After I introduced the Spark Station at a class I taught, I received an email from a woman I admire, Leah. I’ve written many articles on the value of seeing your children’s sparks. In some of those articles, I’ve shared how having a Spark Station (formerly The Closet) can help you create a wonderfully fun tool for family and learning connections.
Here’s what Leah shared in her email. “I am certain that teaching principles works. That’s what you did in class so I could take them and be inspired in the right way for my family and me.” She couldn’t have said anything that would have made me feel happier.
I’ve also written articles on the five principles of power (formerly The Five Rules of Engagement). This is what I taught in the class Leah attended. So, what was the change for the better that Leah made? In what way did she use the principles I taught?
More of The email
“I want to share my own experience with your Spark Station presentation. I loved it and learned a lot. I especially appreciated that you taught from principles and encouraged individual application for each family. This is what came to me from your class, and a bit of prodding from the spirit. About two weeks ago, after church, my three boys donned their play clothes and off they went, out to the garden to dig. They had been digging there all week, working on the fort they were making.
As I watched them go, I wondered if they should dig on Sunday, when that is their everyday ‘work’. But I enjoyed the quiet of my house while they were out there digging for hours. Then this last Monday, I happened to glance–it was just a glance–at a title in the Ensign magazine about meaningful Sabbath activities. Then yesterday morning, while I was meditating, I had a cool idea, to make a Sabbath Day Box, you would call it a Spark Station. So, this afternoon I am going to create our Sabbath Day Spark Station using the principles you taught in your class. I am excited.”
I was also excited for her and her family. I was excited because the whole premise behind The Spark Station is that parents use it to inspire their children with things that matter to the parent, may matter to the child, something they have seen the child get excited about, or will enrich the child’s life and/or experience. Someone once said that this was a bit like manipulation. Phooey!! It isn’t anything like that. Every good mentor or coach helps their student or mentee look beyond what they know and are familiar with, to things that can give them wings! They also respond to Sparks and help children engage in what interests them.
In this case, a mother wanted to teach her sons about honoring the Sabbath as she understood it; to expand their thinking about ‘rest,’ and give them tools that would move them in that direction. She won’t need to require a change in behavior because her children will have had their understanding expanded. When you inspire, you rarely need to require.
The Rest of The Story – The Sunday Box
“I put the box together last week and couldn’t wait to unveil it after Sunday’s dinner. My husband and I were amazed because for hours on end, we had all six children in the room together. The box had that kind of power. On other Sundays, they would have been scattered through the house, doing their own thing, or out digging in the yard. I had my 17 to 4-year-old all sitting around the table.
I had Sunday sampler material (embroidery stuff), and every child, except the 4-year-old, made at least one. There were inexpensive journals, and three children chose to write in their journals with their mom’s help. I had three recipes, and one chose to make pudding from scratch. One chose to write a letter with the letter-writing materials in the box.
So much wasn’t even touched yesterday, and I look forward to changing out what I have in there. It was the highlight of our Sabbath, and it brought such a nice feeling. I can’t wait till next Sunday, and neither can the children. I am sold.”
Don’t you love it? I don’t care whether you’re talking about homeschool, family connections, Sunday observance, or any number of other family engagement/connection moments. The principles that make the Spark Station work make families work.
Let’s review the Five Principles of Power:
1. Structure time, not content, and be consistent
2. Be present
3. It’s only available during specific times. This adds anticipation
4. When you add an item, remove an item, so it remains simple
5. Weekly planning
If you can internalize these 5 principles, whatever you’re trying to deal with will be more successful, and you’ll feel more powerful in your role as a parent and mentor.
Beginning next week and through April, I’m going to share more examples on the creation and use of a Spark Station. This may be just what you’ve been looking for. I look forward to teaching you more about this family connection/family education tool.
- It works for learning, regardless of the school system you choose.
- It works for grandparents, aunts, and uncles who want the children who visit them to have a grand old time.
- It’s designed to get you and your kids together in the same space, at the same time, to have fun, connect, and sometimes learn something new.
