I’m excited to announce a special opportunity from Hope 4 Hurting Kids to win free tickets to the Third Annual CM Conference hosted by CM Connect and Kidz Blitz! in Louisville, Kentucky on February 20-23, 2017. Read on to learn how to win, but first let me tell you a little bit about this amazing conference.

About CM Conference

I have been to every CM Conference from CM Connect since the very first one. The team at CM Connect is dedicated to putting on a conference that offers all of the great training of the “big boys” at a much more affordable price. When I was asked once to explain what makes CM Conference different, it wasn’t hard to pinpoint:

This is what a children’s ministry conference would look like if it were put together by children’s ministers. It is equal parts challenging, in depth-learning, rejuvenating corporate worship, valuable networking and a refreshing gathering of friends. From top to bottom, it is clear in everything about the conference, this event is about serving those called to children’s ministry.”

I wrote that after the first conference, and I still stand by it. Of all the conferences I go to, CM Conference is still my favorite.

About This Year’s Conference

Here are a few quick facts about this year’s conference:

• The Conference begins the afternoon of February 20 and runs through February 23.
• It will be hosted this year at Graceland Baptist Church, 3600 Kamer Miller Rd., New Albany, IN 47150 (right outside of Louisville).
• The Conference moves around to different churches each year in the Louisville area to recognize the fact that attendees come from all different types of churches.
• There will be over 100 break out sessions (four different time slot each on Tuesday Feb. 21, Wednesday Feb. 22 and Thursday Feb. 23.
• At least four (and maybe more) of those breakout sessions will be hosted by your truly. I’ll be leading three workshops on Dealing With Difficult Emotions on Tuesday and one workshop of Ministering to Modern Families on Wednesday.
• Each night ends with a general session with great speakers followed by an after party at a local hot spot.
• The after parties, combined with generous time for lunch breaks allows plenty of time for networking with new people and catching up with old friends (make sure you look me up no matter which of those two categories you fall in).
• You get a cool t-shirt!
• The Conference “mascot” is the Rhino (ask someone while you’re there why), and this year’s theme is “Crash.”
• Oh, a free trip to Belize will be given away on the last night of the conference – almost forgot that little tidbit!

How to Win Free Tickets

There are 4 ways to enter:

1. Leave a comment in the comment section below.
2. Tweet the following message: @Hope4HurtKids is giving away 3 free tickets to the 2017 CM Conference. Find out how you can win! https://goo.gl/F2hJ47 #kidmin #cmconnect
3. Share our post on your Facebook page. Make sure to let us know you’ve done that so we give you another entry in the drawing.
4. Comment on our post on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Hope4HurtingKids/.

You can be entered up to four times in the drawing (though you can only once). We will draw three random winners on January 27, 2017. Three lucky people will win!

Find out more information about the Conference at http://cmconnect.org/cmconference/. I hope to see you there!

It’s important to teach kids ways that they can calm down when they are angry or anxious or stressed out. In the heat of overwhelming emotions though, it’s easy for kids to forget the methods you have taught them. That’s why if you work with kids, it useful to have a jar full of cool down cubes, and it’s simple too!

1. Just buy some plastic ice cubes. I got mine from Five Below after the Fourth of July.
2. Write various calm down techniques on the cubes (one per cube). Permanent marker works best. We’ve included a list of the techniques we put on the cubes below.
3. Put the cubes in a jar. We used an old peanut jar, but anything large enough that a child can reach their hand in will work. Decorate the jar however you want.
4. Whenever the child you are working with upset, encourage them to go to the Calm Down Jar, pick one cube out and use the technique on the cube to calm down. If that doesn’t work encourage them to pick another cube.
5. Feel free to engage in the activity with the child, and when they have calmed down use the opportunity to talk about what’s bothering them.

Here are some of the calm down techniques we put on our cubes (feel free to make up your own):

• Go for walk
• Eat
• Move
• Do a puzzle
• Draw
• Throw ball
• Shower
• Blow off steam
• Ride a bike
• Close eyes
• Laugh
• Write it down
• Paint
• Karate
• Talk it out
• Count to ten
• Use computer
• Call a friend
• Play with sand
• Ask for help
• Jump rope
• Tell someone
• Walk away
• Play a sport
• iPod
• Journal
• Go outside
• 3 deep breaths
• Stop and think
• Sing
• Tell a joke
• Color
• Hug a pet
• Blow bubbles
• One happy memory
• Positive self talk
• Stress ball
• Read a book
• Seek out help
• Mold clay
• Jump
• Play memory
• Count clouds
• Play with legos
• Drink water
• Take a timeout
• Dance
• Talk to a friend

We originally found this idea in a number of places including:

• http://craftycounselorchick.blogspot.com/2012/09/cool-down-cubes.html?spref=pi
• https://www.pinterest.com/pin/153403931036911115/