by Angie in Cleveland, OH

January - Spiritual Development
*Temple symbolism
*Enhancing your temple experience
*Special experiences (at temples around the world)
*How to answer non-members questions about the temple
Refreshments: temple mints/punch

February - Marriage & Family Relations
Mini Classes:
*Putting the romance back in your marriage
*Homemade valentines
*Pamper yourself (bath salts and massage)
Refreshments: Sugar cookies

March - OTHER
*Women of Kirtland Program
*Slide Show Presentation of Present “Women of Kirtland” (sisters in the ward)
*Formal Invitations
Formal Dinner: Lasagna, Caesar salad, breadsticks, favorite birthday
cakes

April - Literacy
Guest Speakers:
*Enhancing Personal Scripture Study
*Symbolism in the Scriptures
*Motivating Family Scripture Study
*Personal Application of the Scriptures
Refreshments: Root beer Floats

May - Homemaking Skills
Guest Speakers:
*Home Organization
*Family Work Charts/Making Work Fun for Kids
*Cleaning/Stain Removal,
*Uncluttering your home
Activity:
Spring Cleaning Swap (bring donations and swap items, donate anything leftover to charity)
Refreshments: Strawberry shortcake

June - Service
*Community Service Project
*Rainey Institute Urban Arts Center
*Wall and mural painting project
Refreshments: Cookies and brownies

July - Self-Reliance
Pioneer theme
* Shared Pioneer stories
Mini Classes:
Pioneer skills: quilting and Dutch oven cooking
Craft: pioneer hankie dolls
Refreshments: Dutch oven cobbler, chicken, and potatoes

August - Physical & Emotional Health
*Lesson on stress management

Activity:
*RS Shaker Heights Olympics: teams compete in 3 legged race, bean bag toss, water pass/fill the bucket, dribbling ball through cones, lifesaver pass
*Medal ribbons awarded for each team
Refreshments: potluck of nutritious dishes

September - Strengthening Relationships
*Visiting teaching conference/skit
*New sister introductions/spotlights
Formal Dinner: sweet-n-sour chicken, rice, green salad, rolls, hot
fudge brownie sundae

October - Personal Development & Education
*Developing talents and creativity
*Super Saturday Craft Day (9 craft projects)
*Demonstrations (homemade cards and Christmas candies)
*Quilt to tie for charity
Refreshments: Soup, rolls, & desserts

November - Cultural Arts
Guest Speakers:
*Family & Cultural Traditions
*How Traditions Tie Families Together
*Fun Traditions to do in Cleveland with your Family
*Amish Family Traditions (or traditions in your area)
Handout:
*Family Traditions from the Shaker Heights Ward (booklet of ideas to take home)
Refreshments: Tasty Traditional Family Recipes

December - OTHER
Annual Christmas Program & Wreath-making Party
*Musical/Spiritual Christmas Program (30-45 minutes)
*Assembling Fresh Pine Bough Wreaths/ Wreath-making Party (1 hour)
*Focus on missionary work and inviting non members
*Formal invitations (extras to invite non member friends)
Refreshments: wassail and cinnamon rolls

Children’s Class Assistants

By Alison B.

Thank you for helping with our Relief Society Children’s Class.

The Children’s class leader is__________________. Her telephone number is_____________________. Please call her if you have any questions.

*You will need to be in the nursery by_________________on Home, Family, and Personal Enrichment Night. You will need to be there until__________________.

*2 or more people are asked to serve in the children’s class at one time. You will be serving with____________________. Their telephone number is__________________.

*If you cannot serve that night it is expected that you will find your own replacement and notify the children’s class leader.

*A copy of the lesson and format will be given to you 2 weeks in advance. Please work with the other assistant to plan the evening for the children.

*Treats will be provided for you that night and for all other materials. Please coordinate with the children’s class leader.

*Suggested format-see previous item in newsletter.

Explanation:

Greeting and Playtime……Welcome children, learn names, opening prayer.

Teaching time……………….Short lesson previously prepared.

Artistic time…………………..Can be as simple as a coloring page.

Snack time……………………Don’t forget blessing on the food.

Music time……………………Singing, movement to music-see cc tape.

Playtime……………………….Relax!

Closing and Cleanup………Help children put toys away, closing prayer, and

dismissal to mother.

*Please bring child to mother in cases of tears, diaper needs, or any other needs that you cannot handle.

Again-thank you for helping with our children. You assistance is needed to help make our night a success.

(This worked very well for us - people were willing to help in the nursery as it was called at the time, I think because of all the planning that went on. )

Correlated Children’s Class Lessons

By Alison B.

1. Strengthening Families….We Can Pray As A Family…………………………………….pg 89

2. Spiritual Development…Heavenly Father and Jesus Gave Us the Scriptures….pg 135

3. Increasing Patience, Love, and Trust…I Can Love Others……………………………..pg 111

4. Balanced Lives…We Have A Living Prophet……………………………………………….pg 142

5. Temple Blessings…Families Can be Together Forever…………………… …………..pg 84

6. Friendship and Family Ties…I Love My Whole Family…………………………………..pg 81

7, Service….We Can All Help At Church………………………………………………………..pg 145

8. Self-Reliance…I Can Do Many Things……………… ………………………………………..pg 71

9. Personal and Family Development and Education…I Am A Child of God…………..pg 1

10. Sacrifice and Consecration….I Can Be Obedient…………………………………………pg 92

It is suggested that lesson materials plus a sheet of instructions be given to the children’s class assistants 2 weeks before the class time. 2 copies are needed.  The children’s class leader must be there early to set up the room, greet the assistants, and make sure everything is in order. This is her responsibility for the night. She also needs to check periodically during the night, and be there at closing and cleanup time.

Children’s Class

submitted by Alison B. in August, 2000

1st Counselor, Stake Relief Society Presidency, Denver, Colorado.

Something we were told at orientation in Salt Lake. We were all asking questions about how to make the children’s class work better. They took us to the handbook and told about the intent of this class for children.

They said it is not for all the children in the ward (Wow! Did this cause murmurs!) . Only for Single moms or sisters whose husbands are in school or at work. All other fathers were expected to stay home with their children and encourage their wives to attend Home, Family, and Personal Enrichment Meeting.

We have asked our Bishops to announce in Priesthood Meeting or Sacrament Meeting this very fact the week before Home, Family, and Personal Enrichment Meeting.

Hope this helps when we have wards with tons of children of all age groups and you have a hard time staffing the class. Maybe numbers will drop and more sisters will attend.

Relief Society Children’s Class Format

This is from my Feb-Mar 2000 newsletter - long

Purpose: To provide a safe, organized place where young children can develop an understanding and love for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, have positive experiences in a church setting, and grow feelings of self-worth while their mothers are attending Home, Family, and Personal Enrichment Meeting.

Sources: Scriptures, Primary 1 Manual and aids, and any nursery materials that have gone through correlation, such as previous nursery manuals.

Children: 18months-3 years usually. If class is routinely made up of children of all different ages, a separate class may be held of slightly older children. The oldest children may help as Children’s Class assistants.

A Suggested Format

Greeting and Playtime……………………..30 minutes

Teaching time…………………………………15 minutes

Artistic time…………………………………….20 minutes

Snack time……………………………………..20 minutes

Music time……………………………………..15 minutes

Playtime…………………………………………20 minutes

Closing and cleanup time…………………Rest of time

As you can see, this is a 2-plus hour block of time. The Children’s Class should also start and end with prayer. It is suggested that Children’s Class assistants attend 15 minutes before Home, Family, and Personal Enrichment Meeting starts and 15 minutes after.

The counselor over Home, Family, and Personal Enrichment oversees the children’s class leader and assistants. (After the Home, Family, and Personal Enrichment leader, this is the person I would work on calling. On that night-she is a lifesaver!)

Food: Snacks are needed during class time because this is such a large stretch of time for small children. This is part of the RS budget, although mothers may take turns bringing food for all children.

Assistants: May consist of sisters, YW, older Primary age children. If other than a sister, must have stake president approval.