.

3. Make a baby blanket and carrier for your baby.

4. Give your eggshell baby a name and make a birth certificate.

HOW TO MAKE A FLOUR SACK BABY

1. Use permanent markers to draw facial features on a five pound bag of flour.

2. Make a baby blanket and carrier for your baby.

3. Give your flour sack baby a name and make a birth certificate.

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Mind MattersComplete at least TWO of the following tasks.


1. HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO HAVE A BABY?

Do comparison shopping online and/or at a store for baby supplies to learn the costs for the following:

Prenatal doctor fees:

Pediatrician fees:

Hospital (delivery and nursery fees):

Housing (1 month’s rent):

Baby furniture:

Clothes, diapers, etc:

Bottles and formula:

Daycare for one month:

Car Seat:

Other extra expenses:

• A record of your daily feelings about the experience.

• Treat your eggshell/flour sack baby as though it were real. Consider yourself lucky that this baby will not dirty its diapers or get sick! But this baby will require constant care. You must never leave it alone. When your baby is not with you, you will need to hire a sitter or make other arrangements for its care.

• At the end of one week, bring your baby and journal back to the troop meeting. Compare your journal and discuss your experiences with the other girls.

How did it feel to be responsible for a baby full-time?

How does your life change when you make the commitment of being a parent?

– AND – Invite a new mother to come to a Girl Guard meeting and discuss the expenses involved with having a baby.


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Body BasicsComplete at least ONE of the following tasks.


1. VISIT WITH A PEDIATRICIAN, SCHOOL NURSE, COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, CHILD WELFARE OR FAMILY SERVICES OFFICE TO LEARN ABOUT HEALTH PROBLEMS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH TEENAGE PREGNANCY.

2. PARENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE TO MAKE SURE THEIR CHILDREN RECEIVE PROPER MEDICAL CARE AND VACCINATIONS.

Ask your pediatrician or school nurse which vaccinations are required for children under the age of 12 in your state.

Are parents ever allowed to choose not to vaccinate their children? Why or why not?

2. MAKE A PHOTO JOURNAL OR POWERPOINT PRESENTATION ABOUT FAMILIES.

Use newspaper or magazine clippings, sketches, or photos. Show your project to your leader or others in your troop. Discuss how each family is similar and how each is different.

How does this project help you learn more about families?

3. ASK YOUR PARENTS TO SHOW YOU YOUR BABY BOOK OR TALK TO YOU ABOUT YOUR EARLY DEVELOPMENT.

What was your length and weight when you were born?

4. MAKE A SCRAPBOOK OF YOUR LIFE.

Include pictures and stories about your parents, childhood friends, favorite toys or games, places you have lived, and anything else that tells the story of how you have grown and developed. Ask your parents and other family members to share their favorite memories of your childhood to include in the book.

Was there anything special or unusual about your delivery?

At what age did you begin to crawl?

When did you take your first steps?

What was your first word?

What special memories do your parents have of your early childhood?

– AND –Make sure your own vaccinations are up to date.

3. DEMONSTRATE THE PROPER WAY TO INSTALL AND USE AN INFANT CAR SEAT.

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“One man sinned, and death ruled over all people because of his sin. What will happen is even more sure than this. Those who receive the rich supply of God’s grace will rule with Christ. They will rule in his kingdom. They have received God’s gift and have been made right with him. This will happen because of what the one man, Jesus Christ, has done.

Romans 5:17a (NIrV)

Soul QuestComplete at least ONE of the following tasks.


1. READ THE FOLLOWING AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS.

The Salvation Army’s Doctrine Five states, “We believe that our first parents were created in a state of innocency, but by their disobedience they lost their purity and happiness, and that in consequence of their fall all men have become sinners, totally depraved, and as such are justly exposed to the wrath of God.”

Do the actions or behaviors of parents ever have bad consequences for their children? Research to learn about ways the actions or behaviors of parents affect their children. Interview a pediatrician, school or county health nurse, or counselor or go online to gather information. To read the whole story about the first sin, check out Genesis 3:1-12.

2. WHAT DOES GOD’S WORD SAY ABOUT FAMILIES?

Set up an interview with your corps officer or pastor about the subject.

– OR – Arrange with your leader to have your corps officer or pastor give a devotional on the subject of families.

3. PSALM 101 IS KNOWN AS THE KING’S PSALM.

Some people believe King David wrote it when he was crowned king. It was his promise to guard his heart and try to do what was right in the eyes of God.

Read and discuss Psalm 101. Was the promise made to God, the people he would rule, or both?

Do parents have the same responsibility? Why or why not?

Which part of the promise do you think is most important?

Do you think all leaders should make this kind of pledge? Why or why not?

Do leaders have a responsibility to set a good example and do what is right? Why or why not?

How does this Scripture apply to you?


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In what ways do children depend on their parents?

In what ways do you depend on your parents?

In what ways do your parents depend on you?

In what ways have you changed since you were a child?

• Spend one hour with a toddler between the ages of two and four. Play with the toddler and do some fun things together. Write down what you did together and how the child reacted to you.

• Spend one hour with a child between the ages of five and six. Do some fun things together. Write down what you did together and how the child reacted to you.

When you finish the above, share your notes with your leader or other girls working on this activity. Discuss the following:

In what ways do children change from one age to the next?

1. AT THE MOMENT OF BIRTH, BABIES ARE ALREADY AWARE OF THE WORLD AROUND THEM.

Learn how children grow and develop by doing the following:

• Spend one hour with a young child who is under the age of two. Play with a child and do enjoyable things together. You can spend the time alone with the child or the parents may be present. Write down what you did and how the child reacted to you.

OthersComplete at least ONE of the following tasks.


IFTF_Parenthood • 1m + Lead

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If you are working on the Catherine Booth Award, take photos to share with the Review Committee.

1. TAKE A BABYSITTING CLASS AT A LOCAL HOSPITAL, RED CROSS, OR OTHER CERTIFYING LOCATION.

Show your certificate to your leader.

2. COMPLETE A PEDIATRIC FIRST AID COURSE AT A LOCAL HOSPITAL, COMMUNITY COLLEGE, OR RED CROSS OFFICE.

Show the certificate to your leader.

S-T-R-E-T-C-H Project(s)Complete the following project.


WebsitesHow Your Newborn Grows: Infant Developmentwww.webmd.com/parenting/baby/infant-development-9/stages-of-development

Installing a Car Seatwww.babycenter.com/0_installing-a-car-seat_9458.bc

Love and Logic Parentingwww.loveandlogic.com

First-Year Baby Costs Calculatorwww.babycenter.com/baby-cost-calculator

Insights for the Future—Parenthood on Pinterestwww.pinterest.com/sagirlguards/insights-for-the-future-parenthood/

Additional Resources

If you enjoyed this activity, find out how to put it to work. Talk to your school counselor about career opportunities that would allow you to use your new skills. What can you do now to help you prepare for a related job in the future?

Here are several careers related to this emblem. There are many others.

• Mother

• Day Care Provider

• Pediatrician

• Teacher

Looking Ahead

2. ASSIST IN YOUR CORPS OR CHURCH NURSERY FOR AT LEAST TWO HOURS.

– OR – Help the Moonbeam leader. Read a story, play a game, or assist with a craft.

3. ONE WAY FAMILIES LEARN ABOUT EACH OTHER IS BY SPENDING TIME TOGETHER.

Plan an activity for your family. You can take a trip to a nearby park, walk around the block, play a game, or bake cookies together. Make a special snack and have it ready to serve after the activity.

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MY TASKS AND ACTIVITIES:

INSIGHT FOR THE FUTURE–PARENTHOOD

My Name:

Date:

COMPLETED

MY NOTES:

MY BIG IDEAS:

I WONDER:

Task 1Signature: Date Completed:

Soul QuestSignature: Date Completed:

S-T-R-E-T-C-H Project(s)Signature: Date Completed:

OthersSignature: Date Completed:

Signature: Date Completed:

Body Basics

Mind MattersChoice Task 1


Choice Task 2


Task 2Signature: Date Completed:

insight for the future– parenthooddiscovering god’s gift of health & happiness 425 insight...

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