Christian moms, if you want an easy, hands-on way to bring the Bible stories to life at home without needing a big lesson plan, this conversation with author Kirsten Telin is for you. Today, we're sharing how simple tools like books and puppets can help your child grow in kindness, character, and faith. Kristen, I'm so glad you're here. Today, we're talking about making faith at home simple, memorable, simple, memorable, and fun. My guest today is Kirsten Telin, children's author, kindness advocate, and creator of the confetti effect. She wrote a tale of two dogs to help kids connect faith with real life through creative play. Kirsten, welcome to the Faith Mom Mentor. Thank you, Ann. Honored to be here at the Faith Mom Mentor podcast. Well, let's get started. We're so glad you're here, Kristen. What inspired you to write this book, A Tale of Two Dogs, and how do the characters reflect the core lessons you want to teach children? Thank you so much, Ann, for asking that question. And the inspiration for my children's book, it debuted in September, A Tale of Two Dogs, came from watching my two real live dogs here in Orlando, Florida. And one of them is named Mochi. And this is a finger puppet. Mochi is our Sheba Enu. And the other dog is Murphy, our pug. And they couldn't be more different. Um, Mochi is from Japan and Murphy the pug is from China. And they have different personalities. They have different ways of approaching people and the world and even the way they interact with each other. And as I watched them together, we brought them home five years ago. They're of course now five, but they were eight months. And I noticed something really beautiful that was happening with them. They began taking on characteristics and attributes of one another. In a sense, they were teaching each other. And that became the bigger idea behind my story. What if our differences are meant to not divide us, but to make us stronger and better together? and and what happens if they are meant to help us grow. And so Mochi Murphy became a simple, relatable way to teach children that we don't have to be exactly alike to love one another and understand and appreciate one another. And that's where the lessons of the fruit of the spirit come into play as well in my story. The nine fruit for your audience are love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. And these aren't just words that children need to memorize. They're qualities that we can practice in everyday relationships when we plant these seeds. Yes. I love how books can just start an ongoing conversation and rather than just like a one-time read or just one time do this, it can really give the kids a picture of what it actually looks like. How how do you use storytelling to build deep character in kids rather than just keeping them entertained? And storytelling helps children um figure out what is right, what is wrong. They can help it can help also children experience what things really matter. Meaning that storytelling is one of the most powerful ways that we can build character in children because children don't just listen to a good story, they see themselves in it. And that's why I created those finger puppets. But through Mochi and Murphy, children see two very different dogs from two different countries. And they're watching how these dogs learn together from one another. So instead of simply telling a child to be kind or to have patience that the story allows them to see what kindness looks like, why it matters, and how it can change a relationship. So, this is where I think storytelling is so powerful because we can teach a we can teach children much longer than a lecture. Um, we can teach a lesson, but I found that when I go into schools with the dogs and I read my book, a story can help a child feel a lesson. Lessons stay with the child much longer than a lecture does. And who doesn't love animals? Um, kids naturally love them. So animals have a wonderful way of lowering children's defenses. Uh so the message feels like more of an adventure instead of a lesson. So I also believe that children learn character best when they can connect to it in everyday life. So after reading my book, A Tale of Two Dogs, I want parents and teachers to ask questions like when was the last time you showed kindness or what could you have done differently in that situation? And those conversations take the lesson from the pages of my book and bring it into the child's real world. Actually modeling those kinds of things. So that's why the nine fruit of the spirit that I mentioned earlier are so meaningful to me. They aren't simply concepts to memorize that I as I had emphasized before which is so important. There are qualities we can practice, seeds to plant every day, and entertainment may hold, you know, a child's attention just for a moment as you're reading that book. But a meaningful story can shape a child's heart long after the book is placed back on that shelf or put back in the toy chest in the in the playroom. Um, so it's planting seeds, modeling love, and showing what grace and empathy and compassion are all about. Yeah. And that's so good. And a picture, like a dog, a picture in a book can really help reinforce that. That's such a good reminder to shape their heart and reinforce truth. Kind of like a roleplaying type of situation. So, you want parents and teachers to use your book and the finger puppets to kind of reinforce the behaviors. How does that point the kids back to the gospel? Oh, I love this question so much. It was the heart of my story. Children of often learn best through play and repetition and conversation. They want to see and touch and feel and imagine and participate. And I love the idea of using the book and finger puppets together because it takes the lessons off the page and brings them into a child's everyday world. And the puppets also give children a safe way to practice. They can replay a situation and try a different response. There's a little conflict that goes on in the book and it'll also allow them to see what patience is like. choosing gentleness, practicing self-control, or helping a friend. Those kinds of things that they'll experience in their day-to-day life. And I don't want character to feel like a list of rules. I want children to discover what kindness and empathy and patience and love look like in real life. So, here we come. Ultimately, all these things do point children right back to the gospel, to the fruit of the spirit. It gives us a beautiful framework because the nine qualities are evidence of how God's works in our lives. And we can remind children that we don't have to be perfect and we don't have to figure out have everything figured out on our own. that Jesus shows up and he shows us how to love and serve others well. And so a simple conversation that might begin with two little finger puppets, they can become much deeper. How can I love somebody who is very difficult maybe from me or difficult to love? Um or maybe how does God love us? Or how can I show kindness to my friend? It also can become how did Jesus show kindness? So ultimately every good thing we cultivate in our lives points us back to the one who created us and teaches us how to love and how to forgive each other. Yeah. So I hope that answers your question a little bit. It does. And I think it just shows us how using your book makes it so easy for moms to teach that to their kids. Even moms who maybe not have a teaching background or know how to put like a lesson plan together that they can use your book and those finger puppets to bring the story of the gospel to life and then allow it to shape the gospel to shape the heart of their kids. and then their kids can practice what they've seen um from the book that points them back to the gospel. Yes, Ann, that is my hope. That is what keeps me getting up every day. Yeah, that's great. And faith mom, if this episode is giving you practical ideas, please take a second to like this video and subscribe to the channel. Also, if you are a mom who knows another mom who might could benefit from this or wants to do this together as a homeschool group or as a as a a a fun night to do with family or friends, go ahead and share this video with them. And then I have one more thing. This is a lot to ask all at one time, but tell us in the comments below, what's your favorite way to teach faith at home right now? What's your favorite go-to book or verse or habit that you have to teach faith at home? You can also find all of Kristen's resources and her books linked down in the description. I've linked them there. Kristen, if a child walks away learning just one primary lesson from your book, what do you hope it is? Oh, what I really hope children take away from A Tale of Two Dogs is that character is built through the little choices we make every day. Just in an ordinary moment, in an ordinary day, Mochi and Murphy may be two very different dogs and breeds, but through their friendship, they discover that they can learn from each other. And I think that's true for all of us. Sometimes the person or in this case the dog um who is most different from us has something important to teach us and I always try to keep that in mind when I when I meet somebody who might be very different from me. I always feel like I think I'm going to learn something from them. So at its heart, A tale of two dogs is really a story about kindness and empathy and friendship and becoming the kind of person who makes the world around them a just a little bit better. My mantra in the book is to spread kindness like confetti. You'll see that as a theme in my book and my blog. And confetti is so important to me because it's made up of tiny little pieces that are bright and that they seem insignificant on their own, but together they create something very special and unforgettable. So for your audience out there, if you've ever grabbed some confetti and just thrown it up in the air, it just spreads and just falls down upon you. And um I just feel like that can translate into a kind word or a wise decision or an act of courage or um doing something well what character is doing things behind the scenes where nobody can see what you're doing but you you always choose to do the right thing and all these little things they don't don't underestimate that impact because those little moments are what it's all about and so they have a way of becoming something much bigger. and creating far more impact I do believe in these children's lives than we could have ever imagined. So that is very important to me just to spread kindness like confetti. I love that picture. There's not much that has confetti that's not fun. You think about confetti at parties. You think about confetti at um events, celebrations. And so when you spread kindness um or confetti like kindness or kindness like confetti um when you spread kindness like confetti, you're spreading fun. And I love you mentioned this a few times. I love how you talk about other people that are not like us and learning to love them and spread kindness to them. And I think about the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is of all nation, all kindred, all tongue. Every every race is going to be a part of the kingdom of God. And so we as we can get along and be kind to one another who may not be like us, we are exhibiting a characteristic of the kingdom of God. And you often talk about getting out of your comfort zone and sometimes that is a out of the comfort zone to talk to others, people of other languages, of other nations. Um why is that such a vital lesson for both children and adults getting out of your comfort zone? [clears throat] And this is one of the most beautiful connecting threads between my confetti effect blog and my book, A Tale of Two Dogs, and the journey of writing um this children's book. But getting outside our comfort zones isn't just about doing something scary. It's about being willing to grow. And you never grow when you're comfortable. And that is one thing I have learned. uh for both children and adults. Growth rarely happens. When everything feels comfortable and familiar and safe, our comfort zones can be safe places, but if we stay there too long, they can also keep us from discovering what we're really capable of. For children, I find that this lesson is especially important because they're constantly encountering new things, making friends, um trying something new, whether it's a new sport or an instrument, maybe something they're not good at yet, and that can be scary. um speaking up or failing at something or starting over, asking for help or solving a problem without asking your teacher, your parents. It's just also maybe trying to give grace to somebody when they're struggling. Um listening to another person's perspective is also part of all that. We want children to learn that being uncomfortable doesn't mean you're doing something wrong. It actually means you're learning in adults. Um just to quickly say that um we need the same reminder. There were plenty of moments when it would have been easier for me to stay where I was comfortable and but taking that first step open doors. I couldn't have anticipated writing this book, sharing the story, meeting families, going into the schools and reading the story to the children, even doing this podcast and seeing how the story has connected uh people and children brings me such joy every day. And that's the part of what I mean by the confetti effect because sometimes one small step, one little piece of confetti outside of our comfort zones creates a ripple effect and that reaches much farther than I think any of us can ever imagine. You are so right and I love what you've shared because so many Christian moms do want their 8 to 12year-old to have confidence and courage but at the same time those 8 to 12year-old and getting ready for middle school the Christian mom herself is stepping in and living in new territory herself. And so your tail of two dogs can help both the mom and help her help her child as they step out and um pursue kindness like confetti. And Kirsten, I love that your tale of two dogs makes this so practical for moms to incorporate in their everyday life that it's something that they can that's already there for them. they can just pick up and they can just um read your book that doesn't take too long to read and gives a fun activity especially for the kids in the the 8 to 12 year old range. You talked about pain earlier when we're going through things and you know the 8 to 12 year old they do some growing during those years and there's such a thing as growing pains and I mean physical growing pain sometimes kids have and so um I think it is important to help kids recognize through your book that sometimes things are difficult and sometimes they will hurt but when you stay consistent you and connected to others, you can get through them because God has established relationships for us to stay connected. That is so true. And as my pastor always says to us every Sunday, when we show up, God shows up. And I really do believe that pushing through the hard because we're all going to hit hard at some point. But it is true that God is with us and he abides by us. And um I just feel like he's our rock. He is. Absolutely. He is. Before we wrap up though, Kristen, how can our community best connect with you and stay updated with your work? Oh, I would love you all to follow me on my website. It's fun. It has pops of joy and confetti all over it. It's at kirstenelson.com. And on there you can also find um my Instagram and my Facebook handles. I do a monthly newsletter that I would love your audience to uh sign up. It's real easy. It's just once a month. I will not inundate anybody with a lot of things. Uh but I also have a 10day plan on the Uver on Bible app called Sprinkles of Confetti. And it is a fun little plan for parents or grandparents to do with their child. and it highlights a fruit of the spirit every day. There's a scripture verse, a real simple activity to do. And we end in scripture. So that is so fun as well. And you can also buy my book wherever books are sold. So on my website, you can buy my book off Amazon if you want or Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Books a Million. And I have stickers on there. You can upload coloring pages. You can find my finger puppets. So, I really would love to encourage families to go ahead and take a look at that. And I love people. I love connecting with people. So, whether you're a parent or a teacher or a grandparent or someone who simply wants a little more kindness, some confetti in your life, I'd love for you to follow along and even reach out to me uh via email and I will get back with you. So my hope is that this becomes more than just a book or a blog and it becomes a more of a community of people looking for small ways to make a meaningful um difference impact and value added to people's lives. So thank you an yes that is wonderful and we will make sure that we link those um things that you mentioned in our description and so you can check um all of Kirsten's information out there. be sure to get her book and the resources that she has, especially check out that U version. Um, that would be great. Kristen, thank you so much for being here and reminding us that teaching our kids does not have to be complicated. A simple story, a puppet, and a thoughtful conversation can create moments of faith and character that last a lifetime. Thank you, Ann. I'm just going to show you my little book here. Yeah, make sure to grab Kirsten's book, A Tale of Two Dogs. And um again, we'll put that link in the description. And if you want more practical ways to simplify faith building at home, click this video showing on your screen right now and I'll see you over there.
