Quick Tips: Pumpkins and Jesus

With Halloween just a few days away, author and speaker Crystal Bowman shares her ideas on talking to children about the holiday.

Quick Tips: Pumpkins and Jesus

Whether or not you choose to participate in

Halloween, your kids will be aware of the 

holiday. Our secular society loves this 

holiday because it means big sales for the 

stores. Costumes, candy, and eerie 

decorations fly off the shelves in October. 

 Is there a way we can tie Jesus into this 

somewhat demonic holiday? Yes! Let’s talk 

about pumpkins.

· Take your kids to pick out their own pumpkins from the grocery store or pumpkin patch, and bring the pumpkins home.

· Have a pumpkin carving party with your kids. As you help them scoop out the pulp and clean the inside, talk about how Jesus cleans us on the inside by forgiving our sins.

· Once the pumpkin is cleaned and carved with a happy face, place a candle inside and light the pumpkin. Just as the pumpkin glows from the light of a candle, our lives can glow with the light of Jesus. 

This mini-lesson about pumpkins and Jesus is 

told in my colorful board book My Happy 

Pumpkin by Zonderkidz.  No matter how dark 

the world is, Jesus is the light that always 

shines. 

Crystal is an educator, mother, grandmother, author and speaker. She has written over 75 books for children. Here are some of Crystal's books:

To find out more about Crystal, how she got started writing and to learn more about her books, visit her Facebook page, website or Amazon page

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Handling Grief
Sister Day
Make a Difference in the Life of a Child

Budget-Friendly Summer Ideas

Preparing a Child's Heart for Easter
Showing Kindness Every Day
Fresh Starts

Embrace the Season

Keeping Your Mind Strong

Getting Your Preteen to Read

Help for Clutterbugs
Keeping Christmas Simple But Meaningful
Healthy Heart Tips for Football Couch Potatoes
Having a Personal Quiet Time with God
Beating the Winter Blues
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Five Fresh Starts for Living
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Picture Book Month
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Quick Tips: Make a Difference in the Life of a Child

July is make a difference in the life of a child month, but really that should be our desire every month. Author and speaker Crystal Bowman shares her ideas.

Making a Difference in the Lives of Children

One of the ways we can make a difference in the lives of children is to spend time with them. And one of the best ways to spend time with children is by reading books that stimulate delightful discussions. Kids are full of questions, and those questions often arise during reading time. Since there are countless books to choose from, here are a few suggestions:

• ·        Choose books that are enjoyable to read so the experience is positive. If books are too long or boring, the child will lose interest.
• ·        Many of today’s toys are multisensory and interactive. Choose books that engage children and bring them into the text such a counting books or books that ask questions.
• ·        Choose books that help children learn more about God as a person. The more children learn about God’s character, the more comfortable they will be in pursuing a relationship with Him.
• ·        Choose books about animals and nature so children can see God’s love and care and in His creation.

Reading to a child is an education, spiritual, emotional and physical experience. If you want to make a difference in the lives of children, let them crawl on your lap and read a book together.

Here are some of Crystal's books:

To find out more about Crystal, how she got started writing and all about her books, visit her Facebook page, website or Amazon page

You also might want to check out these other quick tips:

Preparing a Child's Heart for Easter
Showing Kindness Every Day
Fresh Starts

Embrace the Season

Keeping Your Mind Strong

Getting Your Preteen to Read

Help for Clutterbugs
Keeping Christmas Simple But Meaningful
Healthy Heart Tips for Football Couch Potatoes
Having a Personal Quiet Time with God
Beating the Winter Blues
Friendships That Cross Boundaries
Five Fresh Starts for Living
Positive Parent Teacher Relationships
How to Make Your Words Matter
Gluten Free Eating
Picture Book Month
The Healing Power of Forgiveness

Quick Tips: Preparing a Child's Heart for Easter

Today author and speaker Crystal Bowman shares her tips for preparing a child's heart for Easter. Crystal is a mother, grandmother and the author of over 75 children's books, many of which have won awards.

Preparing Your Child’s Heart for Easter

When pictures of the Easter bunny decorate store windows, and Easter egg coloring kits are stacked on end caps, children know that Easter will soon be here. In our secular society, it can be challenging to help young minds understand and appreciate the true meaning of Easter. Here are a few tips for parents who desire to keep the celebration of Easter about Jesus.

· Choose one or two children’s books by Christian authors who tell the story of Jesus’s death and resurrection with kid-friendly language. Read the books at mealtime or bedtime, then talk about the story to make sure your children understand that Jesus is alive.

· In addition to sweet treats, add meaningful items to an Easter basket such as a small Bible story book, a devotional book, or stickers from a Christian bookstore.  

· Attend an Easter pageant as a family to allow children to experience the story of Easter through a dramatic presentation. 

Easter is the celebration of new life, new 

hope, and fullness of God’s love poured out 

through the blood of Jesus on the cross. So 

celebrate and share the message of Easter 

with the little ones God has placed in your 

life. 

You can learn more about Crystal and her books on her web page
You can order Crystal's books from amazon here
A complete list of her books is here. Why not add one to your child's Easter basket this year?

Other Quick Tips You Might Want to Read are:

Fresh Starts

Embrace the Season

Keeping Your Mind Strong

Getting Your Preteen to Read

Help for Clutterbugs
Keeping Christmas Simple But Meaningful
Healthy Heart Tips for Football Couch Potatoes
Having a Personal Quiet Time with God
Beating the Winter Blues
Friendships That Cross Boundaries
Five Fresh Starts for Living
Positive Parent Teacher Relationships
How to Make Your Words Matter
Gluten Free Eating
Picture Book Month
The Healing Power of Forgiveness