I’m so excited to keep the conversation going about “strength training” with your kids! It’s not easy, but with some intentional planning, I do believe we can look back on these years and celebrate how much we learned together.

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Remember, this parenting gig takes lots of grace and practice, but you and your kids can experience the joy of cultivating areas of growth together.

Using the spirit, mind and body categories, I’ve created a mini-versionof the Super Summer Challenge concept. There are enough for four separate kids on one page or you can use a page for each season of the coming year.

When my kids were younger, I came up with a few ideas and then let them choose the ones they seemed to understand and be interested in doing. This helped to get them to participate with the concept, because they had some idea of what they were doing and were more likely to be excited about try it out. As they’ve matured, I’m able to have a conversation to plan with them about what everyone would like to try and the areas of growth or strengthening they feel they need. I’m always pleasantly surprised to hear my kids’ ideas because they often reflect ones I hoped to direct them in already.

Remember, don’t get hung up on what activity fits in what category (spirit/mind/body), I don’t think it matters all that much. The win we are all looking for is to come up with simple, manageable areas of growth we want to see and the things we want to begin anew. I’m all about having an easy way to keep everyone accountable to track and celebrate growth.

Here are some ideas to spark your creativity by age group and category:

SPIRIT ages 3-6Attend VBS with a joyful heart/listen to a Bible CD or story

            ages 7-12Read a chapter of the Bible and write a verse/be able to share what they learned from the  Sunday lesson at church or the sermon

          ages 13-18Memorize a Psalm/serve at a charity or church once a week

MINDages 3-6Learn their ABC’s/Practice writing their first and last name

         ages 7-12Read a book at their level/work on their learned math fact

         ages 13-18Research and report on a topic they are curious to learn more about/tutor or mentor younger kids in a subject they enjoy

BODYages 3-6Try to learn hopscotch/Practice riding their scooter or bike

         ages 7-12  Run a mile or swim a lap/Attend a sport camp or practice their fav sport for 30 minutes a day

         ages 13-18 100 push-ups and sit-ups/ Teach a younger sibling or child they favorite sport

Tag @simplywholehearted on IG or FB when you plan, try or celebrate your strength training together.