How to help them reject fear and have a fruitastic school year

My sister recently asked for my thoughts on returning to school (from a teacher’s perspective) amid the Covid craziness. She’s right that there are so many differing views and that we’re exposed to all sorts of information that is radically varied.

So, here’s what I think.

The start of the school year is supposed to be exciting. Kids shop for supplies, organize their backpacks, choose first-day outfits, and wait anxiously for class assignments. Teachers plan welcome back activities, redecorate classrooms, and anxiously await student lists. It’s all just really fun. This year isn’t fun. At all.

Instead of focusing on the fun stuff, we’re focused on conflicts. We should wear masks; we shouldn’t wear masks. We should go back to school in a building; we should only learn virtually. Every day we’re treated to Facebook fights about the decisions our country, state, districts, and neighbors are making. It’s confusing and divisive…and it wears me out.

To be completely honest, kids don’t care about news or statistics or politics. They just know that things feel really different, they miss doing normal things in normal ways, and they’re worried about so much stuff they don’t understand. Me too.

Regardless of polarizing messages, here are 5 things that can grow some common ground:

1. Covid presents a threat that we really can’t ignore.
2. This pandemic will alter the way we will live for many years to come.
3. None of us wants to get Covid, or the flu, or cancer or any other thing that makes us (or those we care about) sick.
4. No decision school districts make about the school year will make everyone happy…can you imagine having to make these decisions? (They need our prayers and support, not our criticism.)
5. Kids desperately need to get back to some structure of learning so they will be prepared for the future.

Now for the 5 things I believe strongly, that others may see differently:

1. Students (especially young ones) need the physical presence of a teacher in order to receive necessary and meaningful feedback and to feel secure in their learning.
2. Adults have a responsibility to model responsible and respectful behavior…even when (especially when) we passionately disagree with one another. It doesn’t mean we stop advocating for what we believe in; it means we do it without being hateful or destructive.
3. We should refuse to live in fear of this or any other threat. I’m not suggesting we live in denial; just that we choose to focus on what we can control by making safe choices in all areas of life: wear a seatbelt, don’t text and drive, cover sneezes, stay home when sick, be informed, eat healthy, exercise, look both ways before crossing the street, lock the house and car, protect passwords, wear a mask when close to others, wash hands often….it’s a really long list that continues to grow. We simply have to reject fear and focus on the things we can control.
4. Regardless of what our school districts decide to do, teachers need to give students the best possible learning experience from someone who cares passionately about them – mind, body, and soul – and who refuses to politicize the process. At the same time, parents need to resist the urge to drag their kids into the mess of the brewing conflict, and to tell them every day that their job is to follow the rules and focus on learning.
5. The world has gone crazy – with extreme ideas and opinion on all sides of every issue – and the only constant we can depend on to bring peace and joy to our lives in the midst of the craziness is God’s Truth.

The good news is that we grandparents can help our grandkids navigate the craziness of it all by giving them Biblical tools for a successful school year. Even as our nation wrestles with violence, hatred, and a virus that fights to consume every aspect of our lives, we have the power to send the positive message that they will have a good year as they focus on what they can control…their own thoughts and actions.

In chapter five of Galatians, Paul warns us to stay away from the “acts of the flesh” that separate us from God, including hatred, discord, fits of rage, self-ambition, dissensions, and more. Sounds like today’s headlines! Then he contrasts such things with the idea of seeking the “fruit of the Spirit” which brings freedom and direction. Boy, do we need that!

…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Galatians 5:22-23

Ironically and fruitastically, there are nine “Fruits” of the Spirit – giving us one “Fruit” for each month of the school year. What a great way to keep our grandkids focused on positive, life-giving Truth all year long! The free download below include a coloring page and bookmark for each month of the year, verses to support each Fruit, and suggestions for how to use these resources to prepare your grandkids for a positive school year.

Here is a little glimpse into how we used the coloring pages and bookmarks to kick-off the year:

Our grandkids are just getting started on their school journeys, with one going into 2nd grade and two starting Kindergarten. The “Fruit of the Spirit” is a bit abstract for them and the littlest ones did get a bit wrestles as we had our discussion. But even though they don’t grasp the depth of it yet, we’re planting seeds and that’s all God asks us to do!

Tips for long distance & older grandkids

• Long Distance: For grandkids that live far from you, these conversations can be had on the phone or video chat. As you talk, show your grandchild that you are recording their ideas on the coloring page and bookmark and explain that you will send it all to them in the mail When they receive their package (and what kid doesn’t love to get mail!) they can color everything and take their bookmark to school.
• Older Grandkids: For your Middle & High School Grandkids (or even college students!) skip the coloring pages and simply give them a new bookmark each month. You can still have great conversations using the suggestions above…they’ll just be more sophisticated.

Time to get started! Click below to download this Fruitastic Bundle of Printables and then have so much fun preparing your grandkids for a Fruitastic School Year!

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