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We Choose Virtures

Affiliate links included. I became an affiliate for We Choose Virtues because I am totally in love with it.

I read an article once about nagging your kids. It was kind of a scientific thing and I can’t remember all of it, but basically it was about how when we are yelling and nagging at our kids for the 50 millionth time in a row, all they hear is the actual nagging, “Pick up your toys! Turn off the light! Do the dishes!”

In actuality, I don’t care about the toys, the lights or the dishes. What I care about is my kids obeying. What I really want them to know is, “You are part of the family. Your help around the house is a gift to us. Learning to focus on cleaning now will help you focus as an adult later.”

So, instead of hounding them on the actual chore or activity, we need to be nagging encouraging them on the heart issue. I don’t always remember to do this, but when I do, I can see such a difference in my kids’ attitude and mine towards them.

The main reason I don’t focus on the heart issue is because I don’t really know how to word it. You can’t pull out a Bible and say, “The Bible says to do the dishes!”

You know what has helped me and given me the tools, the words and direction? The We Choose Virtues program. I’ve written a full review about it, when we first started it as our morning devotion on our homeschool days. Now that we’ve been through all 13 virtues (and started them over this week), I can see how it helps me as a parent.

For example, when the kids are dancing around the dishwasher and using spatulas as swords; instead of turning around and yelling, “DO THE DISHES!”. I can easily say, “I need you to be diligent with the dishes. What does that mean?” They’ll respond, “I start fast, work hard and finish strong.” To which I can respond, “Are you working hard?” And then they (usually) start working hard.

Isn’t that a better conversation? A better lesson?

I would not have been able to have this conversation (even though I’m fairly well-versed in the Bible and in the character qualities I want for my kids) without the definitions, declarations and devotions from We Choose Virtues (how ’bout that alliteration, eh?).

Our virtue this week is,  “I am Helpful: I find things that need to be done and I do them.” HELLO. Isn’t this the kind of kid you want? The kind of employee? spouse? parent?

I could go on and on about We Choose Virtues. It’s like they chose all the verses from the Bible you want to instill in your kids, then made easy to remember declarations for each one. It is one of my favorite weapons in my arsenal. (Maybe tools in my toolbox would be a better description?)

 

We Choose Virtues Family Pack

This isn’t a homeschool/school virtues thing. They have an awesome Family Kit which includes:

Parenting Cards (which have the virtue definitions and the devotions/activities)
Flash Cards (smaller cards with the definitions–perfect for putting on the dinner table or on the fridge)
Virtue Poster (includes all the virtues and definitions–we have ours taped inside our pantry door for easy reference!)
Three Rules Poster (the three rules are 1)obey 2)be kind 3)be a helper. how awesome is that?!)
+ free downloads like coloring sheets, awards and a teacher’s guide.

If you’re a homeschooling family, there’s a homeschool kit that includes some extras. And if you just want the bare minimum, all you need is the Parenting Cards. 

We Choose Virtues

You will love using We Choose Virtues around your kitchen table or in your schoolroom!

ohamanda.com


Comments

  2. Self control is a biggie in our house! And of course the others sound great, too. I’d love to use this! Thanks for the chance to win!

  4. Contentment and kindness! That is our theme for this year; thinking of others before ourselves and being happy with what we have without wanting more.

  5. Definitely ‘perseverance’ ! My children seem to be going through an ‘I can’t’ stage. This week we’ve been working on Philippians 4:13 but any additional resources would be helpful!

  6. This is just the kind of change I feel like I need to lead right now with my kids…especially after a morning of complete resistance from my son in getting ready for school. I just got on the Internet to seek out resources and you read my mind with your post!

  10. Pick one? Oh, we could use all of them. But with three boys gentleness would be a good place to start!

  12. I definitely would like my kids to have all those virtues but self control is at the top of my 5 year old’s list (and probably my 2 year old too)!

  13. I’d say Obedience is at the top of my list! Having her respond after I ask her the first time and not the 3 or 4th (and after consequence threats) would be AMAZING! 🙂

  16. My three year old says we need to buy her one of ‘those’ for just about everything she sees on TV, or in the store, or at a friend’s house. I need help teaching her to be CONTENT.

  18. This looks like a great resource! We would start with the self control virtue- for both my daughters, and prob needed for the adults too lol!

  20. Would love to have this! I have been wondering how to work with these virtues in our home and this sounds like a wonderful resource. 🙂

  21. I would choose “helpful” and “obedient”! That’s what we are focusing on over at my house!

  22. Actually, since we have been living in Mexico for the past 6 months on missions, I have been truly trying to talk to my 4 year old about being content, about being content with what God gives us, because since we got here he has complained about not liking it here, not wanting to live here, wanting to go back to Ohio to the big house we had, etc, etc. It’s been tough on my heart, God is moving us soon to Dallas, and he’s been so excited, counting the weeks, whining and complaining and telling me everyday we need to move “now!” somehow I wish I could instill a love for Mexico in his heart, so he could appreciate part of his heritage too (he’s half mex) don’t know if that’s even possible at his age? I am afraid he will grow up not even wanting to visit! would this material help us on that? and can I find them in a Christian bookstore if I don’t win them? or what advice would you give me?

    Thanks!

  25. We need some kindness among siblings in this house! Love your website! Thanks for al the good stuff.

  26. The virtue my 2 year old needs reminded f the most is self-control. My 4 year is currently in his Feisty Fours stage and needs obedience drilled into him!
    Ooh, I hope I win!

  27. Haha my kids could really use improvement with every virtue! But if I had to pick just one it would probably be perseverant… Or self-control…..Or content…. Haha I would love to win this 🙂

  29. This looks like a great resource. I have been looking for something to use with my littles to end the grumbles. Thanks for the review, even if I do not win a freebie.

  36. These look great! Thanks for sharing. One that stands out to me is contentment and being happy with what we have instead of always wanting more.

  37. I’d like to encourage more helpfulness and patience in my children. I understand they are showing me what I show them so I’m working on changing myself also….some day we will figure it out 😉

  39. How to be Self-controlled in my daughter’s emotions is something we continue to work on. This looks like a great resource!

  40. I would say obedience and doing something the first time asked. I think that is the biggest struggle that my 3 year old has right now. Thanks for the opportunity to win 🙂

  41. SELF-CONTROL! SELF-CONTROL! SELF-CONTROL! My 2.5 year old would be more obedient, kind, and gentle if he would only practice self-control. I love these cards and would be OH so very grateful to win a set to work with him on all of these virtues! Thank you for this opportunity to win!

  47. Love these! Anything to get me and my 2 girls (2 1/2 and 10 months) focusing on Jesus more thoughout the day

Hi there!


I like to think of fun ways to lead my kids to Jesus and I like to share them with you. If you're new here, start here for some fun family-time ideas!

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