Awards

In our family, we do awards.  Every Sunday (well, sometimes we forget and that's OK), after Sunday dinner, we talk about who's been doing good things that week and we nominate people for which award we think they should get.  Then after we nominate people, we vote for who gets what award.

Here's the list of awards we do:

• OK Award (OK stands for Obedient Kid).  This is for a person who has been extra obedient and did what they were asked to do.  Eliza thinks we should change the name of this award to the 3D award for Do it quickly, Do it happily, Do it well (that's one of our family sayings) so we might change it but I think it should stay the OK award.
• Self Starter (SS) Award.  You get this award for doing good deeds that people didn't ask you to do - you just see something that needs to be done and do it. 
• BFF (Best Friends Forever) Award.  If you be extra nice to your brothers and sisters you can get this award.  It's called BFF because your brothers and sisters are your true friends that you'll have forever and ever.
• Neat as a Pin Award. This is for people who make their beds, clean up after themselves, keep their rooms clean and put their things away a lot.
• Super Friend Award. This award is for people who are being nice to other kids at school or friends in the neighborhood - like you could help another kid who's having a hard time with their math or if a kid is left out you could say, "hey, do you want to come and play this game with me - it'll be really fun" and then that kid will feel better.
• What Would Jesus Do.  If you're extra kind to anyone in your family or friends and think about doing what Jesus would do,  you can get this award.  You can talk nicely or do a secret service or be nice when someone is mean to you or be extra grateful about something.

If you get the award, you get to put it on your bedroom door all week.  If you share a room with your brother or sister, you should put it on the side of your door closest to your half of the room.  Sometimes you might share an award with someone you share a room with and then you can put it in the middle of the door.

I like awards because it makes you want to do good things and makes you excited when you get the awards.  You feel really glad when you can tell your family about what you've done that is great and you feel proud when have an award on your door.  Even the twins get really excited about awards.  Sometimes we nominate ourselves and sometimes we nominate each other.  I feel really good when someone nominates me for an award.

How to have fun without a TV or computer, but with sticks, an old shirt, and some duct tape

Me , Isaac, and my friend Drew (who lives next to us while he's on vacation) found some trees in the dry river behind our house. They were tall and shady, so we decided that that would be our clubhouse. We got some sticks and pretended that they were swords and javelins and spears. Drew had some knives, and, cutting away from ourselves, we sharpened the sticks. Then, we each got an old shirt and cut off the sleeves, and taped them together and used duct tape to make a design. We put the sleeves on a stick so that it could be our flag. Then, we got our shirts and put gray duct tape all over the front. This helped us for two reasons:
1. It helped us not get hurt from jumping through sticks and leaves.
2. It helps us stay cool because it reflects the sunlight.
Then, we got white duct tape and put our symbol on the front and back of the "armor".

We brought down some snacks and put them in a waterproof container, put that in a large cereal box along with a fold-up shovel and some tape, put a rope through a hole in the box, and lifted it up into a tree so that wild animals wouldn't get it. We each brought a jug of water in case we got thirsty, and we put a board on top of a hole so that we could hide things in it. I dug some steps into the dirt so that we could get down and up more easily. Here are some more pictures:

Working for stuff

In our family, we don't just get stuff. We have to earn it. I mean, we get food and clothes, but if we want something really special, we have to earn it.

I think that this is a great idea, because if we get everything we want all the time, we'll turn into spoiled brats, and when you're an adult, you wouldn't know how to earn stuff and really be in trouble. It's hard to wait and work hard and everything but after you work hard for something, it feels a lot better when you get it.

I've been saving up for a Lego Mindstorm for months, and I almost have enough to get it. I'll write another post when I get it.

Planning a Family Game/Movie Night

If your family needs something to do on a Friday or weekend, this is perfect to do. You can decide how long you'd like to stay up. Here is a list of fun movies and games you might like to try.

• 1 Hour: Watch a favorite half hour movie and then play a simple game such as Connect Four or Bingo challenging members of your family.
• 1 1/2 Hours: Watch a movie such as NeverEnding Story or Monsters Inc. and play a short game or just watch the movie!
• 2 Hours: Watch a movie such as Matilda or Free Willy and have time for a half an hour game.
• 3+ Hours: Watch Fly me to the Moon or Ant Bully and play a long game such as Chutes and Ladders. For an even longer game, play Monopoly or any family favorite.

Remember to ask your parents for permission to have a family game/movie night. Show them this list too. This gives you some fun family time and appropriate shows for children of all ages. Good luck with your success!

(If you end up doing this on a school night, make sure to stay under the 2 hour category or else you will be cranky. Make sure to thank your parents for letting you hold a family night.)

Car Trip Ideas

By The Power of Kids Team

Now we are going to tell you some ideas that you can do if you're on a car ride with your family and you're bored. Here are some fun family car games that you might want to try to keep everyone happy:

• ABC game, you can play this by saying where you're going and then you go around saying things that you'd bring (or never bring) on your trip. For example, you'd say "I'm going to Grandma's house and I'm going to bring an aardvark, a banana, cookies..." To make it more challenging, try saying everyone else's thing before you say your new one.
• ABC game II, look around outside your car and look for the letters of the alphabet from A-Z (on signs or on license plates). When the Loosli kids were coming to California, they saw a sign that said Zzyzx Road. If you pass that, it could help you a lot.
• The Perry kids bring stuffed animals or small toys to play with (make sure they're not messy or that could cause trouble). If you have siblings sitting in front of you or behind you, it is fun to make shows involving your toys.
• Bring a notebook to draw things you see, so you can remember everything important. If you have younger siblings, bring a coloring book and colored pencils.
• Go to Audible.com and get some great books to listen to.

Try some of these ideas and we hope they will work for you!

GOALS

by Grace

Right now our family is working on our goals. Each week we choose one goal we want to be better at like sports, reading, praying, and understanding scriptures. I like this program because at the end of each week you are great at your goal. In our school, we all do a program called 100 Mile Club. A lot of kids are going to 200, 300, and 400. It helps people run, jog, and walk every day. We are doing it next year and I know a lot of kids will run faster and faster. I wanted to be better at soccer so for a whole MONTH, I have been kicking the ball against the wall and now I can't stop. My brother, Ethan is working on reading a long book. Alia is working on reading all Fablehaven books before next Sunday and my mom, April is working on a website called Power Of Moms. I really like how are family is working on goals we want to be good at.

Bearing Your Testimony

By Alia

Bearing your testimony can be scary, especially if you've never done it before. If you feel like you should get up, do it. I felt really nervous but I was also excited. Once I got back, I felt really good and happy. Here are some ways to get yourself up to the podium.
1. Count backwards from 10 or even 3 when nobody is bearing their testomony (I started at 40)
2. Tell yourself that it will all be worth it
3. If you're really brave, stand up and walk up to the front

Make sure to write about it in your journal or in a notebook so you'll remember your first time bearing your testimony. You will be setting a good example to your siblings and to others too.

(P.S. If you don't know what it means to bear your testimony, here's a quick explanation: In our church on the first Sunday of each month, we get the chance to stand up in front of the congregation and share what we know is true about God and our church. You don't have to bear your testimony if you don't want to. I just wanted to share what it was like for me.)

Wondering List

Last summer, my family started a Wondering List. We sat down and made a list about all the things that we wanted to know. Then every day (or almost every day) we looked up the answer to one of our questions on YouTube. We still add things to our wondering list all the time!

Examples:

• How do baby carrots get made? (My mom thought they were really baby carrots that grow like that but my dad thought that they were big carrots cut up so they have rounded edges and stuff. Guess who was right.)
• How does electricity work?
• How do cars get made? (That was really cool. We watched a Mini Cooper get made!)
• How do you make cheese? (Twin's favorite)

Each day, we think of something we want to know. Then the look it up on YouTube. It's usually very interesting. It's cool to actually watch it, not just read it.

Blog Hacking

About a week ago, I did something really cool. I got into my mom's blog and wrote a post about her! She was really happy. Here's how I did it:

1. Go to mom/dad's computer
2. Go to http://www.blogger.com/
3. Click "New Post"
4. Type post about mom
5. Click "Publish Post"

Maybe this will work for you, too! Usually, their blog automatically signs them in if you're on their computer. If not, try signing them in by using their email for a user name and guess their password (sometimes it's obvious). Be sure to write something really nice!

Click here to see what I did!

make your family happy with treats

By Ashton

I think a great thing to do for your family is make treats for them.  Treats always make everyone happy!

I wanted to experiment with cooking, but my mom doubted me. She thought the chocolate filling in these would just sink into the rest of the batter but she finally let me do it, and she did not regret it!

Make these with your family!

Ashton's Banana Chocolate Oatmeal Cupcakes

Put the following in your cookie mixer:

½ cube softened butter

½ cup flax seed

1 egg

2-3 mashed ripe bananas

mix together

1 ½ cups white flour (or 1 cup of white and ½ c. of whole wheat)

1 c. sugar

½ tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

½ tsp ground cloves

2 c. oatmeal (quick)

mix together

In a small, microwavable bowl, put in ¼ cups of chocolate chips. Add about ½ tbsp milk. Cook in microwave for 30 sec and then mix it together to make thick chocolaty stuff. Get a cupcake pan. Put a paper cupcake cup in each hole. Put a couple spoonfuls of the batter in, then put a tsp of chocolate on that, then another tablespoon of batter on top of that. Repeat with each cupcake. 

Bake at 350 (325 for convection ovens) for 12-14 min. Don't overcook or they get dried out!  Makes 12 cupcakes.

** You can just make these as cookies instead and put spoonfuls of batter on a cookie sheet and put in chocolate chips instead of doing the chocolate filling.  Then you need to cook them for less time.

kids can be great teachers

By Isaac

This video shows my sister Eliza showing Oliver and Silas how to tie shoes.  Eliza's a really good teacher.  She's only seven but she can seriously teach better than a lot of grown ups.  Check it out.  Then think of things you could teach your little brothers or sisters to do.  You have to be really patient with little kids and sometimes if helps if you offer them a reward for listening to you.

Mommy and Daddy Dates

By Ashton

In my family, we do a tradition called "mommy/daddy dates." I just went on one. Mom took me to Lin's Market to get a cherry fritter. I probably get to go on one like once every two weeks.  A mom or dad date can be to almost anywhere (except probably the moon or something like that).  Usually my dates with my mom or dad are to somewhere they need to go anyway (like the grocery store or Target or Home Depot) but it's still awesome to have some time with parents with none of your brothers or sisters around to bug you and interrupt you all the time.  Sometimes I get to pick where I go.  We try to pick places to go to lunch or do fun stuff that we have a coupon for.  You (sometimes) get your parents buying you treats or little prizes.

Secret:  If they buy you something to eat, let your mom/dad have a bite. They might want to take you again!

Another secret:  If you answer your parent's questions with lots of information and be fun, they'll want to take you again and again!

praying

By Isaac

If you or your family ever needs help, you can pray.  The other day I couldn't find my watch so I prayed about it.  I still haven't found my my watch but I'll keep praying.  I bet I'll find it.

Plus you can have family prayers every morning. One time Oliver and Silas got out a huge butcher knife and tried to cut up some peaches.  We found them and we were amazed that they didn't get one scrape. It was totally a miracle.  I think they were safe because that morning, we had our family prayer and prayed to be safe that day.

My uncle Jonah was born way too early and the doctors said that he might not live.  My mom and all her family and friends prayed a ton that he would be OK.  It was a miracle because he was OK and he grew up to be a really huge strong guy!

You can pray anywhere like the bathroom or school or outside.  You can pray when you're sad or if you're about to fall off a cliff.  You can pray when you're happy and want to say thanks.  You can pray if you're struggling at school on a test (but God won't do the test for you - he'll just help you remember what you already worked hard to learn).  You can pray when you're sick to help you feel better.

I think it's really good to have certain times to pray too like before each meal and when you're going to bed and when you have family prayer in the morning.

one kid can make a big difference

By Isaac

If you do something good to someone, then they will probably feel like doing something nice to some other people.  It's like a domino effect.  This can also happen with bad things.  If you do something bad to someone, they'll be in a bad mood and they'll probably do something sort of bad to someone else and on like that.

I've seen this happen a lot.  For example, Oliver and Silas (my 5 year old twin brothers) were speaking kindly to each other and playing nicely with their toys and when I went in there and watched them, I started smiling.  When they saw me, they gave me a hug.  So then I went in and saw my mom and felt like giving her a hug and a kiss on the cheek.  Then she was in a good mood.

Another example, at school there's this one kid named Colson who sort of cries a lot about getting hurt (even just a tiny bit).  When we were playing soccer, everyone tried to team up him to leave him out and make him cry.  So I told Colson I'd be on a team with him.  Then Colson felt better and kept smiling the rest of the day and seeing him smile made me feel good and when Joseph was way behind on his work, I helped him finish.  Maybe Colson and Joseph went home and were nice to their families and the domino effect kept going.

We got a book from the library one time about this and I always think about that book now.  The book is called Ordinary Mary's Extraordinary Deed.  I just found out there's even a blog and a website about the book.  The blog is right here.  The website is right here and it has lots of good ideas and stories on it.  Check it out!

our first post

Our names are Ashton and Isaac. I'm Ashton and I'm 10 years old. My brother Isaac is 8. We have a sister named Eliza who's 7 and she'll help us with this sometimes. And we have twin brothers named Oliver and Silas who are 5 and they probably won't help with this blog because they're pretty young - but I guess they'll sort of help us because they're the ones we try out all our big brother ideas on before we post them here. We also have some great friends named Alia and Grace who will help us with this blog.

We thought of doing this blog because our mom runs this website called The Power of Moms (with Alia and Grace's mom, April). We think moms are great but we think kids are even more important than moms (j/k). But really, me and Isaac think kids can change the world by helping to make their families strong and being strong themselves.

So this website is going to have a bunch of cool ideas that kids can do to help make your family really great. Like we're going to tell you about some of our favorite family traditions and how we work hard to earn things that we want. Plus we'll tell you ideas on how to be a great big brother/sister and how to help your parents and make them them think you're awesome (then they'll want to buy you tons of stuff - well, maybe not, but it'll make them happy and happy parents are good things to have!).

Isaac and I will try to do posts a few times a week. Plus we've got our good friends Alia and Grace and lots of awesome cousins (almost 30 on my dad's side and like 20 on my mom's side) and other cool friends that we'll invite to do guest posts on here sometimes.

We want lots of kids' ideas on here. You can put a comment here or send us an email to powerofkidslp@gmail.com with your stories or ideas about:

• being a good example (to your friends or family)
• helping your parents
• doing good things for your school or your neighborhood or community
• how much fun it is to do stuff with your family
• getting your homework and chores done in a fun way
• getting along with your brothers and sisters
• doing well in school
• whatever else you think kids should know so they can help their family be great!