Simmer Down...Idea #2

Have you ever noticed that when you try to do something fun, the kids go psycho?  I mean, here you are, trying to carry out your best laid plans and they are acting like it's Halloween, or Christmas Eve, or even worse...Easter.  Seriously!  What is the deal, people?!  For those of you that are nodding your head right now, this is an idea that works REALLY well, but I have to warn you in advance - you will either come across as serious but playful, or totally cruel and conniving.  It all depends on how you play it :)

Print a picture and cut it into 4 squares.  Here is one that I put together, just in case you don't want to have to find one.  It's a bird.  A song-bird.  OK, it doesn't matter what the picture is of, it could be a smiley face or a picture from the Gospel Art Kit.  Just pick a picture and cut it in 4.

Put the picture pieces all together on the chalkboard or bulletin board.  If you have a magnetic board, I would put some magnet strips on the back if I were you, but that's just me.  Here comes the scary part...

Tell the kids that you are going to do something really fun today.  Explain your game or activity, and then let them know that you will require their FULL attention and participation.  If things get out of hand, you are going to take down a piece of the picture.  If they lose all the pieces, then the game is over.

If it was me, I'd be super stealth about taking down the pieces.  I like them to be a little bit afraid of me...I'm pretty intimidating (ok, not really...)  I'd be all, "What is going on?  You're losing pieces and you don't even realize it!  You need to be WAAAAAAYYYYY better/quieter/reverenter so you don't lose any more!"  Then I would threaten them by really slowly reaching for the next piece and then looking over my shoulder with an "are you watching this?  It's awful!" kind of look on my face.  By the time you actually reach it, you'll here the ssshhh's coming from all over the room from kids that are desperately trying to be good!

So, yes - potentially quite formidable.  But actually quite adorable.

What happens if you run out of pieces?  1.  You can continue to sing the songs and they can earn the pieces back by singing their best.  2.  You just put the game away and tell them you'll try again next week, so they have a week to prepare to come to primary in reverence mode.

If you are having a reverence problem, try this out!  Let us all know how you played the game, and what works for you!
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Simmer Down...Idea #1

Every primary worker, regardless of the specific calling, has had the difficult task at some point of reigning in the terror that is child chatter.  This can be irritating, stressful, and sometimes overwhelming, especially if your primary group is gigantic.  Child chatter can be the result of sugar (think every single holiday), excitement (think every single holiday...again), hunger (think every possible church block), boredom (don't blame yourself), or rebellion (blame the parents - it ALL comes from the home!).  There are several different ways to shush the chatter and bring the kids back to your good graces.  Here is one idea for you, inspired by someone somewhere who posted this lovely little poem:

Touch your nose, touch your chin,
That's the way this game begins.
Touch your eyes, touch your knees,
Now both hands we all will squeeze.
Touch your hair, touch one ear,
Touch your two red lips right here.
Touch your elbows where they bend,
That's the way this touch game ends.
(If they touch both elbows, they will end with their arms folded.)

FANTASTIC!!  What a brilliant way to get the kids' bodies moving and brains engaged, all with a little reverent twist.  It's all about tricking them into being quiet!  I made this set of visuals to help those of us that would end up twisting up all the words and end up with pretzel children.  Easy enough - just print out the following PDF's:

Visuals
Words

Cut out the words and paste them to the back of the corresponding visual.  You can put them on popsicle sticks like I did, or just leave them as circles; whatever is easier for you.

Try it!  It's fun!

And reverent!!!
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