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You are here: Home / Bible activities / Soft Words

Soft Words

December 24, 2015 by Maureen Spell 22 Comments

Sometimes we know something but we don’t do it. For instance, we know we should speak kindly to each other, but in reality, our tones often don’t reflect kindness. I came up with a visual reminder to help our family remember to use “soft” words.

Speaking Kindly To Each Other

Using Kind Words and Tone

Yesterday I was reading My ABC Bible Verses by Susan Hunt with my 3yr. old. The verse of the day was “A soft answer turns away wrath. Proverbs 15:1”.

We sang the verse a couple of times to the tune of “Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush”

A soft answer turns away wrath
turns away wrath
turns away wrath.
A soft answer turns away wrath
Proverbs 15:1

Then I decided that we should try to illustrate the verse.

 

 

Now when we look at our picture we made, we sing the song while pointing to the words. She enjoyed making her own Bible verse page.

Well wouldn’t you know it, that while we were working on this project I could hear my older kids not using nice tones with each other, blaming and teasing. This is starting to be a bad habit around here. So, since that verse was fresh in my mind, I thought that we should apply it to our family life.

I found an old plastic jar and created a cute label using digital scrapbooking supplies. I used spray adhesive to glue it onto the jar.

The picture above is what I hope our jar looks like at the end of the week. I placed all the colored pom poms (soft words/soft answers) in a container next to the jar. Then I encouraged all the kids to be listening for when one of their siblings used soft words/soft answer when talking with each other. This meant instead of automatically using an accusing tone with each other, or an annoyed tone, that they used a peaceful, gentle tone. Instead of blaming and accusing right away, that they took the time to talk it out nicely to find out all the facts first. If they or their siblings were trying, then they could add a colored pom pom into the jar. They could even catch me trying to use soft answers too. I’m praying that this exercise will help all of us, mom and dad too, realize how we are relating with each other with our words. That we will be more aware of the tone we use, the attitude behind our words and that our conversations with each other will be more loving.

One of my readers also suggested:

Thanks! Your pom poms in a jar gave me an idea! I am working on an angry words lesson and was looking for a way to do an object lesson on Prov. 15:1. After seeing the pom poms, I decided to have the kids drop marbles on a cookie sheet to illustrate what harsh words do and then to drop pom poms on the cookie sheet to illustrate a gentle answer.

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Filed Under: Bible activities, crafts, PreK-K Tagged With: Bible, character, toddler time

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Comments

  1. K-tribe says

    April 28, 2010 at 8:59 am

    Cute! What a great idea to put the verse on the jar of the pom poms. I am always looking for applicable ways to apply scripture in a way children can understand. Thanks!!

    Reply
  2. Isabel says

    April 28, 2010 at 9:39 am

    Great idea. We're reading the same book — love this! 🙂

    Reply
  3. Wonder Mom says

    April 28, 2010 at 10:15 am

    We NEED this in our family- not just for the kiddos, but for me too! I do believe I will get on making one- IMMEDIATELY!

    What a great, ENCOURAGING idea!

    Reply
  4. Rusheika says

    April 28, 2010 at 7:58 pm

    thats a great idea… we are having issues with this as well… even me.. my patience is wearing thin as my belly expands! I think we will have to borrow this idea.

    Reply
  5. Confessions Of A Homeschooler says

    April 29, 2010 at 1:10 am

    That's an awesome idea! We could use a soft jar over here!

    Reply
  6. got2havefaith says

    April 29, 2010 at 4:06 pm

    I love this idea! Who of us couldn't use a soft jar in their life? I just finished making my soft jar…now to get the pom poms and talk to my girls. Thanks for the idea. Love your blog so much.

    Reply
  7. Mark and Wendy says

    April 30, 2010 at 11:07 am

    Love this-and will definitely make one of these this weekend! That's a big issue around here, probably b/c it's a big issue for MOM…sad how it transfers right over to them. Thanks for the practical encouragement! I'm going to link this up!

    Reply
  8. Jeni says

    May 1, 2010 at 11:38 am

    What a great idea! I might try something like this with my 3yo; she gets pretty disrespectful sometimes.

    Reply
  9. Anonymous says

    May 2, 2010 at 6:31 am

    What a wonderful, encouraging idea! I'm off to make our family's "soft Jar". Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  10. Janna says

    May 2, 2010 at 4:27 pm

    Great Project. I was just talking about this verse this week:)

    Reply
  11. Sara says

    May 4, 2010 at 3:44 pm

    What a great idea! I'm going to try a figure a way to work this or something similar with my girls (4 on Friday and 2).

    Reply
  12. Nicole says

    May 5, 2010 at 6:00 pm

    Very creative. I'll be doing this lesson also. We all need this around here. I love the idea of the pom pom in a jar. Very visual which is good for the kiddos. (who am I kidding…it's good for me too!)
    Nicole

    Reply
  13. oh amanda {impress your kids} says

    May 20, 2010 at 1:12 pm

    Love it! We actually linked to you a few weeks ago–such a great idea!

    a

    Reply
  14. L2L says

    June 9, 2010 at 4:32 am

    Hopped over from Mama Jen and liking what I see, will have to stick around and check things out!!!!

    Reply
  15. Michelle, Muffin Tin Mom says

    August 28, 2011 at 6:58 pm

    I just love this idea! Going to start using it right away!

    Reply
  16. S Club Mama says

    August 28, 2011 at 8:56 pm

    I need to make myself a jar! Wonderful.

    Reply
  17. Tammie jones says

    September 6, 2012 at 4:30 pm

    Thanks! Your pom poms in a jar gave me an idea! I am working on an angry words lesson and was looking for a way to do an object lesson on Prov. 15:1. After seeing the pom poms, i decided to have the kids drop marbles on a cookie sheet to illustrate what harsh words do to harsh words and then to drop pom poms on the cookie sheet to illustrate a gentle answer.

    Reply
    • Maureen says

      September 7, 2012 at 6:20 pm

      That’s a great visual lesson! I love it!

      Reply
  18. Rebecca says

    July 17, 2013 at 10:32 pm

    I love this idea, I know tempers are running short in our house with the heat. I’m off to look at that book and see what I have around the house to use to do this, or what I have to have hubby pick up from the store.

    Love the idea Tammie of the marbles vs pom poms too!

    Do you have a goal or a reward planned for when you fill the jar? That is one thing I can think of perhaps that might give an incentive to my kids. Are you keeping the pom poms in there when angry words come out or are you taking one out then? Just curious.

    Thanks!

    Reply
  19. Andrea says

    August 21, 2013 at 9:05 am

    This is great! I just found it via Pinterest. I love all your ideas for this verse. Hoping to do them today! Thanks so much!

    Reply
  20. Meaghan says

    November 24, 2014 at 9:09 am

    Oh I’m so happy this idea came across my newsfeed on FB today. I’ve been working on polite and kind words with my boys. This will be a great visual reminder. I think we’ll celebrate when the jar us full.

    Reply
  21. Sabrina says

    January 1, 2016 at 11:11 am

    We so desperately need this in our home right now….this mama too! 😉

    Reply

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