Primary activity treats: the reason children (and some adults) show up and sit with rapt attention, waiting to be rewarded for good behavior.

We could get into a discussion if treats are good or bad or ugly, but we're not going to. They're fun and a good motivator. Try the "Be good! Be quiet!" approach without pairing it with " and you'll get a fun treat!"

Perhaps the comments I've heard the most over the years, whether from my own mother or other parents, go something like this: "You had how much sugar?" or "You had how many pieces of pizza?"

As we are all striving to be at least a little more health-conscious when it comes to prepping snacks, it might be time to rethink bringing last October's Halloween candy in a bag for the little Sunbeams to pull out in handfuls and crack their baby teeth on.

When I was serving in Primary, we had a dedicated counselor-now-president who spent a little extra time planning out her treats.

Believe me, it made a difference.

Putting the ingredients for butter together in a jar, she let all the children take a turn shaking it as she gave a lesson on the pioneers and how they couldn't just run to the grocery store if they ran out of something. They had to make it themselves, or do without.

It was simple, it was visual and everyone was shaking, waiting for their turn, or listening. For the most part? Reverence, achieved.

Near the end of the lesson, she brought out a loaf of homemade bread. Everyone was able to eat a slice with the freshly shaken butter on it. (Um yum.)

Yes, yes, some of you are perhaps questioning carbs or, you know, butter, but the point is this: This well-prepared sister kept the children's attention the entire time, letting them participate in a very tangible way before they received their treat.

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Maybe there are other ways of working treats into lessons or activities that make an impact and are mom-approved.

Picture tree of life lessons paired with fruit; some kind of flatbread, crackers, or wafers used to talk about the children of Israel and manna; or maybe some delicious honey-confection used to talk about the Jaredites and their bees, or, again, the industrious pioneers.

When I walk out of the Primary room to the joyful noise of one child proudly announcing to his mom, "We shook the butter!" I'm pretty sure they're both thinking that's much better than that stale lollipop.

e-mail: eschmuhl@desnews.com

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