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Our PP suggested getting bookmarks with a picture
and/or scripture about baptism which will go along with the 2000 theme.
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We have a very small primary so the cost of this idea
wasn't too much for our budget. We
gave each child a framed picture of Jesus with the children.
The theme this year was faith in Jesus Christ so we thought it was
a good year to give it. At
the end of each month we would have a member of the bishopric come a give
a little talk about the theme for the month and then call the birthday
children up and present the framed picture.
Also, I found a cute idea from someone on this
website not to long ago. This
year we are going to spotlight the birthday children each month...our
"stars". We will
get information from their parents in advance and at the first of each
month take a few minutes during opening exercises to spotlight the
children. For the gifts, we
are going to buy different things (pencils, stickers, book marks, etc.),
wrap them up and let the children choose out of the birthday gift box.
Hope it helps. Kim
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We were looking for a change from the old standbys
for handouts. I think we may
have found something that all the children will enjoy.
We are going to make bracelets that say WWJD? with beads added all along the sides. I went scouting for beads to get an idea of what the cost
would be and I found that there are two craft stores that actually sell
kits to make the WWJD? bracelets. They
make 18 bracelets and cost 4.99! That's
within our budget...we were just going to add more beads to them.
Sounded good to us and we think it goes along with the theme.
(Mari)
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I am the Primary Pres and on the Birthdays, we do
something for the teachers and the children. This year we gave them each a
CD with Christ's picture on one side and the song "If the Savior
Stood Beside Me" on the other. Put a string on to hang it up. On the shiny side is where we put the small picture of Christ
so when the children/teachers look at Christ they see themselves in the
shiny part. ---Jamy C.
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In our ward we sing to the kids who are having a
birthday and give them a bag of Skittles with a note and a little poem
(except fast Sunday). This
year we sing "I like my Birthdays" a lot so the kids don't
realize we are practicing for the program.
The kids seem to like the treats and it is easy, which is the key
word!!! ---Tina
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In our ward we do a spotlight on the birthday
child/teacher and the children try to guess whose birthday it is...then
they come to the front and we sing one of the fun birthday songs and they
also receive a bookmark (this year) that pertains to the baptism
theme...some years we have given out the article of faith cards, pencils
with the theme for primary on it...scripture pencils.... julie c
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We have a little goodie bag. Inside we have the
pamphlet of the talk that Pres. Benson gave several years ago "to the
children of the church" and we put in a primary pencil,an article of
Faith card,a balloon, an eraser, those kinds of little things. You can get
those kinds of little trinket things cheap at a party store ot Oriental
Trader. We're still really new so I just barely found out my teacher's
birthdays but I am planning on doing something for them too.
---Deborah
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On the first Sunday of the month, we visit all the
children who are having a birthday that month. We take a helium balloon
with a candy bar attached to it - and sing Happy Birthday to them. Then
Primary, we sing and give them a homemade Book of Mormon bookmark we have
laminated.
For the teachers, we ran off a copy of President
Hinckley's 10 Virtues, and framed it. We sing to the teachers in Primary,
and give them their gift. Hope
this helps! ---Gina
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We just sing to the children on the Sunday after
their birthday and give them a small package of candy to enjoy once they
get home. We give the adults
a big chocolate candy bar, all wrapped up so they can open a fun gift.
It isn't much but we like to spend our primary money on activities
instead of these things. ---Deanna
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We give the children a bookmark with the text: This
year I learned about keeping my baptism covenant, we give them a lollipop
with a card. For the teachers
we give them a card with a coupon to use for a substitute for a lesson.
They can use it when they need a Sunday off.
Sorry, hope you understand my english.
---Anneke
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We no longer give out candy for birthdays, how do you
justify giving candy to everyone except those that have a birthday that
falls on fast Sunday? We give
a birthday card and a scripture marking pencil, then we have a birthday
party once a month for all the children with birthdays in that month.
we invite the bishop who is a kid at heart! We serve cake and ice cream and they get to play with the
Bishop. During the winter
months we meet at the church for an hour and let the kids play in the gym
with the Bishop and his counselors. During
the warmer months we will meet at a park.
This has worked really well, the kids and the bishop enjoy the time
with each other. ---Debbie
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Sisters, I hate to throw water on your discussion of
how to celebrate the kids birthdays, but I need to mention that food
should not be given to the Primary children on Sundays at all. The handbook states on page 239:
"The only times food should be provided during Sunday Primary
is when it is included as a part of a lesson or as a snack for the
children in the nursery class."
So, as primary presidency members, we should not be
handing food or candy out to the kids. We need to set the example for the
teachers. We tell our
teachers we have been called to feed their spirits, not their tummies.
This isn't something new.
I learned this when I served in Primary about 10 years ago too.
Hope this helps, Lynne
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You're right about the candy idea! Plus we just don't
know who's toes we're stepping on-some parents don't want their children
having more sugar even if it is for a birthday.
Plus allergies etc...
At any rate, we've always tried to give a little
something that relates to that year's theme.
I've mentioned this one before but I know there are many who come
any go on this e-mail list. This
year with the Baptism theme, we made black necklaces with the WWJD?
initials on it made of pewter.
Meaning "What Would Jesus Do?"
They cost us 50 cents each to have made.
Craft stores had a cheaper version with the little baby white block
letters imprinted on them. Just
an idea....our kids love it! ---Mari
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We bring the teachers and the children up and they
get to pick a pencil out of a box that is wrapped like a present.
Then we sing to them. We
also have a picture of a big cake that is laminated and they get to put a
candle w/their name on the cake. At
the end of the year we celebrate everyone's b-day with cake.
---Tonya
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We have always tried to do something tied in with the
yearly Primary theme. This
year we made very nice, hard-laminated book marks with the child's name, a
picture of Christ being baptized, and the year's scripture.
We give it to the child after we sing to them in Primary.
Also, we do give something to our teachers.
Our secretary is in charge of this and does little bags of treats
that is stapled to a cute card of appreciation.
We deliver it to the teacher's home and it helps us to have
personal contact with them. ---Kristin
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This year we came up with 2 ideas--one for senior
primary and one for junior.
For junior primary we tied three crayons together
(red, yellow, blue) and attached a little card that has the song
"Primary Colors" with raffia to the crayons.
For senior primary we bought the Mormon ad postcards
(.50 cents for 8) and let the kids choose whichever one they like.
they really enjoy finding the one that means something special to
them. ---Mary
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We give out laminated mini Mormon ads.
We have done this last year and this one.
The kids love them. We
buy a sheet of 8 for .50 from the distribution center.
(There are 3 different sets.)
We get them laminated so they will last longer.
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We give a certificate for a free ice cream cone at a
local market for birthdays...
It is really cheap and the manager of the store is very
cooperative. ---Linda |
"Choose
you this day
whom ye will
serve
but for me
and my
house we will
serve the Lord "
