Youth Curriculum, 3-19-23
Announcements:
Youth & Family Ministry is partnering with Wildkind Academy to offer seasonal outdoor educational programs for youth, teens, and their parents beginning April 23rd. We share in the idea that rewilding with nature brings true spiritual connection to self and community. Anyone can sponsor a child for $50 to cover material and space rental costs by donating on our website and selecting the youth & family option or making an in-person donation to Adrienne or Marlisa.
Curriculum Overview
Youth define their personal values and explore their communication style to see where they can state what they need more powerfully. We play a game where everyone participates at their own comfort level and then again at their own risk-tolerant level, defining their own boundaries in a respectful and safe way.
2023 Theme: Living Out Loud!
March Monthly Theme: Cultivating Authenticity
Week 3 Value: Boundaries Build Bridges
Affirmation: Speaking my truth creates connections with others
Spiritual Lesson: Boundaries Build Bridges
Embracing the good in ourselves and others means we hold ourselves and others in a space of love which includes communicating our boundaries. It creates bridges to others by giving them a path to connect with us.
Active Listening: Book/Music/Video
Book: This Thing Called You for Teens – we learn boundary wisdom from Ernest Holmes – older youth
Book: The Not-So-Friendly Friend: How To Set Boundaries for Healthy Friendships – younger youth
TEDxYouth: The value of boundaries – a young girl describes her experience with her lessons on boundaries – all ages
Creative Expression – Staying in My Power – Authentically
Youth define what values are important to them and how they want to be treated by others. We take turns stating mindfully and powerfully their intentions aloud and on paper. We verbally honor our friends’ wishes by repeating what they said back to them, saying, “I honor you.”
Connecting/Spiritual Practice: Breakthroughs
Given several age-specific scenarios where misunderstandings could take place, we share how we would react to the situation ourselves and then suggest an empowering conversation where everyone expressed what they needed.
We play a game with varying degrees of difficulty and allow everyone to play at their comfort level and then their risk-tolerant level, allowing everyone at all levels to play a role.