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Alternative uplifting primary/fhe lesson ideas for mixed belief family?

Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2020 10:16 am
by BriansThoughtMirror
Hi,
Since the crap hit the fan with the pandemic, my wife has been trying to do a primary lesson weekly with our 3 year old. I've been trying to be supportive, but it's made me think more about what they are actually teaching him in church. Up until this year, he was in Nursery, and I kind of let myself believe it's all harmless, but now he talks about King Benjamin and Nephi and other religious stuff fairly regularly (my favorite two recent ones: "Laman was courageous!" And, after reading a Halloween book, "Holy Ghost says, BOO!"). I'm fine with some of the morality, but I take issue with ideas of obedience, sin, and more things as I hear them.

I don't want to refute my wife's lessons. Mostly I want to expose him to uplifting ideas from other sources, and alternate positive ways of seeing the world and life. I'd also like to help him find some non-Mormon related heroes and role models, and give him some connection to some other kind of heritage. I'm a little at a loss, though, because I've been so Mormony my whole life that, even after pretty much leaving and a ten year long faith crisis, I still don't feel like I've figured out a truly positive way to exist in this world. Mostly, I've found the less I expose myself to religion, the less I worry about it... That's getting harder. (That's also why I haven't been around much lately.)

Do you have recommendations for positive, uplifting books, media, lesson ideas, or heck, ways to change my own life to be a better example of a functional, kind non-believer?

Re: Alternative uplifting primary/fhe lesson ideas for mixed belief family?

Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2020 12:50 pm
by Just This Guy
No books in particular, but try looking at secular Buddhism. Many of the teachings of Buddhism would work well for you. They are about managing the self for the betterment of the whole.

https://secularbuddhism.com/how-to-teac ... s-to-kids/

Re: Alternative uplifting primary/fhe lesson ideas for mixed belief family?

Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2020 4:32 pm
by glass shelf
Maybe do some research on what preschool teachers and school guidance counselors are teaching about growth mindset/resilience/good habits/kindness, etc. There are so many positive things and books to teach kids with. I don't have recommendations for 3yos because my kids are older, but searching on pinterest will probably give you a ton of book suggestions with accompanying activities.