Youth Program

The Virtues Program by Linda Kavelin Popov is used in our Children’s Centre.  There is a focus on one virtue per month with various activities each week allowing everyone the opportunity to practice.  Since different families may attend on different weeks this creates continuity …giving more children the chance to experience the virtue.  One of the best ways to learn something is to teach it to others, so the children who do attend regularly get the opportunity to deepen their learning by sharing what they know about the virtue with new and/or returning children.

VIRTUE FOR SEPTEMBER – GENTLENESS

Gentleness is acting and speaking in a kind, considerate way.  It is using self-control in order not to hurt or offend anyone.  You can be gentle with people and things in the way you touch them and the way you speak to them.  Without gentleness, things get broken and people feel hurt.  It is easy to become too rough or say things we are sorry for.  Gentleness is moving wisely, touching softly, holding carefully, speaking quietly and thinking kindly.  Many things are delicate and fragile but feelings are the most fragile of all.   When you are gentle, people and things stay safe.  When you think kindly and gently, people will see the gentleness in your eyes.

AFFIRMATION

I am gentle.  I think, speak and act with gentleness.  I show care for people and for everything I touch.  Gentleness is a natural part of who I am.

QUOTES:

The gentle mind by gentle deeds is known ~Edmund Spenser~

I learned that it is the weak who are cruel, and the gentleness is to be expected only from the strong ~Leo Buscaglia~

The great of earth, how softly do they live ~Ruth Tenney~

Logistics:

Ages: 3-12

Care will be available: 9:45am during the meditation time.

10:30 Lesson Begins

Ground Rules

Be Considerate – Feelings are important we always want to encourage everyone to tell the truth about their feelings – we always want to let everyone have their own feelings and not to ever  feel embarrassed about having feelings

Be Kind – Speak with gentle and nice words – everybody here is your friend – we are all friends here at CIL.

Be Respectful – We are all here to learn – Follow directions of all your teachers. Listen quietly while others are speaking.

Be a Peacemaker -When Angry- Remember to be kind to yourself – Remember to be kind to others – Remember to be respectful of things – Use words instead of hands.

It is my choice to follow these ground rules – if I make a different choice I will take responsibility for my actions.