The "Children's Daily Schedule" is a work of fiction - the smiling happy, joy filled children sound like a book from the 50's. The kids get up at 5AM and the food is described in detail. And in THIS fairy tale the mothers and "caretakers (sister wives?) are always smiling and gentle and sweet. Older children drive (without a license?) and have "computer time" (where are these computers?) and the boys and girls have similar activities - I betcha the BOYS never do housework or prepare dinner...
Oh, and they FAIL TO SAY that the kids stop school at 8th grade - the "High School" part is a BIG LIE we know girls are married at 14-15-16 and the boys are working (or GONE).
Some Excerpts
General Guidelines for FLDS Children Ages 0-2 Years
-We strive tobe ahead of the childrens needs so they do not have to cry before they get their food, or before their diaper is changed. Our lives are centered around our children and our joy is to take care of them.
-Suggested Activities: Children who are just learning to walk love to help wash doorknobs,benches, cupboards, etc. Blocks, (too big to swallow), puzzles that have true pictures, alphabet magnets, etc., are used in the childs development. Digging in the dirt with a small shovel, jumping on a re-bounder, pushing a wagon, planting seeds, folding washcloths, etc., are things the children can do to grow up healthy and strong.
-Prayer Times and Religious Training: Children of this age are gently encouraged to kneel up for prayer, fold their arms, close their eyes, etc.
A General Daily Schedule for FLDS Children Ages 2-6 Years
-6:00 am Family Prayer Time: Children are gathered together, sing and pray, then read a sermon of Leroy S. Johnson, (usually 20 to 30 minutes.
-7:30 am 10:00 am: General Activities: Children who do not go to school have a variety of jobs they do throughout the morning hours. They may do household chores, such as: clean bathrooms, dust furniture, sweep floors, wash and fold laundry, wash doorknobs and straighten bookshelves, etc., or they may do outside activities, such as: weeding flower gardens, watering gardens, sweeping sidewalks, building stools, picking up trash, etc. A mother is always nearby.The mothers are very patient and understanding, giving the children room to learn and grow. Mothers strive to explain each situation as clearly as possible to the children, and the children feeling the love in the mothers tone of voice, her actions, and smiles love to respond. Young children do not have a long attention span so mothers gently guide them from job to job, activity to activity, so that the children do not grow bored but are sweet and happy
-1:00 -- 3:00 pm General Activities: Consistent, sweet mothers will be thinking ahead.Children will have certain activities assigned to them to do each day, such as: practice the piano or violin, sewing, knitting, wood working, building skills, etc.
-3:00 -- 4:00 pm Preschool: It is very important to FLDS parents that their children be well educated in the necessary skills needed to make a living and become a useful people.
-Mothers do not just dump out toys and leave the children to play. The children are taught activities that enlarge their horizons. Children become very selfish, self-centered and irritable when they play with toys all day.
-Our motives are to raise our children to be honest, true, chaste and benevolent, God-fearing, American citizens.
-5:00 pm Dinner Time: Busy, healthy children are very hungry, come dinner time. Mashed potatoes with butter, salt, and sour cream; tender turkey cooked just right; and flaky rolls with jam; topped off with delicious pumpkin pie brings smiles from hungry children! Yet, its not just the food that brings smiles, it is the kind hands and friendly smiles of mothers and caretakers that make the children feel comfortable and happy.
-5:30 pm Clean Up: Because mothers and caretakers are sweet and gentle, the children are happy to help with the meal clean up, and nightly straightening of their homes.
A General Daily Schedule for FLDS Children 1st - 3rd Grades
-Because our children have been protected from the great evils of the world and are taught to be busy and industrious, they act mature for their age. School age children are capable of taking on more responsibilities, and as children are, they are anxious to grow up and be like the big guys.-5:00 am Early Morning Duties: Children arise early, say private prayers, dress, comb hair, make beds, etc. Sisters give sisters hugs, brothers give brothers a handshake, and all say Good Morning.
-6:00 am Family Prayer Time: Mothers, caretakers, and children gather to sing, pray, and read a sermon of President Leroy S. Johnson. Older children are encouraged to sit properly and quietly, and to be good examples to younger children. The class lasts 15-30 minutes.
-7:30 am Morning Class: Children who are in 1st through 3rd grades usually sit in their classrooms and listen to the Morning Class, which is a religious training. The training begins with song and prayer, then the principal of the school speaks, or calls on others to bear testimony.
-11:45 am Lunch Time / Family Time: School children are let out of school at 11:45 in the morning so that they can make it to their homes for lunch prayer. It is very important that the families have their family times together. Preschoolers wait by the windows to watch older brothers
and sister come skipping home for lunch. What did you do in school this morning? younger brothers and sisters ask. School children rattle off the exciting things their class has been doing, while they quickly gobble down their lunch. Mothers stand by and smile, happy that their children
enjoy life and pray to be good mothers to them always.
-12:45 2:45 pm Back to School: Mother, please walk with me to school before Im late. I want to go early before my teacher gets there so I can surprise her. This is commonly heard in the homes of the FLDS. It is true, FLDS children are not perfect, yet they are teachable, and mothers delight in the privilege to raise up their children in light and truth.
-Students in 1 st through 3rd grades are given recess times and often extra outside time, because they are full of energy. Instead of just playing with toys, or spending time on the streets, the children are
taught to use their time wisely. Weeding the garden, cracking nuts, reading true stories, feeding the chickens, visiting the grandmothers, helping with community projects, etc., are some of the things the children do during their recess times.
-Mothers chat with their children about the daily happenings, and children confide in their mothers the successes and challenges they have. Mothers listen with understanding hearts,and turn the children to prayer and obedience to the laws of God.
-4:00 5:00 pm Something to Bless Others: Depending on the age group and the homework load, the children are encouraged to help out with the housework and family duties.
-6:00 pm Stories and Family Training: Our children are not told fables, fairy tales,or other untrue stories. Mothers read the Bible and Book of Mormon stories, then simplify it so the children can understand.
School age children are also given more detailed training on our religious beliefs. They are taught scripture memorizations and read Church literature.
- 7:00 pm Family Prayer Time: Children gather with the family to join in song and prayer before retiring. Saying good- night to grandmothers, mothers, brothers and sisters is a delightful time for the children. They seldom have bad or frightful dreams, just sweet dreams of a happy family living together.
A General Daily Schedule for FLDS Children 4th grade Highschool
- 7:30 am Morning Class: Breathless, smiling children file into the schoolhouse about ten minutes before starting time. They are anxious to learn, and greet their teachers and friends with cheerful a hello. Morning Class is a 45 minute to one hour long religious class. After a song and prayer, the school principal takes charge and calls on teachers, guests, or children to stand up and bear testimony of what they believe. Freedom of speech is honored in our society.
-School children from 4th to 12th grades are separated into boys classes and girls classes.
-7th to 12th grade students are often used to help with the younger grades. Every day is filled with exciting, new, character-building experiences.
-4:00 5:00 pm Family Duties/Personal Projects: Children have ideas and dreams as well as adults. There is time in the bustle of the day for the children to work on their personal projects such as sewing, painting, journal writing, trying out new cooking recipes, visiting, computer work, building projects, etc. Boys and girls of age like to drive
-5:00 pm Dinner Time: Many of the older children help with the cooking in the home, and often decide the menu, etc. The children are taught to live by the Word of Wisdom as revealed by the Prophet Joseph Smith.