Make a Time Capsule Your Kids Will Treasure (Just for Kids)

June 1, 2026 by mediaangels Leave a Comment

🧮 This episode is proudly sponsored by CTCMath — an online math program designed to help homeschool families build confidence and mastery, one lesson at a time.

Try CTCMath →

Hey kids! Have you ever wondered about time capsules? What about a just for kids time capsule? Time Capsules are treasure boxes filled with pieces of today that you can open years from now. Imagine digging up a box from the past and seeing what life was like for someone just like you! In this fun Just For Kids episode of Vintage Homeschool Moms, we’ll explore what a time capsule is and get your ideas flowing for one you can make at home.

Create a Homeschool Time Capsule ~ Episode 579

Just For Kids– Fun Faith-Filled Memory Activity for Kids

What Is a Homeschool Time Capsule?

A time capsule is a special container you fill with items, notes, drawings, or small treasures that capture a moment in your life. You seal it up and place it somewhere you won’t be tempted to look at it! Give it to your parents or place it somewhere that is out of reach. It would be fun to bury it in the backyard or somewhere that is clearly marked (with permission!). When you open it later, those things become memories that tell a story about who you were, what you loved, and what was happening in your world.

Think about stories you’ve read or shows you’ve watched where explorers find old coins, letters, or toys from long ago. Those discoveries spark excitement and help us learn about the people who came before us. Your own time capsule can do the same thing for your future self or even your children one day!

Why Make a Time Capsule with Your Family?

Do you ever think, “I’m sure to remember this!” and then forget? That happens to all of us. We have a great day at an event like a county fair or a birthday party. Think about one thing you ate or something you purchased or won? Maybe you are part of a band or play sports. Did you get a ribbon or special honor? One time, my children played baseball (and my daughter played softball). When they received the “King’s Award,” it showed godly character and good sportsmanship. They knew I thought that was the best award, even better than getting “Most Valuable Player.” (Of course, a mom would think that is the best!)

What is important to you? What hobbies do you have? What is a favorite book or book series that you read? A homeschool time capsule helps preserve these special moments and reminds us of God’s blessings in our daily lives.

Time Capsule Ideas

You can put almost anything in your time capsule—as long as it’s safe and won’t spoil. Here are some original ideas to spark your creativity:

A photo of you and one of your family.
Your favorite day so far. What is something wonderful that has happened to you that you want to remember?
A letter to your future self. What would you tell yourself in five or ten years?
Something that is happening in our world today.
A handwritten “Top 10 Things I’m Thankful to God For” list from right now.
A small drawing or a list of your favorite Bible verses. Why is it meaningful?
Your current favorite bookmark (or one you decorated yourself) with the title of your favorite book (or series).
Your favorites. Whether this is a sport, a collection, a television series, or something else. What is your “favorite” right now if you had to pick one?
A favorite worship song or song you like. (You can list more than one.)
A sketch or photo of the view from your bedroom window or homeschool desk.
A “day in the life” note describing what a normal homeschool morning looks like for you this year.
A special rock, shell, or something you’ve collected from nature, on a family adventure, with the date and place written on it.
A sample page from your prayer journal.
The wrapper or label from your favorite snack (or homemade treat) that your family enjoys together.

What would you put in? My recommendation is to use something waterproof or place it in a waterproof container if you are storing it outside. Something like a plastic container with a tight lid, or even a giant mason jar. Decorate the outside to make it look special. Write the date on it and when you plan to open it—maybe in five years, ten years, or when you turn eighteen!

Scripture to Remember “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…” (Matthew 6:19-20).

I hope your time capsule reminds you of what is important to you and how our lives are always changing. What is important today isn’t always important in the future, and a time capsule is a snapshot of time that demonstrates this to us in a real way.

Listen to the full episode for even more ideas, questions to ask each other, and ways to make this a meaningful family project.

More Vintage Homeschool Moms Episodes for You to Enjoy

Recommended Resources from Media Angels Store

Organize IT Planners – Wonderful for tracking special memories and projects to include in your time capsule.
Character Counts Planners – Faith-filled tools to help kids reflect on godly character moments worth preserving.

Teaching Kids Problem Solving Skills: A Fun Homeschool Life Skill

March 30, 2026 by Ultimate Homeschool Leave a Comment

🧮 This episode is proudly sponsored by CTCMath — an online math program designed to help homeschool families build confidence and mastery, one lesson at a time.

Try CTCMath →

Teaching Kids Problem Solving Skills: A Fun Homeschool Life Skill

What are problem solving skills for kids?

Problem solving skills for kids are the ability to think through a situation, consider different options, weigh the pros and cons, and choose a wise solution. Teaching children problem solving helps them build critical thinking, better decision-making, and confidence in everyday life.

These are skills that matter in academics—but even more in life.

Why problem solving matters in your homeschool

Homeschooling gives us the unique opportunity to teach more than just subjects. We also get to teach our children how to think.

When kids learn how to solve problems, they begin to:

think before reacting
consider consequences
make wiser decisions
stay calmer in stressful situations
build independence and confidence

That’s why problem solving is such a valuable homeschool life skill. It supports character, maturity, and common sense—not just schoolwork.

And honestly? Most kids need more practice in this area than we realize.

A simple method for teaching kids problem solving: SODAS

In this episode, Felice teaches a simple acronym kids can remember:

SODAS

Each letter stands for a step in solving a problem:

S = Situation
O = Options
D = Disadvantages
A = Advantages
S = Solution

This is a fantastic framework for homeschool families because it gives children a concrete way to stop, think, and work through what to do next.

It’s also something parents can use again and again in everyday life.

Teaching kids to think through consequences

One of the biggest challenges for children is that they often act first and think later. That’s normal—but it’s also something we can train.

A simple problem-solving process helps children move from impulsive reactions to thoughtful choices.

Instead of:

panicking
blaming
yelling
freezing up

…they begin to ask:

What happened?
What are my options?
What might happen if I choose this?
What would be the wisest solution?

That’s a skill worth practicing.

Just for Kids: Let’s Practice Problem Solving Together

Okay kids—this part is for you. 😊

Have you ever had an adult ask you:

“What were you thinking?”

If they have… that probably means something didn’t go very well.

But here’s the good news: thinking is a skill, and like any skill, you can get better at it with practice.

When we solve a problem, we use our minds to figure out an answer or a solution. You already do this every day:

solving math problems
answering questions in school
figuring out mysteries in books
deciding what to do when something goes wrong

But there’s more to problem solving than just getting an answer.

You also have to think ahead.

Sometimes we ask “What if?” questions.

Like:

What if I do this?
What if this goes wrong?
What if I make a better choice?

That kind of thinking helps you make wiser decisions.

And now—it’s time to practice.

The Dog and the Paint Problem

Imagine this…

Your parents have been painting rooms in the house. They’ve stacked several paint cans neatly in the garage until they can put them away.

You have a big, energetic white lab dog. Let’s call him Dakota.

Your parents leave for the store and ask you to keep an eye on the dog.

Everything is quiet for one minute… until suddenly you hear a loud crash in the garage.

You run in and gasp.

Dakota has knocked over the paint cans.

There is paint all over the floor.
There are paw prints everywhere.
And your beautiful white dog is now covered in paint.

Oh no.

So now what?

This is where we use SODAS.

S = Situation

What happened?

The dog knocked over the paint and made a huge mess.

Now ask yourself:

How do I feel?
What is the problem?
What needs to happen first?

Your first reaction might be to yell.

But if you scream at the dog, what might happen?

He could panic and run through even more paint—making an even bigger mess.

So the first step is to look at the situation calmly, even if you feel upset.

O = Options

Now it’s time to think of your choices.

What are some things you could do?

Here are a few possible options:

Put a leash on the dog and take him outside
Put lids back on the paint cans
Scream at the dog
Call your parents or get help from a neighbor or sibling
Spray the whole garage with a hose

Now ask yourself:

Which of these are actually good ideas?

Sometimes solving a problem means breaking it into smaller steps:

What should I do first?
What should I do second?
What should I definitely NOT do?

That’s smart thinking.

D = Disadvantages

Now think about the cons—the bad parts of each option.

For example:

Screaming at the dog is a bad idea because he may get scared and run.
Spraying the garage with a hose might make the paint mess even worse.
Dragging the dog through the paint could spread the mess even farther.

These are all disadvantages.

Not every option is a wise one—even if it feels fast.

A = Advantages

Now think about the pros—the good parts of your better options.

Some advantages might be:

Putting a leash on the dog helps contain the mess.
Taking him outside keeps paint from spreading farther.
Putting lids back on the cans prevents more spills.
Getting help may make cleanup easier.

Now you’re starting to think like a real problem solver.

S = Solution

So what is your best solution?

A wise solution might be:

Get the dog under control
Take him outside
Clean him off
Put him somewhere safe
Return to clean up the paint
Call for help if needed

That’s called solving the problem.

You didn’t just react—you thought it through.

And that is a huge skill.

Why practicing problem solving helps kids grow

The more kids practice thinking through situations, the better they get at handling real life.

Problem solving helps children learn to:

pause before reacting
make wise choices
stay calmer under pressure
think for themselves
avoid being easily influenced by others

That last one matters a lot.

Kids who learn how to think are less likely to be led astray, manipulated, or pressured into bad decisions. When children can stop and ask, “Is this true? Is this wise? Is this right?” they become stronger thinkers and wiser people.

How parents can use this in everyday homeschool life

The best part about this episode is that it doesn’t have to stay in the podcast player.

Parents can use the SODAS method in real life when kids are dealing with:

sibling conflict
forgotten chores
school frustration
friend drama
poor choices
emotional overreactions

You can even say:

“Let’s SODAS this.”

That turns problem solving into a shared family habit instead of just another lecture.

And honestly? That’s when learning sticks.

Listen to this episode with your kids

If you want a simple, memorable way to teach problem solving skills for kids, this episode is a fun place to start.

It’s practical.
It’s kid-friendly.
And it teaches a life skill your children will use far beyond homeschool.

Listen to: Teaching Kids Problem Solving ~ Episode 426

More homeschool life skills your kids need

If your family enjoys this kind of practical learning, be sure to explore more episodes on the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network designed to help families raise thoughtful, capable, and confident kids.

Please visit my website at MediaAngels.com and be sure to sign up for our monthly planners. We have new character planners each month with fun activities that you can do with your children and I think parents really appreciate the page with scenarios. I ask the children questions that they can act out or write their answers. They are open-ended. At the end of the month, the children can even earn a character award that is provided. After the month is over you can only get the planners by purchase on the Media Angels website.

Filed Under: Vintage Homeschool Moms Tagged With: Christian parenting, general homeschool, just for kids, parenting, podcast challenge, Podcasts for Kids, Vintage Homeschool moms

The 7-Day Just for Kids Podcast Challenge: Fun, Learning, and Character Growth!

December 19, 2024 by mediaangels 1 Comment

The 7-Day Just for Kids Podcast Challenge: Fun, Learning, and Character Growth!

Are you looking for a simple way to spark your child’s character growth and encourage their love of learning? The 7-Day Just for Kids Podcast Challenge is here to inspire them and help them take small steps toward big growth.

Felice Gerwitz, a mom, grandmother, and homeschool veteran, created this challenge with love and personal experience. It’s designed to engage young listeners with fun, faith-filled, and educational content. Whether your children are curious adventurers, budding thinkers, or just love a good story, this challenge is the perfect way to connect with them while filling their days with joy and purpose.

How Does the Challenge Work?

It’s simple! For the next seven days, your child will listen to a new podcast episode daily from the Just for Kids series. Each episode is short, engaging, and packed with lessons on character, creativity, and life skills.

One listener shared that her child began paying attention in an area they had struggled with because, “Felice said to!”

The Just for Kids Planner makes it easy to follow along. Your child can use it to jot down favorite episodes, take notes, or draw something inspired by what they’ve learned.

And parents, don’t miss out! Listen along with your children. These episodes are perfect for sparking meaningful conversations and shared learning moments.

Why Podcasts Are Great for Kids or How to Inspire Kids with podcasts

Podcasts encourage active listening and ignite the imagination. Unlike screens, they allow children to visualize stories and think deeply about what they hear. Each episode teaches values like perseverance, kindness, or creativity in a way that’s fun and relatable. This combination makes podcasts an ideal tool for learning and family bonding.

A Gift of Love from Felice

Felice Gerwitz created this challenge and planner out of her passion for teaching and inspiring children. As a mother and grandmother, she knows how important it is to find tools that educate and delight. This challenge reflects her dedication to equipping families with resources that build families up.

If you’re looking for more, explore the Character Planners from Media Angels. These tools work perfectly alongside the podcast series, teaching lessons in integrity, responsibility, and kindness.

Included in the Podcast Challenge for Kids & Planner

a single episode just for kids, every day; listen in order or mix and match
a simple chore chart for younger children
homeschool lesson tracker for older children

Take the Challenge Today!

Grab your kids, open the planner, and dive into the 7-Day Just for Kids Podcast Challenge! This isn’t just about listening—it’s about making memories, building character, and enjoying quality family time.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: homeschool podcast, just for kids, podcast challenge

Soldier Lessons

July 1, 2024 by mediaangels Leave a Comment

Soldier Lessons ~ Just For Kids ~ Episode 493 | Special Replay

What are soldier lessons? These are things we can learn from soldiers and apply to our lives. The military men and women are tough and become tough through training and the ideals of protecting others. They give of themselves for noble causes. In this JUST for Kids episode, we can learn from the men and women that serve our country.

This episode is brought to you by CTCMath.com – a wonderful math curriculum for all of your homeschool needs, or to brush up on new skills.

I want to welcome you to this podcast and encourage you to like this episode and share it with a friend, this helps us tremendously and in doing so, pays it forward.

Do you know a soldier?

Perhaps you have a family member or a neighbor, or maybe you live in a town that has a military base. Maybe you know what a soldier does, and maybe this is new information for you. In my family, my youngest son is in the Army and he is a 2nd Luietnent. I’ve watched him work very hard to get in shape and eat right. This is way before he was sent to training.

I think we can learn so much from soldiers and that is what this episode is all about, learning by watching others and using the useful information in your own life. Each branch of the military has a set of rules the soldiers follow, but most are very similar.

There are words like loyalty, honor, respect, duty, giving of yourself (selfless), courage, and integrity.

Do these words mean anything to you? In a family we do these things, we are loyal to our family and have respect for our parents and siblings, we have our duties, the things that are required of us, and we give of ourselves when we are asked to do things that are above what is expected. Having integrity means not cheating or stealing and doing what is right, these are also called morals. Courage may not be something that is used as much in families because you should feel safe in your own family. But maybe you might need courage if there is something you must stand up for, even yourself. We will get back to these traits in a minute.

Something remarkable that I’ve noticed about my own soldier son and his friends is that many are self-motivated.

What does this mean? It means they do the hard things because they are supposed to not because someone makes them. I watched my son fill a backpack with forty-five pounds of weight and walk and run until he could do at least five miles well. It turns out he had to do 12-14 miles or more rucks – that means walking and running with a heavy weight on your back. He said sometimes his pack weighed 100 lbs. He trained in water, in the mountains, and in the swamps and this prepares the soldiers for the different terrain they may experience.

What these young men do is train to be ready.

Are you ready? Ready for what? For your life? How are you training to be the best you can be? Many times we try to get away with doing the least amount of work, right? What if you are asked to clean up your room? Is it easier to pick up your clothes and put them away or is it easier to kick them under the bed for another time? What did you say? If you said kick them under the bed, that is a short-term solution – this means you will eventually have to do the work of getting those clothes out and taking care of them, so why not do it right away?

In your life, you can be the best you can be or the worse.

Who wants to be last or be a loser? No one. You might say you don’t care, but all of us care. What can we learn about life from a soldier? Soldiers must do the best they can or they will be cut out, fail their training, be sent to the end of the training to do it again, or worse get dropped. That means they will get jobs that no one else wants. If a soldier does the best they can they will be selected for important jobs because they have proved they can do it. Don’t you want to get the best jobs instead of the worse? If you show you can do the easy stuff you will. It takes practice. No one not even a soldier is great at a job the first time.

Let’s say you are not happy OR you may think no one cares about you so why should you try? The only person you can make care of is yourself. You should want to do the best you can because you can, not because of what you think others will say. That is being a soldier, the kind of soldier that puts integrity and honor first. Integrity is doing what is right and not cheating someone and trusting yourself to make good choices. Honor is carrying respecting others and serving others in a way that is right and just.

Write down the words loyalty, honor, respect, duty, giving of yourself (selfless), courage, and integrity.

Think about how you live your life and think about ways you can improve. All of us can get better and learn from others, not just kids but adults as well. How can you be more loyal? Show honor and respect within your family. How can you do your duty in a way that is correct and how can you give of yourself to your family and friends? What about courage and integrity? How can you use those in your daily life?

In the training that some soldiers go through they are sleep deprived and don’t have enough to eat.

Sleep deprivation means they are not allowed to sleep very much each day, and often work through the night. Sometimes they stay up all day and all night. Not having enough to eat is hard, it means the soldiers go hungry. Why does this happen? To make the soldiers stronger, and to show them that if they can withstand this type of hardship they can do anything. They keep going, they do not stop, they do what they are told, and they do it to the best of their ability. They are hungry. They are tired. They have to push beyond their limits. That makes them stronger.

Thankfully in your life, you can go to bed at a decent time, and no one makes you wake up to take a walk in the woods to do training, thankfully! In your life, you can eat three meals a day and often have snacks if you are hungry. Try to be like a soldier and don’t eat your snacks or dessert one day. How does that make you feel? If you can deny yourself a treat, you can deny yourself something else like doing the wrong thing. You may be tempted to sneak that cookie before mealtime when your mom tells you to wait or do something else that is not right. Showing yourself that you have the willpower (that is the power to go against the easy way or what you want to do) will make you a stronger person.

I hope this makes you think about the ways you can improve your life.

Can you make a plan to try one thing a day? One day try to be loyal, another respectful, try to do your chores or school work the best you can, another time be helpful to others and another has the courage to stand up for what is right and to have integrity in all that you do. Can you imagine if we all tried to live lives like this we would be so much stronger and better!

When people do not act the best it causes all of us to pay for it in some way. We lock our cars and our homes because we are worried someone might steal from us. We put our money in the bank for the same reason. People get hurt when others do not act honorable. But the best place to show that you can be the best is at your own home. If you can try these things without anyone knowing about it – and I am sure your brothers, sisters, and parents will notice. Just like being bad gets attention, being good and doing what is right does as well.

I pray that looking at the good qualities of a soldier that is to fight and protect us is very helpful to our own country. It is designed to keep us safe. Acting honorably in your own family will be helpful to all!

Filed Under: Vintage Homeschool Moms Tagged With: episodes for kids, just for kids

50 Summer Projects For Kids | Just for Kids Podcast

June 17, 2024 by mediaangels Leave a Comment

50 Summer Projects For Kids – Episode 431

There are so many fun ideas for summer, but what about 50 summer projects for kids? Summertime is a chance to learn new things, explore and have a great time, but it can also be easily wasted doing nothing. Here is a list of ideas to get you started.

Welcome to this Just for Kids episode!

Here is a list of my 50 top ideas for kids and they are not in any particular order, but it gives you a starting place to come up with ideas of your own. For example, anyone can read one book, but what about an entire series? Sure, this may take time if you are reading something like the Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew. But, it will take less time if you are reading Little House on the Prairie. Even if the book is for younger kids take a chance, especially if you have not read the series before.

Read a series of books.
Start a business. Think of things you’d like to do.
Manage money. See how much you can save.
Learn to cook, bake or create new recipes.
Learn a new skill.
Learn a new sport.
Learn to play a musical instrument.
Learn a new language.
Create an obstacle course.
Create something that flies.
Make something out of recyclables.
Learn to draw.
Write with your non-dominant hand.
Make a list of things you’d like to collect and start a collection.
Make a list of movies you’ve watched and the ones you want to watch.
Make a list of books you have read and the ones you want to read.
Make a new friend.
Help a neighbor or friend.
Each day say something nice to each member of your family.
Start a new habit, like fixing your bed.
Plan a trip for the family.
Plan a family event, like a game night.
Plan an entire month of fun activities. These can be simple.
Stage a play. Write, and produce it for others to act.
Write a short story.
Create a podcast. What would your show be about?
Create a scavenger hunt.
Learn about geocaching.
Go on a treasure hunt.
Organize pictures. On a phone, or computer.
Learn to take good pictures.
Learn to sew a button.
Write an mail a letter to a relative or a friend.
Learn to write a thank-you card.
Jobs – what do you think would be fun to have as a job.
Build something.
Create a fort.
Learn first aid.
Create a list of rules for different things.
Play a game using a different set of rules.
Create something new. Think about this.
Create an exercise routine.
Learn to eat healthy.
Grow something from a seed.
Start a garden.
Create a challenge with someone in your family.
Learn to play chess – or another game you don’t know.
Learn a new craft.
Create a kite.

As you can see some of these fun projects can take some time and others can be done easily. If you like some of these ideas, make a plan on when you will start to do them and write them in your calendar. Learning to set deadlines and goals is an important part of learning to accomplish and get things done! This also helps us to be creative and figure out ways to make things work. I hope one or many of this ideas help you.

You might also like these Rainy Day Summertime Activities.

Filed Under: Vintage Homeschool Moms Tagged With: homeschool, homeschooling, just for kids, summer, summer projects

Kids Mini Activity Planner

January 15, 2024 by mediaangels Leave a Comment

A Kids Mini Activity Planner from Media Angels. Now parents and their children can be working on those important spiritual goals together. This free download is just for kids!

Download the planner (don’t forget to confirm your subscription!)

And you can grab the parent’s planner, too!

Sign Up Here & Get Both the Parent & Kids Planners

A message to the kids about the Kids Mini Activity Planner

Hey, Kids-

Are you ready to be the best person you can be? It is a choice. It is a decision. Maybe you have never thought about growing closer to God in prayer. Or maybe you want to improve in character.

This planner will help you get started.

Have you ever thought about what you do well? How about something that is difficult or hard? These can be thoughtof as strengths and weaknesses.Some areas may be a real challenge. We all have character traits we need to work on or habits we’d like to break.

This planner will help you tackle a different area of your life each month. Our focus this month is on our spiritual growth. If you don’t like schedules try a routine. Take the time to be consistent each day.

Yes, it takes discipline and is not easy, but you be happier at the end.

I designed this planner to give you a chance to think about the most important goals. You can use this as a prayer journal with dividers in each sec/on or use a three-ring binder to contain all the pages in one place and use during the year.

If you don’t like an actvity you can do another. I hope you have fun!

To Parents: You can use this with your teens as well. What a delightul beginning to take control of our prayer life as our first step to becoming the best version of ourselves, as God designed.

~Blessing, Christina Moss

PS. If you love planners, don’t miss out on our special offer on the Homeschool Goals Planner.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: just for kids, kids activities, kids planners

Unruly Kids

July 4, 2022 by mediaangels Leave a Comment

Unruly Kids ~ Just For Kids Episode

Hey moms, grab the kids, unruly kids if you have any of those on hand. This is a Just For Kids episode of Vintage Homeschool Moms and we are going to tackle the issues of misbehavior and the logic behind getting along with others. So, bring your child along as you listen to my episode here

Visit my website at MediaAngels.com for books, a membership site, character planners, and more. I recommend the Truth Seekers Mystery Series, these three novels are an adventure, and mystery series that will keep you reading until the end.

Okay kids, here is the thing. (And yes, I say “thing” quite a bit.) We are going to talk about unruly kids – and what that means. It can mean many things, but for this podcast, I am going to define it as a kid, that is someone between the ages of five and sixteen – maybe, seventeen. And, if you are younger, that is great, you are welcome to listen.

So, a kid between five and sixteen who does things wrong, but not too terrible. Unruly can mean troublemaker – have you heard that word before? It is someone who likes to make trouble just because they think it is fun or they can get out of work if they do. It is a person who is loud when they should be quiet, or who enjoys (and laughs, even if it is inside) quietly when your brother or sister or friend gets in trouble and you don’t.

Misbehaving is not following the rules, and sometimes you might not know the rules, or sometimes the rules change.

So let me break this down for you, and answer these questions:

I laugh when other people get in trouble.
I like to make my brother or sister cry.
I like to make my brother or sister angry.
I like to get away with making trouble without getting caught.
I enjoy it when people look at me, even if that means I get in trouble.

Let’s stop there – can you answer these questions. If you need to rewind this audio you can, and think about this or write it on a piece of paper.

Now, let’s pretend that I asked your parents these same questions and they answer like this. (read and answer with a yes!

How would you feel if your mom, your dad, or caregiver, let’s say a grandparent or aunt or uncle laughs when you get in trouble, likes to make you cry, likes to make you angry, likes to get you in trouble, and not get caught doing it and likes to have people look at them. Would that be a good thing?

Unruly Kids – Scenario #1

How about this… It’s dinner time. When your mom asked you to set the table you said no, and then yelled that it was not fair and your brother should do it. You decided to throw a pillow at your brother and that made your mom yell at you and tell you to go to your room, which is what you wanted because that means you do not have to set the table and your brother does. At dinner, you get up, without asking anyone if that is okay, and you go to your room because you forgot something there. When you get back, your plate of food is on the floor under your chair. And, the dog is licking the rest of the food from the plate. How do you feel?

Probably not very good. You are probably angry, and rightly so because someone didn’t care about you getting to eat the good food on your plate. Someone didn’t care if the dog ate it instead. Someone didn’t care about what you thought or would feel. Did I forget anything? Is there something else you would feel?

**Has there ever been a time when you were selfish like that? Think about it.

So now let me ask you this – if your mom asked you to set the table and you said no, then you threw a pillow at your brother and got in trouble, how did she feel?

She is making your dinner because she cares about you and the family.
She asked you to help because she thinks you are responsible and can be trusted to carry plates, and other stuff to the table, and that is wonderful!
She felt sad that you did not care to help.
She had to stop what she was doing to discipline you – that is making you go to your room.

So – was it worth it?

I had a son who would get into trouble and when I asked him if it was worth getting in trouble he said yes. He was honest and that is good – but it also showed me that I had to change the way we did things in our home.

Here are the things I’d like your mom, dad, caregiver, grandparent, aunt, or uncle to know.

There is only one boss in a home and that is the adult.
If a child misbehaves and does something wrong, that does not get the child out of work.
If the child misbehaves you may want to consider the child being given some work. (My husband use to call it the work-duty punishment.) There are always toilets to clean, garbage to take out, and the garage to sweep out or clean.
The punishment should fit the crime. For the child who threw the pillow at the other brother, the punishment could be picking up the pillow, setting the table (the first thing that was asked), and doing the brother’s job – for example, if the brother was supposed to help clear the table.

Unruly Kids – Scenario #2

Here is the scene I want you to think about. You are outside playing with your brother and sister. You walk in and it should be dinner time. You do not smell any food cooking, and there is nothing going on in the kitchen. You go into the living room where you see your parents watching some grown-up movie – something you do not like. Your mom is laying on the couch and your dad is nearby with his feet up. They have plates with only crumbs left. Looks like they are already at dinner. Your mom says, “Can you get me something to drink?” which you do – and you and your siblings look at each other and think – “What is going on?” Then your parents ask you to wash their plates. They don’t say anything to you, and finally, you ask, “Where is dinner?”

Your mom hits mute on the TV pausing their show and looks at you with surprise. “Dinner?”

Your dad says, “Oh, dinner. We already ate, did you do the dishes?” Then he asks your mom to unpause the show.

How would you feel? You would probably be surprised, angry, or upset and shocked. Aren’t you happy that your parents don’t act this way?

**Has there ever been a time when you were selfish like that? Think about it.

The next time you argue over a game, or whose turn it is to do dishes, or do a bad job in cleaning up and leaving crumbs on a table, or refusing to help – think about this, what if your parents did the same thing?

Why don’t parents act like unruly kids?

If you want a peaceful home, one where you get along with your brothers, sisters, cousins, and friends, think about being helpful instead of being harmful. When you fight, when you do something that is wrong (pinch your sister’s arm when no one is looking or shoving someone aside,) how does that look? If you are an unruly kid and you are not corrected you may become an unruly adult. Recently a national event showed an adult accidentally nudging a child over with her elbow. I don’t think it was really on purpose, even though I am not a big fan of this lady, but it looked really, really bad on the replays.

Whatever we do often becomes a habit – if we practice a musical instrument or some type of sport we get better and better. If we practice bad behavior we get better at it too.

Do you want to be good at bad behavior? If you do, then I think you answered yes to #5 above – I enjoy it when people look at me, even if that means I get in trouble. If you need attention get it another way, get it because people are saying, “Oh. My. Goodness. William is so helpful to his mom, he is always asking if he can do something useful. or maybe, Alex is so awesome he brought in his mom’s bags from the car and not just his own.” Or “Did you see Ben, help his little brother Michael with his shoes, that was so wonderful.” Or maybe they said, “Olivia is the nicest sister to her little brother Christopher and they play so well together sharing their toys.” Don’t you want people to talk about you but in a good way?

Do you really want to be an unruly kid? If you said yes, you should listen to this podcast again, and again, and again until you can truly say, “No thank you, I’d rather enjoy my life, not make trouble for other people and have fun with my family.”

So, what do you think? I hope you enjoyed this podcast and it makes you think about how you can really be helpful like my two grandchildren, Emma and Samantha who are wonderful helpers to their mom.

Filed Under: Vintage Homeschool Moms Tagged With: just for kids, unruly kids, Vintage Homeschool moms

Teaching Kids Problem Solving

April 12, 2021 by mediaangels Leave a Comment

Teaching Kids Problem Solving ~ Episode 426

Maybe your kids think too much or maybe not enough. In this episode, Teaching Kids Problem Solving, Felice once again challenges kids to make wise decisions and weigh the pros and cons of rash decisions they can possibly make! Just For Kids Series!

Here we go! Another episode in the JUST for Kids Series of podcasts.

Has your mom or dad or another adult ever asked you, “What were you thinking?” If they have that is probably not a very good thing! When we think we can use our minds to figure out a right or wrong answer or to solve a problem. When we solve a problem what happens? We come up with a solution. We do this in school every day. We solve math problems we solve answers at the end of a chapter in a book, we solve for a mystery if we are reading a novel. Solving the problem is only half of the answer. What are you using to solve the problem?

Sometimes we use “What if” questions to solve a problem. This is part of thinking ahead or thinking for the future. It can also be used for looking at something in the past, for example, a past mistake. Is there something that you would like to change? What if you had done something differently?

Another way we think is by comparing and contrasting. How do we do this? Well, we look at the information and come up with all of the things that are the same and different. Sometimes we do this by looking at different aspects or angles. We see things from a different perspective depending on what the question is, and there are many questions that are asked when you are learning. This series of podcasts in the Just for Kids Series is a perfect example. Can you think of all the different ways we solve problems? It may be as easy as figuring out what piece of a puzzle fits to make a picture, or it can be something really complicated like how to fix an engine or computer. Many inventions start with someone trying to solve a problem and asking a what-if question.

There is an acronym for solutions that is called SODAS – this is an easy way to talk about problem-solving because each letter stands for something different.

S is for the situation
O is for options
D is for disadvantages
A is for advantages
S is for solutions

We are going to use this method to go through a problem-solving activity using a dog covered in paint. Yes, it gets even better. This happened on your watch and it is your fault. Right? How did this happen? If you are like most kids you probably act without thinking — but don’t worry! After this podcast, you will be an expert at figuring things out. So here is what I want you to do — I want you to download this PDF that is right on the show notes on the website so you can follow along with me.

Download Graphic Here: Making Choices and Problem Solving

If you are not near a computer or printer, imagine this…your mom and dad have been painting the rooms in the house and everything looks great. They stacked up the paint neatly in the corner of the garage, waiting for a chance to put it up high on the shelf. You have a lab and this dog is a handful. He is only about a year old and you are still working on training him. Let’s give our dog a name, let’s call him “Dakota.” Your parents went out to buy more paint and asked you to keep an eye on the dog. Your sister is next door at a friend’s house and the twins went with your mom and dad to the store. You turn your back for one minute to get a book to read, and when you look back the dog is gone. All of a sudden you hear a horrible noise. It sounds like a band decided to play a song, mostly off-key in the garage. In fact, it sounds like symbols. You know there is not a drum set in the garage and least of all symbols. ALl of this goes through your head in a split second as you wonder where the dog is and head to the garage to find out. You gasp! What do you see?

There is your beautiful white lab covered in paint, and what’s more, there is paint and dog tracks all over the floor. Yep, Dakota somehow managed to knock the cans over and not only did they spill all over but they spilled on him as well. So let’s stop here. You have this picture in your mind or you are looking at this picture on the screen of your computer or printed out.

Okay let’s stop here. We are going to look at this situation with our problem-solving SODAS toolbox. The first is the situation.

How do you feel? Are you upset? What should you do? Stop this audio here and think about this. If you want to go through each of the SODAS items before you come back you can.
So, what do you think, what did you do?

S is for Situation: What is your first reaction when you see something like this? Maybe it is to tell the dog to sit and stay – afterall, you’ve been working on this command and it usually works. Maybe you feel like this is not your problem but you still need to look at the situation and make a plan, and quick. A first reaction when you are upset is to yell at the dog. But what might happen if you do this? You might scare the dog and he will run and get more paint everywhere! So, while you are experiencing upset feelings, try to look at this issue, problem or situation, calmly! Yes, in this case, it would be difficult. I agree.

O is for Options: What are the options? These are the choices that you have– what are some of the things you can do to fix the problem or work out an answer? Maybe the problem is too big and you can’t handle it all at once. One thing you can do is break up the problem in chunks. For example, what would you do first, second, third? Even if the choice is easy—in this case, a clean dog and cleaned-up paint, you still need to get to the solution through solving the problem. If you have brothers or sisters you may want to do this activity with them and see what they would do. What makes the most sense.

Some of your options are:

1Put a leash on the dog, pull him through the paint, and get him sprayed off outside
Pick up the paint and put the lids on so more paint does not spill out.
Scream at the dog
Call your parents and ask them what to do. Get help quick from your sister next door or the neighbor.
Take a hose into the garage and just start spraying it is a mess anyway.

Once you look at your options the next question to ask is what do I do first. Out of this list put them in order one through five or cross off things that are a no.

D is for Disadvantages – A disadvantage is also called a con, something that is not a good idea or option. An advantage is also called a pro—or something that is a good idea or option. We call these pros and cons. Okay, so looking at your options what are the disadvantages and advantages or pros and cons? You can go through each one of your options. Looking at the solutions one through five we can see that screaming at the dog is a bad idea so I would put that in the disadvantage column – why is that a bad idea? Because the dog could knock off more paint and run away, besides screaming is never a good idea unless you are in trouble. 4. Calling your parents and getting help from your sister or neighbor is an advantage but not sure you have time so that is not a good solution. And, taking a hose and spraying the dog and the paint is a definite disadvantage because it will make more of a mess in your garage. If one of your options is to pull the dog by the collar through the paint what might happen? If you said he could track paint all over the place, or get paint on you? This would definitely be a disadvantage!

A is for Advantages: This is a pro and we determined that putting a leash on the dog so we can contain the mess is a pro, and spray the dog off outside. Also, putting the lids on the paint cans is good as well so that more paint does not spill. Getting help is an advantage but you do not have time. Getting the leash on the dog is the best answer without stepping in teh paint yourself as well as pulling the dog out by the collar if you can not get to the leash quickly enough.

S is for Solutions: What is your final solution what would you do? A solution is figuring out a problem, it is looking for an answer and solving the problem – so a solution is an answer to a problem after you problem-solve and then taking action to accomplish the answer or solution. In this case, you might leash the dog, take him outside and hose him off, wash the dog, and then dry him. Also, put him somewhere out of the way. Then, grab some trash bags and paper towels and place the lids on the paint and clean up the mess. During this time, you may have called for help. In fact, this might be number one on your list! In real life, you can’t look at a situation like the picture of this poor dog full of paint with paint cans all around and go through all of these steps – but you understand the process and that is what is important.

If you practice this with different scenarios – you can make some up or look for some pictures online to help you come up with ideas, you will be able to calmly think through solutions for the times that things do not work out as you planned. All you wanted to do is sit and read and your dog caused you a ton of work! Practicing helps us to be ready and prepared.

Just like you practice your math and your reading and your spelling you can practice thinking. Thinking is an important skill and why is that? Because if you think through solutions you will have a good idea of what you want to do, what you think is right and wrong. Many times people who do not think can be lead astray. What does this mean? They can be lied to or taken advantage of by others. If you can think for yourself and come up with your own ideas and answers when other people tell you things that may not be true, you can think through the answer for yourself. Is this right or wrong? Is this true or false? That is the big question!

Filed Under: Vintage Homeschool Moms Tagged With: just for kids, podcast challenge, Podcasts for Kids

Teaching Truth To Kids

February 15, 2021 by mediaangels Leave a Comment

Teaching Kids About Truth Episode 422

We all want our kids to tell the truth, and it is time that we focus on teaching truth. How do we do this? How do we teach our children to discern what is true in our toxic culture? Well gather the kids – this is another just for kids and teens this time, episode.

Please visit my website at MediaAngels.com and be sure to sign up for our monthly planners. We have new character planners each month, and this month it is on the topic of Tolerance. This planner has some fun activities that you can do with your children and I think parents really appreciate the page with scenarios. I ask the children questions that they can act out or write their answers. They are open-ended. At the end of the month, the children can even earn a character award that is provided. After the month is over you can only get the planners by purchase on the Media Angels website.

***

So what is truth?

Hey kids! I know your mom probably thinks this is a good podcast for you to listen to and I am sure you are thinking – “What is this lady talking about I already know what truth is…” and you know what? You probably do, but not only am I going to talk to you about truth, I am going to talk to you about lies and I am going to ask you a bunch of questions. I hope that you write these questions down and you use them to see if you can learn to be better about not only telling the truth but spotting lies when you are told lies by other people.

Teaching Truth Public Opinion

And I want to show you why truth is important and how twisting something just a little bit can really change the way people think about something. The example I am going to use here is climate. [In this episode, I am not going to go into Climate Change – because I already did one that you can listen to here.]

So, first I think it is important to care about our climate. It is important to be good stewards of our land and this earth. We don’t throw garbage out the window, do we? We put it in the trash. We do not pollute on purpose; we do our part. So, why am I talking about climate? What does that have to do with truth? Well, I want to walk you through the way a little lie can hurt us and make us think something that is not true.

Talk about climate began when I was in school. Pollution was bad in some cities, and people thought we should care for our environment. It was a good thing to learn to take care of our planet, so what did I learn that was bad? I learned that if we did not hurry up and do something in ten years, all the polar bears would be gone, and all the ice would melt in the Arctic and the Southpole. This was in the 1970s, and in the year 2021, we still have polar bears and icebergs. What did this lie do? It caused us to be afraid. I wrote many papers and did a big project on this topic. How do you think I feel now knowing the truth? Again, I don’t want to go into the climate aspect here because I want to focus on the lie – the lie caused me to fear. Scientists didn’t really know. It was a guess and not a very educated guess. They caused the kids in the 70s and beyond to fear.

The idea here is that we have to understand the motivation that goes into what people say. Why would people say this? What was the reason? That is something to talk to your parents about… why would people say something that is false? Why would people say things that cause kids to fear?

Let’s look at another example. The Green New Deal. The people who want the Green New Deal, for example, said the world would end in 12 years. The Green New Deal is six pages long, and you can read it for yourself on a Congressional website – if it is not there, look at the Congressional archives; they keep copies there. Later, this person said they were only kidding–especially when people pushed back and said this was not true. But why would someone say this? What is the motivation? Is a politician allowed to lie? Does it make it okay if they are just kidding?

Let’s dig a little further; what does this deal talk about? It talks about getting rid of all cows, getting rid of airplanes, getting rid of billionaires, and having a universal wage – that means all people make the same amount of money. What does that have to do with pollution? What does that have to do with saving the environment? If we get rid of airplanes, how would we travel? Train? Bus? Car? Again, what is the motivation – why would someone say something like this? Are people afraid? Yes, some people are, especially if you are in public schools, you hear a lot of information about climate change.

I heard that our world would not have polar bears in ten years in the 1970s and was afraid for our world. Kids today are being told it will be 12 years until our world ends. This is not the truth, this is not science, this is to cause you to fear.

What is truth? Some people think it has to do with how you feel about something. That is not right. Truth has to do with facts and reality – or what is real. Truth can not be subjective. Let’s talk about the word subjective. Subjective truth would be that truth is what you think it is. So, is it okay if I think it is true to take your money? Or to take something else that belongs to you? No, of course not – so that means subjective truth is not right.

What about lying for a greater cause? For example, when you ask your mother if they bought you something for your birthday and Christmas, and they say no, and then later you get what you asked for? Is it okay to lie about this? The bigger question here is whether it is right for you to set up your parents to lie by asking something because you can not wait to find out the answer. Think about this.

So, do you see that by using words, you can twist things and make them more than what they are? What does truth mean to you? Do you know? What is it that you believe in? A starting point is helpful. I know what I believe, and I believe that all truth comes from a Creator God. If God is the truth, then anything can be held up to the Ten Commandments or the Bible.

Can you imagine living in a world where absolute truth does not exist? What is truth? At the time of Jesus, Pontius Pilate raised this very question. As Jesus stood before him waiting to be tried for something he did not do, absolute truth did not exist in the world of Pilate — he felt he could do whatever he wanted if he had enough money, power, and control over the people. Pontius Pilate had truth standing right before him, and he could not recognize it. Even non-believers believe that Jesus was innocent when he was crucified. If you are a Christian, look up all of the verses that teach about truth in the Bible. There are some very strong Scripture verses about this and the sin of lying.

Little kids tend to lie. You can look at a little kid and watch them take a cookie, and there are crumbs all over the place and on their face. You can ask, “Did you take a cookie?” And the child will shake his head no and say they did not, even with the evidence all over their face. Why do people lie? There are many reasons, but probably the biggest is for fear of rejection or to keep from getting in trouble.

Think about this – why do you lie? What is the reason or motivation behind a lie? Have you thought about this before? I was in third grade, and I was in trouble with my mother, and she put me in my room. I was in my room screaming at the top of my lungs that I did. Not. Do. It! In fact, I was screaming this over and over again, and my throat began to get sore. It finally hit me — wait! I did do it, why am I screaming. I believe that was by the grace of God. I always prayed as a kid and felt I could talk to God. God showed me as I was pitching a fit-in time-out in my bedroom that I was guilty of sin. I later apologized to my parents, and they all forgave me. Has that ever happened to you?

If that happens to you, that means you are becoming wise, you are standing up for what is right, and you are just starting to see that there is truth in your heart, and your life will change for the better.

Or if you lie and get caught, you might say, “Sorry, I was kidding, or sorry, it was an accident.” If you do this, think about the politician who lied about the world ending in twelve years and later said, I was kidding. That is the same as saying, “Oops it was an accident.” When you really know, deep down in your heart, that it was not an accident or you were not kidding, but if you say it was, you can get away with not being punished. This is a lie. Who are you lying to? Well, your parents, but more importantly, you are lying to yourself.

What happens when you lie to yourself? You begin to see things with yourself in the center. If it is the truth, that means you are doing something to someone else, but when it is false, it is when someone is doing something to you. It is all about you–is this right? Do you know anyone who puts only themself first? How do you feel about this?

Can you recognize the truth? Do you know when someone is lying to you? How do you feel when someone lies to you? Think about this. Write these questions down, and really think. The next question is, when someone lies to you, what do you want to do? Do you want to call them out? Do you want to scream, “Liar?” What is the right way to handle it? I’m going to give you a hint here: screaming liar is not the right way.

I want you to take the next few weeks and listen to people talking and see if you can figure out if they are telling the truth or not. But here is what I want you to do — you must not tell a lie. If you can look at someone else and spot the truth, they can do the same thing to you–and you want to be the one telling the truth. If you see someone telling a lie, what will you do? It is best not to say anything unless it will hurt someone. For example, telling a little kid to stand on a high step stool that is wobbly to get down the snacks your mom hid up in the closet so you could tell your mom the truth that you were not the one who got the snacks down — this is not being truthful. Get it?

Kids, can I tell you a fun fact here? Your mom, your dad, your grandparents, your aunts and uncles — they were all your age at one time. They already lived their lives and know what you are up to. Sometimes, kids think parents or adults don’t get them and don’t understand. Oh, yes! We get you, and we remember what it was like to be a kid – and it was not always easy.

Truthfulness is hard; it takes work, and it is the most rewarding thing you will ever do. Truth means apologizing when you are wrong, and you tell a lie and realize this is not right. Truth makes us free, and it allows us to lead lives with no guilt because we have nothing to hide. I pray that you can live lives with nothing to hide!

Filed Under: Vintage Homeschool Moms Tagged With: just for kids, just for kids episode

Create a Homeschool Time Capsule ~ Episode 579

What Is a Homeschool Time Capsule?

Why Make a Time Capsule with Your Family?

Time Capsule Ideas

More Vintage Homeschool Moms Episodes for You to Enjoy

Teaching Kids Problem Solving Skills: A Fun Homeschool Life Skill

What are problem solving skills for kids?

Why problem solving matters in your homeschool

A simple method for teaching kids problem solving: SODAS

SODAS

Teaching kids to think through consequences

Just for Kids: Let’s Practice Problem Solving Together

“What were you thinking?”

The Dog and the Paint Problem

S = Situation

O = Options

Which of these are actually good ideas?

D = Disadvantages

A = Advantages

S = Solution

Why practicing problem solving helps kids grow

How parents can use this in everyday homeschool life

Listen to this episode with your kids

More homeschool life skills your kids need

The 7-Day Just for Kids Podcast Challenge: Fun, Learning, and Character Growth!

How Does the Challenge Work?

Why Podcasts Are Great for Kids or How to Inspire Kids with podcasts

A Gift of Love from Felice

Included in the Podcast Challenge for Kids & Planner

Take the Challenge Today!

Soldier Lessons ~ Just For Kids ~ Episode 493 | Special Replay

Do you know a soldier?

There are words like loyalty, honor, respect, duty, giving of yourself (selfless), courage, and integrity.

Something remarkable that I’ve noticed about my own soldier son and his friends is that many are self-motivated.

What these young men do is train to be ready.

In your life, you can be the best you can be or the worse.

Write down the words loyalty, honor, respect, duty, giving of yourself (selfless), courage, and integrity.

In the training that some soldiers go through they are sleep deprived and don’t have enough to eat.

I hope this makes you think about the ways you can improve your life.

50 Summer Projects For Kids – Episode 431

Welcome to this Just for Kids episode!

Sign Up Here & Get Both the Parent & Kids Planners

A message to the kids about the Kids Mini Activity Planner

Unruly Kids ~ Just For Kids Episode

So let me break this down for you, and answer these questions:

Unruly Kids – Scenario #1

Unruly Kids – Scenario #2

Teaching Kids Problem Solving ~ Episode 426

Teaching Kids About Truth Episode 422

Teaching Truth Public Opinion

Search