Monday, April 23, 2012

Manners FHE


What happens at FHE, stays at FHE.

Unless you blog about your FHEs...which I do, so here we go.


I asked Scarlett to lead us in singing "Kindness Begins With Me,"  but instead we got a rip-roaring rendition of John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt.  And that's pretty much how our night went:  high-energy all the way.  (We did eventually get to sing the song about kindness as Scarlett loves to lead and sing.)


I asked Guy to read any verse of scripture he wanted to us.  He started at Genesis 1 and just kept going.  Steve and I exchanged very satisfied looks as we watched Guy proudly reading scriptures to us on his own.


I used the lesson to review what constitutes "good manners."  Common courtesies like using an "inside voice," putting others' needs first, sharing, speaking kindly, showing gratitude.  

Since I didn't feel like doing the lesson I had planned, I was glad that I had my "back-up box" of FHE lessons to go to.  Years ago my mom was part of an FHE lesson exchange group.  She has passed on some of those prepared lessons to each of her children.  

The lesson on manners had little bad and good manners "people" on popsicle sticks with a little story to go along with it.  Very simple.  The kids enjoyed holding up each character and deciding if that person ever lives at OUR house.

We did some role playing of good manners in all sorts of situations such as what do you say when a friend knocks on your door and wants to play?  What do you say and do when they leave?  How do you act courteously at church?  What do you do when you finish a meal?  What if you accidentally step on someone else's foot or walk between two people who are having a conversation?  It's good to lay out the manners landscape for the kiddos every now and again, although this is something that we try to teach and model day in and day out.  

I absolutely do not love it when other people correct my children on their manners.  After all, pointing out the bad manners of others...is bad manners.  Don't they know that?  :)

I like manners.  While appropriate behavior varies from situation to situation and from country to country, it's best to remember the reason why we try to use good manners:  to show respect and kindness for others.  If we remember the reason why customary "good manners" exist, we'll always know what to do.

16 comments:

  1. Love this post! It reminded me of some crazy FHEs I had growing up and they are some of my favorite memories. I love the idea of a FHE back up box!

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  2. Manners are great. And love when people say your kids have great manners. Doing something right! lol We wrote letters to our far away families this week.  Pretty great.

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  3. I actually don't mind when other people correct my children. I'm trying to teach them good manners but often they listen to other people better than they do to me, so I look at it as reinforcement for me. I like the popsicle stick people - I might have to make some of my own.

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  4. I like good manners too and sometimes adults are very good at that. I think it was an awesome FHE. I especially loved the pictures and video. You have an adorable family that is being taught well by good parents.
    Blessings to you for the great example you are too many.

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  5. Jocelyn ChristensenTuesday, April 24, 2012

    I think displaying good behavior is more appropriate...unless you are a leader teacher or a good friend. Let ME do my job!

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  6. I love Scarlett's song, especially at the very end when she was going to start singing again and she got quieter.  High energy family home evenings remind me of our family prayers.  It is always a challenge to get the kids to kneel and then kneel quietly so we can start the prayer.  Once we finally get everyone ready, Clark always says, "Here we go".  Without fail, he begins saying the pledge of allegiance, which gets everyone rolling and we have to start all over getting everyone reverent again.  :)  At least the kids will always remember our family prayers...right?!

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  7. Jocelyn ChristensenTuesday, April 24, 2012

    ha ha, yes, I think you are righT!

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  8. wow that lesson is needed daily for all of us...good job!

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  9. Jocelyn ChristensenTuesday, April 24, 2012

    By the way, she was definitely full-force the first time she sang it.  I made her sing it again for my camera and she dialed it back about five notches!  :)

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  10. Jocelyn ChristensenTuesday, April 24, 2012

    I like that too!  All mothers need a little positive reinforcement now and then...KIDS DO TOO!  More than they need to be criticized! :)  (Especially when they are frankly too young to know any better!)  We're all learning!

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  11. That was a stirring rendition of John Jacob Jinglehimer Schmidt.

    Stirring!

    ;)

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  12. Jocelyn ChristensenTuesday, April 24, 2012

    You should've seen her the first time she sang it...even more "stirring!" :)

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  13. This post made me smile! I LOVE Scarlett's dress. 

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  14. I'd be interested to know what's in your "back up FHE box".  :)

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  15. Jocelyn ChristensenThursday, April 26, 2012

    That's the pajama's I made for the girls for Christmas.  I LOVE them in them...so snuggly!

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  16. Jocelyn ChristensenThursday, April 26, 2012

    Actually the back up FHE box is just a box of premade FHE files that my mom collected many years ago.  Each lesson has a ton of games and stuff for the kids...so it's easy to just grab something out of it quickly when you don't have anything prepared or you just need to switch for better/easier idea.

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