Children – Ecumenical Stewardship Center

10Jun 2016 by Joe Tolton No Comments

Kids, Money & Values: Creative Ways to Teach Your Kids About Money

Patricia Schiff Estess and Irving Barocas, Betterway Books, 1994 It’s no surprise that Kids, Money & Values is still in print: it gives practical ideas and exercises for parents and other adults to use with children. Authors Estess and Barocas first present a developmental chart of usual interests, skills and abilities of children from preschool age to the early teens as they relate to arithmetic, money, property, and honesty issues. Next they invite readers to answer a quiz about their own goals for the children they have in mind. Each chapter presents a scenario, then discusses different options for adult response to the child. Topics range from parenting and passing on values, to earning, saving and investing; and from spending, sharing and caring, to making responsible choices. Allowances can help…

11Jun 2011 by Joe Tolton No Comments

Let the Children Give: Time, Talents, Love, and Money

Children, Giving, Resource Review

by Delia Halverson, Discipleship Resources, 2007, ISBN-13: 978-0881775013 With a special emphasis on very young children through children in grade six, this ten chapter book begins with a biblical and historical background of stewardship. Halverson states that “our task today is to bring back the understanding of stewardship that was prevalent in the early church, the understanding that all that we have belongs to God, and as stewards we must recognize the mission of God as dominant in our lives.” To help a congregation’s educators evaluate the approach this resource uses with stewardship, Halverson supplies practical ideas for weaving stewardship into the lesson plans and specific methods for practicing a lifestyle of stewardship. Recognizing that we all learn through varying experiences (i.e. Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences), several chapters are devoted to…

12Jun 2009 by Joe Tolton No Comments

Overturning the Tables: Consumerism, Children, and the Church

Children, Resource Review

by Julie Kinkaid (Toronto: United Church Publishing House, 2008; Available from United Church Resource Distribution: 1-800-288-7365) Julie Kinkaid’s passion about the effects of consumerism on children invites us to join Jesus in overturning the tables of the money changers. This much-needed book is a must-read for parents, grandparents, and educators in faith communities or secular settings. Kinkaid’s research is informative and practical, with examples relevant on both sides of the Canada-US border. The questions she raises will stimulate thoughtful personal reflection and lead to family discussions on values and meaning-making. This book will also be useful for parenting groups committed to mutual support in making life-giving choices. Review by Barbara Fullerton, stewardship development coordinator for The United Church of Canada

15Jun 2004 by Joe Tolton No Comments

The Giving Box: Create a Tradition of Giving with Your Children

Children, Giving, Resource Review

by Fred Rogers (Philadelphia/London: Running Press, 2000), ISBN: 0-762-40825-1, 95 pp., hardcover, $12.95US/18.75CDN) Review by Michael Meier, director for leadership development for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in Chicago, Illinois Fred Rogers of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood authored this attractive little book a few years before his death. The book opens with “Fred Rogers’ Message for Parents,” which is followed by a similar segment aimed at children. This is good stuff—basic reminders about giving and gratitude, modeling and encouragement. Rogers reminds parents to be aware of a child’s level of development and not to be too hasty to push giving habits on a child who is not ready for them. On the other hand, he also strongly encourages children and parents alike to stretch beyond the usual—to reach out generously…

16Jun 2002 by Joe Tolton No Comments

Growing Up Generous: Engaging Youth in Giving and Serving

Children, Giving, Leadership, Resource Review

by Eugene C. Roehlkepartain, Elanah Dalyah Naftali, and Laura Musegades (The Alban Institute, 2000), ISBN: 1-56699-238-9, 197 pp., $17.95US/$26CDN. Review by Michael Meier, director for leadership development with the Stewardship Team of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America's Division for Congregational Ministries and Giving's resource review editor This positive and encouraging study examines giving and serving in a broad range of Jewish and Christian traditions. It has several graphs and charts that help the reader visualize what is being described. It begins by discussing the importance of nurturing generosity as a way of life, particularly among young people during adolescence. It emphasizes that nurture is the responsibility of the whole congregation, not just youth workers, and deals directly with the opportunities and challenges of such work. Two significant chapters delve…

16Jun 2001 by Joe Tolton No Comments

Stu Bear: A Story about Stewardship for Young Children

Children, Resource Review, Stewardship

by Lynn Williamson Delgado, 1995, Presbyterian Church (USA), PDS 70370-95-207, 1-800-524-2612. Review by Rosemary Widmer, staff member of College Mennonite Church in Goshen, Indiana. A castaway bear, Stu Bear is buried at the bottom of a toy box in the church nursery. Some young children discover him there and rescue him from the dark corner of the box. They see the possibility for new life. Stu Bear endures much scrubbing and stitching, but is revived and is better than ever! Stu Bear is introduced to his church family as a bear who will learn about stewardship along with the congregation. An understanding of stewardship comes alive as Stu Bear visits the homes of children. One little girl knows that Jesus wants us to love everyone, so she gathers groceries with…