Just look at what else I found while shopping at Party City! I think these little guys are darling. As soon as I saw them, hanging next to the clown glasses, I was reminded of a game we used to play called "Musical Statues." This game calls on a child to strike a pose and then everyone else copies it and holds it while singing a song. I think these dolls are perfect for this game. An obvious advantage is for me to be able to choose the pose instead of the children. I see this as an advantage because some of the children can be really silly. It is kind of hard to invite a child to pose and then have to modify it.
Obviously I would have to be a little choosy about the songs. I wouldn't use these with songs that have a reverent message because the kids will likely still get a little silly. I admit they are a bit bright and kind of absurd looking. But I think they would work great for cheerful, upbeat songs like "Give Said the Little Stream: (CS-236) and "Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam" (CS-60) or "I Hope They Call Me on a Mission" (CS-169). The kids sometimes express boredom with some of these old favorites and some of these songs have developed actions and ways of singing that I don't care for. If their hands and bodies are in a pose that I choose, the children won't be bouncing up out of their seats when they sing the Sunbeam song or do a goofy dance while singing "Follow the Prophet!' I also would not have to use the whole bunch of them at once. I could just slip one into the pocket of my apron along with a song to sing or put one into my surprise sack.
I can see one more caution. In my experience, kids find it hard to stand on one leg. However tempted I might be to get creative, I have to make every position easily doable or I'll end up with kids on the floor. Believe me - my Primary presidency would not be proud.
But -I did a little informal market research this last Sunday. I asked three of the older boys and the Primary secretary what they thought. The boys thought that the "little kids" would be too irreverent to use them. The secretary agreed, but thought they would work great for an activity day. True, they really would be perfect for that. I didn't dare ask anyone else. If you read this post, would you please leave me a comment and tell me what you think? Is it because they are so bright and goofy looking? I am anxious for some feedback on this.
12 comments:
I think those are so cute and would definitely capture the kids attention. When I bring out something like that, that has potential to bring out too much silliness and irreverence, I preface it with telling them that we can do this activity as long as they do it reverently, but if anyone gets too silly I'll put it away. And then I praise them for doing it nicely or I say, I'm sorry we're being too silly, we'll have to put this away until a different time.
I might go see if my party city has these cute guys.
I think it all depends on how you have them posed, and how you present it. We should be teaching reverence, but kids need to move to learn, sometimes. I think my primary would enjoy this idea and I would enjoy picking the pose. I like the idea of an assigned song and figure in your pocket. Then it doesn't get picked with a reverent song.
Thanks for your ideas.
Kathleen, all I know is they make me smile! And I believe the Lord wants us to be happy, cheerful, and rays of sunshine... filled with praise and the spirit. I believe that you would present any activity you do with them with respect for the Father. Thanks for the photo, I may have to go get me one of those little guys to sit on my computer and smile down at me! Marion
Where in Park City did you get these? I am headed up to Salt Lake next week and I think they are so cute!!! These would be great for Do as I'm Doing, or Fun to Do. I might even put colored bands on them so that if I pulled one out of a bag children wearing that color would sing.
Oh I see, Party City, not Park City. How funny, see Utah is on my mind.
Nate says he thinks it's a great idea and he wishes that he was in your primary because they never let him do anything like that in priesthood.
I think they look like a lot of fun, in fact, I am going to keep my eye out for some! You are right, they would allow more control of movements and actions, and could even be secretly paired with songs without the kids knowing. My opinion, I don't think our JR primary would be too irreverent with these, in fact, I think they would really love it!
What a lovely blog you have! I appreciated your thoughts on reverence in previous posts... keep up the wonderful wonderful work!! This can help others out tremendously!
My thanks for the feedback so far! I appreciate each of your comments very much. :)
I think its great! Like you said, one leg might get a little wild, but there are plenty of poses you could do which would keep them somewhat stationary. Really, reverence is great, but that doesnt mean the kids cant have fun in primary. Fun is what makes them want to come, and in the branch some of those kids are going to need all the motivation to come they can get, and not just in primary either. If they can get the idea that church is not horrible, they might not fall away later in their church experience.
I think it sounds like a great idea. I agree with what's already been said. If you make it clear that this activity is conditional on the children's behavior than I think it would work great. I don't see anything wrong with the bright colors or the slightly silly nature of the little guys. The more emotionally involved you are in something the more you remember it. If the kids are having fun and maybe even giggling, it will stick better.
I love your ideas! I am sometimes surprised that the ideas I think will be too hard to pull off in Jr Primary end up being the favorites. Thank you for posting such wonderful, and practical ideas!! Melissa from Michigan
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