Auto-reliance

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As your YW are headed back to school and the days are still long, it's a good time to have a class on auto-safety.  These can be literally life-saving skills.  Make your YW aware of the dangers of the road and the lures of predators.  What do you do if someone bumps into your car and wants you to get out?  Where do you pull over on a busy freeway?  What do you do if you are stranded in a car in the cold?  What to do if there is an earthquake/tornado/etc.?  How do I jump start my car?  Do I even have jumper cables?  Where should I park when I get out of class late in the evening?  Teach them to trust their instincts and the promptings of the Holy Ghost.  (Better to be embarrassed than a victim.) Tell your girls to never let their gas tank get below 1/4 of a tank of gas!

For fun, have them bring a cute box, backpack, or old, favorite handbag that they no longer use and put together an emergency kit for the car with some basic tools and snacks.  Don't forget to add water!  As leaders, we can help them have a sense of self-reliance and help be prepared for unexpected circumstances.

Some basic ideas for your car kit:

Water
Granola bars/trail mix/dried fruit etc.
Basic first-aid kit
A couple of large trash bags
Flashlight (Batteries)
Pen/Paper
Kleenex/Paper towels
Wipes
Feminine items
Duct tape
Scissors
Whistle
Chapstick
Hand sanitizer


Also consider:

Pocket knife
Flares (and know how to use them)
A blanket
A fire extinguisher (and know how to use it)
Gloves/socks/hat
A small shovel
Matches or lighter
A disposable camera
Cash/coins
Sunblock
Bug Repellent
A book/cards
A small can and candle for melting snow
Cat litter for traction
An ice scraper
A map and compass (They learned how to use them at Girls' Camp-right?)
Extra clothing and shoes
A length of rope
A bar of soap
Tool kit
 
 

Silhouettes

http://projectnursery.com/2012/06/diy-simple-silhouettes/

Have the girls get together on a YW night and do silhouettes.  Use a strong flashlight or goose-neck lamp that will give you a definitive outline.  Bring black construction paper and a pencil or white coloured pencil.  Have the girls or leaders trace the silhouettes of the young woman.  They can then cut them and mount them in an inexpensive frame.  This is a great an activity on Individual Worth or Divine Nature.  It can be given as a gift or it can be mounted on top of a photo of the Temple to remind them or their goal to look toward the Temple.  This would also be an awesome camp craft.  Wouldn't this make a fun display at YW in Excellence?

Embroidery and Lace

lds distribution

LDS Distribution has women's lace handkerchiefs for $1.50 (US).  It's a great price and a wonderful handout to support this month's lessons on Marriage and Family.  Use a mutual night to have the girls learn to embroider their initials (first or both) on the handkerchief and save it for when she goes to the Temple.  It can be a one night, quick, and easy activity and can also be a reminder of her commitment to "go there someday."  I have a lovely handkerchief I received as a wedding shower gift and carried it with me when I was sealed to my husband.  It is very special momento.  This activity will fulfill Personal Progress value experience #2 for Knowledge.

Here is the link for the handkerchief:
http://store.lds.org/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=715839595&mpe_id=715848090&productId=196782&intv_id=715847390&evtype=CpgnClick&langId=-1&catalogId=10557&ddkey=http:ClickInfo

What Did You Do for Someone Today?

 

Part of teaching the YW about their Divine Nature is to help them develop their desire for service.  Service projects are always uplifting and fun.  I think our YW, by virtue of who they are, want to make someone's day a little brighter.  Beyond that, service can be performed everyday in the home, at school, at work, and at church.  Give the girls a small card, perhaps a 3 x 5 card, and have them stamp, decorate, and color it.  Head it with "What did I do for someone today?" and number the lines.  Have them place it with their cell phones to remind them to do a good turn, compliment someone, or smile!  Secret Sisters, Adopt a Grandmother, or just Thank the Bishop is a great way to help them get started.   Fill an ivy bowl (Doesn't each YW closet or leader have ivy bowls they don't know what to do with?) with a candy of choice and decorate the neck with a wire garland.  This can be done at the beginning of mutual and doorbell ditched, delivered, or stashed to give to someone during the week.  It's quick, easy, inexpensive, and is a fun presentation.  

 

Mix It Up

For a change of pace in your classroom, change your seating arrangements.  Sit in a circle or sit around a table.  Have the girls make a "word cloud" out of the principles taught in the lesson for a display or have them share scriptures or reading material.  If weather permits and you can find a quiet place, take a blanket and sit outside on the grass under a tree.  You can sit on the steps outside the building if your class is of a moderate size.  The wonder of Father's creations are always appreciated by the girls if they have been sitting inside all day.  Sit among the girls and have a girl act as a "scribe," placing thoughts on the chalkboard.  Assign parts of the lesson to your YW and have them stand at the front while you take a seat as a participant.  A little change can make the day interesting. Often it can be more conducive to discussion and participation. 

Scripture Cookies

The YW made these cookies last night.  They were yummy, fun, and quick to make.

Ingredients:
3/4 cup Psalm 55:21
1/3 cup 2 Nephi 26:25
1 1/2 cup Jeremiah 6:20
2  Isaiah 10:14
2 cups 1 Kings 4:22
1 tsp Exodus 30:23
1/2 tsp Matthew 5:13
3 cups D&C 89:17
1 cup Proverbs 17:1

Directions:
1. Mix the first 4 ingredients together; mix in the rest.
2. Make tablespoon-sized drops onto parchment paper lined cookie sheets.
3.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes.




The translation: 
Psalm 55:21 (butter)
2 Nephi 25:25 (milk)
Jeremiah 6:20 (sugar)
Isaiah 10:14 (eggs)
1 Kings 4:22 (flour)
Exodus 30:23 (cinnamon)
Matthew 13:33 (baking soda)
Matthew 5:13 (salt)
D&C 89:17 (oatmeal)
Proverbs 17:1 (chocolate chips or M&Ms)

We combined this activity with a planning meeting.  We enjoyed sitting around the table in the setting sun outside, eating cookies, making plans, and setting goals.

"Bear"-ing one anothers' burdens

123rf photos

When one of my YW is sick, injured, or having surgery, I like to let her know that I am thinking of her.  I like to buy a Teddy bear and place a Band-aid or bandage that corresponds with her illness or injury, tuck in her favourite candy bar and deliver it.  For example, I had a Laurel who was having nasal septum surgery so I put a Band-aid across the nose of a Teddy bear and delivered it.  It's a cute way to remember them and give them something to cuddle while they recuperate.  A class of girls can visit a sick YW as a group and deliver this as well.  Unfortunately, plain Teddy bears are getting harder and harder to find but I find the rewards for the search and delivery of the bear far outweighs the small inconvenience.