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Eight is Great
Countdown
by Melanie Day
These activities are especially for those who are
turning eight years old and are preparing to be baptized; however, you could
also do this if they are already eight, whether or not they’ve been
baptized. Plan this activity eight days prior to child’s baptism. All
activities are for the family to do together.
What to do: Print off activities. Cut
each day separately and tie up like a scroll. Put in a basket and number
each scroll. Make time, preferably the same time each day, to work on
specified activity together.
Desired Outcome: To prepare child for
baptism by helping them understand the importance of their decision and
understand what they are committing to do as a result.
To the Parent: Read through each activity before having child
make scrolls so that you can be prepared. Some days you will cook, do
activities together or there will be an object lesson. Make a list
beforehand so you know what to have and when you’ll need it.
Day 1:
Theme: Have you prayed about it?
Use this experience to teach your child that baptism is a very important
decision. Take an opportunity to share your testimony and baptism
experience with your child. Explain that this is an opportunity to not just
“think” they are doing the right thing….but to “know” they are doing the
right thing.
Pretzels are in the shape of praying arms, folded and tight. As a family
make “Prayer Pretzels”
Recipe for “Prayer Pretzels”
Ingredients:
• 2 loaves (16oz) frozen whole wheat bread dough, thawed
• 1 egg white
• 1 tsp water
• Coarse salt, optional
Directions:
1. Thaw dough in refrigerator overnight.
2. Roll into 24 balls (12 each loaf).
3. Roll into ropes and shape into pretzels by forming a knot and looping
ends through.
4. Place 1 inch apart on well greased cookie sheet.
5. Let stand 20 minutes.
6. Combine egg whites with water and brush on pretzels.
7. Sprinkle with salt and bake at 350F for 20 minutes.
Challenge: Take an opportunity together, as a family, to pray for (child).
Encourage child to pray on their own.
Day 2:
Theme: You’re on the right track!
Your life is like a road trip or journey. There are many, many roads in
your life to pick from, and God has given you the freedom to choose the way
you want to go. If you don’t know where you’re going, it doesn’t much
matter which road you take. However, Heavenly Father has showed us that
there is only one road that leads back to Him. It is clearly laid out, like
a map. If we do what He asks of us, we will have the opportunity to live
with Him forever. The roads in your journey through life are the choices
you have to make. God wants you to choose the straight and narrow road. On
this road the dangers are well marked, you can see way up ahead and you can
see God in front of you, guiding you and showing you the way. All the other
roads can be dangerous and filled with pot holes, they are curvy and it is
hard to see what lies up ahead on these roads. There are also many road
signs along the road you travel that show you the way and warn you of
dangers. It is up to you to pay attention to the signs and to obey them.
This represents the Holy Ghost. He will help us to know if we are staying
on the straight and narrow. What a wonderful blessing!!
ACTIVITY: Print off each of the signs and put them in
a brown paper bag. Pull out each one, one at a time. Discuss the
importance of that sign. What if it there weren’t a sign…what might happen?
See Word Document that contains all the signs....click here.
SUMMARY: When we are baptized, we are given a road map charts our course
back to Heavenly Father. If we follow the signs we are given, by our
prophets and leaders, we will stay safe and avoid many pitfalls. Keep your
eyes on the map. What is the map? The Scriptures. They tell you exactly
which way to go. When you are confirmed a member of the church, you are
blessed with another guide, the Holy Ghost. He will help you stay on
the straight and narrow. You need to be aware of the signs around you, to
pray continually, and stop and listen to God so that you aren't tempted to
take another road.
Day 3:
Theme: A New Birth
Easter is a time of new birth. When we are baptized we are given the
opportunity to be clean. Tell the story of Alma the Younger. Discuss with
your family what someone has to do to repent once they have been baptized.
Tell the story of Alma the Younger.
Day 4:
Theme: Sin washed away.
Make Repentance Cupcakes...white cupcakes with white cake mix. Frost with
chocolate frosting. The cupcakes are chocolate on the outside -- dark, like
sin. When we repent (or are baptized), we become like the inside of the
cupcakes -- pure and white.
Day 5:
Theme: Take upon us His name
Activity: Make slips of different colored paper and write the first names
of each family member. Then make additional slips of paper (the same color
this time) for the last name. Hide the papers, and help your family find
their own by telling them the color or colors they are looking for.
After everyone has found their name, talk about names
and why you chose them. Did you name your child after a relative or good
friend? Does your child’s name mean something special?
Point out that they each have a different first name but that they all have
the same last name. When we are baptized we take upon us Jesus’ name. We
need to do the right things to be ready for baptism and that we promise
Heavenly Father and Jesus to keep the commandments after baptism. This means
that we act in the way Jesus would have us act. When we do this we are
showing we love Jesus. Show your children the pictures of the commandments.
Let them discuss the ones they can identify, and explain the rest. Talk
about how they can keep each one.
* Read Related Scriptures Together: Mosiah 18:1-11, Mosiah 26: 18, 21-27, 3
Nephi 27:1-10
(Source: Adapted from Family Home Evening Resource Book, Family Home
Evening Lessons, 13: Baptism and the Name of Christ, 52)
Day 6:
Theme: Bearing Each Other’s Burdens
Place a wet paper towel so that two ends are secured between heavy objects.
(Experiment beforehand to see how well your set up will work.) Ask your
family to think of things that might be a burden to someone. When an answer
is given, let that person place a quarter or some other object in the center
of the wet paper towel. Keep going until the paper towel breaks or everyone
has a turn. If the paper towel breaks during the activity tell the children
that some burdens are so hard to bear that they can break a person. That is
why it is important for us to bear each others burdens. Start again with a
new paper towel.
When everyone has had a turn, go back and ask them how
they can help bear the burden that they had mentioned earlier. Let them take
a quarter off the paper towel after they give their ideas. Explain that
when we are baptized we are promising to help bear each other’s burdens.
What does that mean exactly??
Following are some examples of burdens:
(Ask) Someone has too much to do. How can you bear
their burden? – (Offer to help)
(Ask) Someone who is sick or has a disability that
makes it so they can't do what others can do: broken leg, headache, broken
arm, etc. How can you bear their burden? – (Pray that they get better, help
them carry things or get from place to place, help them do things they can't
do.)
(Ask) Someone has a broken bike or roller skates - How
can you bear their burden? – (lend them yours until they can get theirs
fixed, offer to help them fix it.)
(Ask) Someone is worried about a test - How can you
bear their burden? (Help them study)
(Ask) Someone is worried about standing in front of
the class. How can you bear their burden? – (Tell them about a time when you
were worried and you found out it wasn't so bad after all, pray with them
for strength and courage.)
(Ask) What is your sibling is afraid of the dark?
How you can bear their burden? (Comfort them, sing them a song, pray with
them, tell them about a time you were afraid, stay with them.)
(Ask) What if your friend is sad about something - How can you bear their
burden? – (say something sincere and nice, listen to them, pray for them,
ask what you can do to help, or show them that you love them.)
(Ask) What if your neighbor is having a hard time
reading - How can you bear their burden? – (help them learn how to read)
Possible Handout:
Click here.
(Source: Adapted from
www.daniellesplace.com)
Day 7:
Theme: Baptism by Immersion
Some churches baptize people by sprinkling water on their heads. Other
churches baptize people by pouring water on their heads. The correct way to
baptize people is by immersion. Explain what immersion is….going all the
way under the water.
ACTIVITY: Have two people in your family hold a string as shown. Tell
everyone to pretend that the string is the top of the water in a baptismal
font. Have everyone go under the string without touching it. (It might
also be a good opportunity to have child and person baptizing child practice
together…)
CHALLENGE: The baptism should be set for tomorrow. As a family, make a
commitment to fast together (possibly even extended family and/or close
friends) to allow your child the opportunity to gain a personal testimony of
baptism.
(Source: Adapted from “Teaching the Topics and Themes”, Published by The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1987)
Day 8:
Theme: Baptism Book
Have your child write down their Feelings about their baptism and all that
took place. Did they feel happy? Did they feel loved? Did they feel
tingly all over? Ask them questions to give them ideas of what is most
important to write down. Their journal entry will become something they can
always look back on. Memories are more accurate the closer they are to the
experience. (It is amazing how time washes away memories or
feelings….things you never thought possible to forget…so write it down!!)
* There are several Baptism Booklets available. There are some at
The Idea
Door (seven different booklet options) and many different ones commercially
from Deseret Book
or Seagull
Book and Tape. Or
you can make your own.
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This page was last updated:
November 16, 2006 |
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