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I was wondering how everyone does the Bible Study boxes. I have four children LHFHG, BLHFHG, Bigger and Preparing. Does anyone have their olders who are in Preparing do an independent BS? I thought about my two oldest doing the Preparing BS together and I would do the younger two in Beyond. I don't know what to do. We do do devotions as a family after supper.

Suggestions?!?

Hi,
I just wanted to give you a lil response, for whatever it is worth. Doing devotions as a family is so different than doing them individually. Its so nice to be one on one with each child. I try to do the boxes, ussually as scheduled. Preparing's bible is mostly teacher-led, so we worked through that together for the most part. For our schooling (before HOD) we have always tried to schedule "quiet time" for the kids to encourage that relationship w God. I really appreciate how HOD has directed them, incrementally, on HOW to draw closer in personal Bible study and prayer. In your situation, with a lot of younger guides, I can imagine it is hard to fit it all in. Some days, with phfhg, you can just hand your child the guide and thats all - but not every day. I found a lil groove w phfhg, since some days seemed that the schedule was heavier and others lighter. I tried to glance ahead and be prepared on those heavier workdays.

Not sure how much I was able to help here, but thouht Id share our experiences.

I do the Bible study at a separate time with my daughter in LHFHG and then the Bigger Bible Study for my 2 sons at breakfast, so it is in a conversation format. My daughter actually gets to overhear both of the lessons! Oh well, double dose! It's a good thing!

I do DITHOR individually with my 2 sons, as well as listening to them narrate and helping them with their history and science daily assignment separately. It is working well this way for us.

I like to use the Bible study from each guide, since it ties into the history and has age-appropriate questions for discussion. So, when I sit down on the couch with my Beyond child, we read history, poetry, and Bible study all in one block. When I work with my Preparing children, it's the same thing. We do something different as a family before bedtime, so I like keeping their Bible study for school individual (or mostly so, since I do have some combined).

If you are already doing everything separately for each child, I'd keep the Bible study separate too. It doesn't take too much more time than combining would. It also helps the youngers, who normally have older siblings answering questions for them! My 1st grader is having to pay more attention and think more about what I'm reading, since his older siblings are no longer combined with him.

About Preparing, my dc only do the Bible study on their own once per week, when it's quiet time day.

I do the Bible studies separately as well (in LHFHG and PHFHG). I do find that it's very revealing to do them individually, as they share so much more of their heart - their fears, their temptations, their challenges, etc. In PHFHG, 2 of the days are supposed to be totally independent though. It says in the box something like "Today you will be doing your own Bible Quiet Time". On those days, I just have my ds say his verses for me. LHFHG's Bible study is pretty short, and from CTC on up, the Bible Quiet Time is independent, though the "Bible Study" is done together. We have really enjoyed this time, as it has balanced out our time together nicely. I'd keep with it, but not draw it out. I've found we can clip along with our time together, and still have a good discussion that makes an impact. For PHFHG, you should only be leading it 2 times a week, so that will help. HTH!

In Christ,
Julie

I just want to chime in also! I used to do the Bible Study sections with all my children at once. It was still valuable for them, but now that we are doing in individually ... it is amazing! They really tend to think deeply and be very transparent when they are one-on-one with me. I really think it's worth carving this special time out, even if you have to compromise in a different area of your schedule.

I have 2 in Preparing & 1 in LHFHG. The LHFHGer sits in for Bible with the olders, recites the verses and often answers the questions(we also go over our Awana verses at that time). Then I do the LHFHG Bible with him by himself. I know from experience that when he gets to it in 3 years, it will be new to him, but it's nice for us to start the day with Bible as a family.

Thank you, ladies!