IV. CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
It is startling to consider all the negative influences that surround children today. Proverbs 22:6 tell us: “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” As Christian parents, we have a responsibility to begin teaching our children godliness and Biblical values at an early age. The Bright Beginnings character development curriculum is designed to teach the application of these values in a practical, fun and age-appropriate manner. A total of 36 different character values are presented, one per week. Because character training is often more “caught than taught,” it is important to look for opportunities to practice the quality you are reviewing, as well as identifying what that trait looks like in the lives of others. And remember, the best way to teach your child good character is to model it yourself!

V. HEALTH, SAFETY AND MANNERS
It is never too early to begin introducing children to the basic principles of good health, safety and manners. The Bright Beginnings health, safety and manners curriculum includes the following topical units: (1) good health habits – 12 weeks; (2) important safety practices – 11 weeks; and (3) proper personal behavior – 13 weeks. The bi-weekly lessons are designed to broaden the child’s understanding, as well as help him to apply rules, procedures and new information into his own life experiences. Much of the information presented in these sections is vital to a child’s healthy growth and development, both now and in the future. For maximum effectiveness, the principles should be reviewed at least yearly throughout the elementary school years, thus providing a good foundation on which to build as your child grows and matures.

VI. GOD’S WORLD
The Bright Beginnings God’s World curriculum is an activity-oriented science and social studies program that provides age appropriate Christian-based information on a variety of themes. God’s World is an appendix-subject, which means the lessons are located in the appendixes in Book 2. There are 36 topical units, arranged alphabetically, in appendix G. One unit is chosen weekly, and each topic is divided into four lessons (one for each day of the week). Being able to choose the topic allows the parent to present “Christmas” in December and “Spring” in the spring, regardless of when the program was started. Activities preceded by a * are suggested but optional, and parents may choose to do one or more of them. The supplies needed for the weekly theme are listed at the end of the unit. They are arranged by day-number (i.e. – 1. refers to supplies needed for Day 1), and supplies listed in parentheses are for suggested / optional activities. The books listed at the conclusion of each unit are merely suggestions of titles that may be used to compliment the topic studied. There are probably many others available at your local library. I have tried to list only books that will not be offensive to Christian parents in any way. However, it is a good practice to review any and all books before reading them to your child. Reading can be an enjoyable time of closeness between you and your child. It will also stimulate his imagination, improve listening and communication skills, and help him develop an appreciation for books and reading that can last a lifetime.

VII. MEMORY VERSE
Psalm 119:9,11 says: “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to Your word. I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.” As Christians, there is nothing to compare with the treasure of hiding God’s Word in our hearts! By providing a series of short, easy-to-learn scriptures (one per week), the Bright Beginnings memory verse curriculum encourages children to begin practicing the art of scripture memorization. Each verse is correlated with the character trait being studied that week, so your child will develop an understanding of what the verse means in addition to what it says. If your child has difficulty memorizing, continue to praise and encourage him for his efforts. Remember, extreme frustration can create a negative attitude toward the Word of God – so don’t push!

VIII. ART
It seems that most young children naturally delight in art. Drawing, painting, cutting, pasting, sculpting and construction activities are not only enjoyable, but provide excellent opportunities for learning. The Bright Beginnings art curriculum enables the child to improve coordination, develop small muscle skills, recognize colors and textures, develop creativity and learn to appreciate beauty. There are 72 lessons (2 per week) located in appendix A at the back of the book. Projects can be simplified or made more elaborate, depending on the child’s skill level and / or interest.

IX. MUSIC
Most parents would agree that it is nearly impossible for preschoolers to sit still for long! Singing and moving to music provides an excellent opportunity for children to move about freely, practice new skills, and feel good about the bodies that God has given them. With this in mind, the Bright Beginnings music curriculum emphasizes listening activities, singing songs, moving to music, doing finger plays, and making and playing musical instruments. There are 72 music lessons (2 per week) located in appendix M at the back of the book. All of the music and finger plays chosen for this section were designed to reinforce Christian values, as well as bring joy to the hearts of both the child and his Creator. For convenience, the words to the songs and motions to the finger plays are given with each lesson.

X. PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Daily opportunities for gross motor development are important for young children. Gross motor activities strengthen the large muscles of the body – the arms, legs and torso – and enable the child to develop mastery over his body. The Bright Beginnings physical education curriculum offers daily activities that incorporate ball skills (throwing, catching, etc.); body movement (walking backwards, skipping, etc.); coordination (walking on a curved line, balancing on one foot, etc.); gymnastics (rolls, headstands, etc.); aerobics (jumping jacks, running in place, etc.); and active games (hopscotch, obstacle course, etc.). Of the 144 lessons included in appendix P, approximately half are indoor activities and the other half primarily outdoor. Most of these activities can be either geared-up or geared-down depending on the child’s skill level and / or interest.

XI. FIELD TRIPS
A field trip can be as simple as a trip to the grocery store – or as elaborate as purchasing tickets to a ballet performance. Children love these excursions because they can actually see and experience things that they may have only heard about before. Field trips are best planned for non-school days when your child is alert and well rested, and it seems 2 to 4 trips per month is a reasonable schedule to adhere to. For your convenience, Bright Beginnings offers some suggested field trips that correspond with the topics discussed in God’s World. The list can be used as a guide to help you plan outings that are convenient, educational, and fun for you and your child. Also included is some helpful information on getting the most from your field trip.

XII. SNACKS
Although the inclusion of a snack-time in your daily schedule is optional, Bright Beginnings provides 144 different recipes and ideas (appendix S) that can make it an educational and rewarding experience. Because learning occurs during all phases of this activity, encourage your child to actively participate in the preparation, creation and clean up. Measuring ingredients will teach important mathematical concepts... spreading jam will develop motor skills... decorating a cookie will nurture creativity... and cleaning up will encourage independence and responsibility. So instead of simply going to the kitchen for something to eat – make snack-time a special time of fun and learning for you and your child!