a-MAZE-ing what you find online

Hey guys

Thought we could do with a new post.

My latest discovery for something fun and wholesome for kids to do online was hiding in the 'Kidzone' section of Juniper Hill School's website (I was looking for Term Dates and got momentarily distracted - it's all very professional honest!)

Click here to go to Maze Race

Anyway, I've decided to turn my distractions into something productive for us all on Pause & Play:

This Maze Race game is fun (and slightly addictive!) and is a great example of how something perfectly ordinary can be used to prompt some spiritual reflection and discussion:

Kids use the arrow keys on the computer to control the green ball and move it to the flag before the red ball has a chance to get there (the computer is controlling the red ball).  You and your child could have fun trying to get to higher and higher levels or beat each other's personal best score.  As you do this, it is a great opportunity to reflect on how life can sometimes feel like a maze - every day we have to make choices and decisions, we have to decide what is a good thing to do and what is a bad thing, which is the right way and which is the wrong way.  In this game there is the added pressure that we are racing the red ball to the flag - in life there can be lots of outside pressures that stress us out too.  I found that if I wasn't careful, I would focus on what the red ball was doing instead of looking where I was going in the maze; that was a very easy way to lose - taking my eye off the ball literally!!  In life we have Jesus to help us choose the best way - we need to keep our eyes on him and not on the distractions around.

Perhaps you could do some 'wondering' with your child following the game, e.g.  I wonder what things have happened today/this week that have felt a bit like being in a maze?  I wonder what/who the red ball is in real life?  I wonder what the flag could be really, what are we racing towards?  It is good to allow your child to verbalise their wondering before imposing your own ideas, but remember to include your own thoughts in the conversation at an appropriate point too - it is great for children to know that it is not only them who face choices and confusion in life but that we are all journeying and having to make difficult decisions to try and follow Jesus every day.

Have an a-MAZE-ing playtime ;)

Searching for the Sacred in the Secular

A challenge to every Christian - we are to be in the world but not of the world - this challenge is presented particularly powerfully to our children.  They are presented every day with the choice to prioritise Jesus or compromise God's values in favour of popular trends; to fit in with friends and be 'cool' or to be purposefully counter-cultural.  With our society moving further and further from God's standards, following Jesus or following popular culture are most frequently mutually exclusive choices.  But how fantastic when we come across popular movies, songs, fiction books etc that promote biblical principles as well as being 'cool', when we can promote popular culture as something wholesome for our children.  So I challenge you all to be on the lookout for the sacred in the secular and when you spot God-themes in popular kids tv, films etc. post it here and lets make a big deal about promoting amongst our kids.

My first contribution is the aptly titled Disney Channel Movie 'Jump In' featuring a very young looking Corbin Bleu (of High School Musical fame).

This movie is all about a young boy whose Father is trying to force him into the manly sport of boxing (which is also a family tradition) when secretly the boy loves skipping!  Corbin Bleu's character has to overcome his dad's prejudices, taunting and bullying from kids at school, stereotypes about what boys and girls should do with their time and ultimately the challenge of breaking the mold, stepping out from the crowd and sharing his passion for Double Dutch Skipping with the world!  In doing this he helps out the girl next door who has been his secret best friend for years and the theme of loyalty is also explored.

Whilst it is slightly worrying that I enjoyed this movie so much as a 26 year old, I would thoroughly recommend it as a fantastic family film.  Watch it and post what you think :)