This month we would like to bring you ideas on developing your club members' self-respect and confidence. These qualities, in turn, help lay the foundation for them to show respect and care for others.

1. Treat kids well. Every day, by their behavior (both positive and negative), kids ask adults, "Do you care?" "Are you interested in me?" "Do you like having me around?" How you respond to club members can send the message "You're okay with me! I like having you in club." You can play a part in helping them feel worthwhile to you and to God.

2. Check out the 40 Assets. Search Institute is an organization that has developed a list of 40 "developmental assets" --positive experiences and qualities that kids need to experience to grow up in a healthy way. You can learn about the assets at www.search-institute.org.

• Notice the assets you can build into your club members just by providing the Pioneer Clubs program: service to others, adult role models, caring out-of-home climate, boundaries, positive peer interaction, creative activities, and so on.
• Which assets could you work further on providing for club members?
• Which assets might you want to tell club members' parents about, perhaps in a parent newsletter?

3. Emphasize traits presented in school. Many public and private schools, home schools, and even families work on "character education" or "character building" activities. Find out what character traits (responsibility, honesty, etc.) kids are currently learning about.

• Find Bible verses that support these characteristics. (Examples: trustworthiness–Luke 16:10; caring–Colossians 3:12.) Make posters of the characteristics with the Bible verses.
• Discuss why these traits are important in our Christian lives.
• Use the Bible verses as extra memory verses.
• For a special-event devotional, talk about a Bible character who showed one of the qualities.

4. Notice club members. It may sound obvious, but it's encouraging to be noticed. As you affirm the kids and simply pay attention to them as people, they will tend to follow your example and begin affirming each other.

• "I'm glad you're in our club."
• "We missed you last week."
• "I like your new shoes."
• "You really showed patience helping Sam with that award requirement. Good job!"
• "You look sad. Want to talk about it?"
• "Thanks for telling us the fun story about your dog."

5. Listen. Getting down on a child's level (literally and/or figuratively) and really listening conveys several positive messages:

• You are important to me.
• What you think and say are important to me.
• Paying attention to others is a good thing.

Being listened to by significant adults will also help your club members conclude that they can talk to God and be listened to.

Check Leader Training Outlines (catalog #2754) for a training session on listening to children, which includes a self-test of your listening skills.

6. Ask for help. Letting club members know you need and appreciate their help can give them quite a boost—and help them feel good about helping others. Don't expect perfection, and be sure to say "thanks."

• Ask for help handing out supplies or snacks.
• Have older children take turns taking attendance.
• Give your Award Record Sheets (plan book p. 10) to a club member who finishes an award requirement first. He or she can then help you by checking off the others' names as they finish.
• Make sure everyone pitches in to help clean up, even if it's only with small tasks. Resist the temptation to do it all yourself just because you can do it faster or better.
• During a time when everyone is busy helping, play an "I Remember" game. Start by saying, "I remember a kid in the Bible who helped" and let club members call out Bible characters they remember: "I remember Samuel helped"; "I remember Miriam helped"; and so on. Point out that your club members are following in their footsteps.

7. Use Bible Explorations that meet goal 3a (above). Each club age level has at least one plan book unit designed to help children understand how wonderfully God created them and how much he values them. Look through the table of contents in your leader plan book to find one to use. Examples:

• "God Cares About Me" (Scooters, Unit 2, Learning About Caring plan book)
• "Special to God" (Voyagers, Unit 2, Growing in God's Way plan book)
• "Being Me" (Trailblazers, Unit 1, Exploring Together plan book)

Bible Study $5.00 each

Order Now >>> http://www.myministrybuilder.com/prodpages/products.html#Camp

These colorful postcards provide an easy way for you to keep in touch with your club members. (10/Pkg.)

ONLY $1.50 per pack

Covers the recruitment, training, discipling, motivating, and encouraging of volunteers to help you achieve excellence in your ministry. 12 training sessions with reproducible handouts.

Only $15.99