Teaching Character Bundle for Parents

Posted on June 1, 2026 by Holly Weidman — No Comments ↓

Hello Rocky Mountain Homeschool Conference Attendees,

Just click on these links to access them and then you can save them or print them.

Character Qualities to Teach Your Children

Marilyn’s Favorite Character Qualities for Moms

Consequence Chart

Schooltime Activities for Preschoolers

Age Appropriate Chores

Identifying and Dealing with Offenses

20 Ways to Delight in Your Preschooler

14 Reasons I’m Glad We Homeschooled

Who We Are:

Rick and Marilyn Boyer are true pioneers of the home education movement. They began teaching the eldest of their fourteen children at home in 1980 and are still actively home schooling their three youngest children today.

Rick and Marilyn have authored several books on home education and Christian parenthood and have spoken at conferences all across America and in several foreign countries. Their books have been translated into a number of foreign languages and have circulated around the world. Their ministry, Character Concepts, encourages parents through the resources they publish, their speaking ministry, this website, regular newsletters, and their articles, which have been published in several leading homeschooling magazines.

Marilyn is always appreciated for her keen and warmhearted insights into parenting while Rick, with his humorous, folksy style has been called “the Will Rogers of the homeschooling movement.”

CharacterConcepts.com grew out of the day-to-day life of Rick and Marilyn Boyer. The Boyers wanted their fourteen children to have fun-to-use, Bible-based character training materials but couldn’t find an organized character curriculum. So they designed fun projects to teach character lessons from Scripture. As time went on, they began to combine their ideas into an age-appropriate curriculum so that other parents could have the benefit of their experience. Now, the Character Concepts Curriculum and the Boyers’ large selection of parenting and home schooling books and recordings give parents the hands-on tools to train up “kids of character!”

Rick and Marilyn Boyer Then:

Rick and Marilyn Boyer Now:

Mega Bundle for Homeschooling

Posted on March 11, 2025 by Marilyn — No Comments ↓

Here are your Mega Bundle Resources:

Just click on these links to access them and then you can save them or print them.

Who We Are:

Rick and Marilyn Boyer are true pioneers of the home education movement. They began teaching the eldest of their fourteen children at home in 1980 and are still actively home-schooling their three youngest children today.

Rick and Marilyn have authored several books on home education and Christian parenthood and have spoken at conferences all across America and in several foreign countries. Their books have been translated into several foreign languages and have circulated around the world. Their ministry, Character Concepts, encourages parents through the resources they publish, their speaking ministry, this website, regular newsletters, and their articles, which have been published in several leading homeschooling magazines.

Marilyn is always appreciated for her keen and warmhearted insights into parenting while Rick, with his humorous, folksy style has been called “the Will Rogers of the homeschooling movement.”

CharacterConcepts.com grew out of the day-to-day life of Rick and Marilyn Boyer. The Boyers wanted their fourteen children to have fun-to-use, Bible-based character training materials but couldn’t find an organized character curriculum. So they designed fun projects to teach character lessons from Scripture. As time went on, they began to combine their ideas into an age-appropriate curriculum so that other parents could have the benefit of their experience. Now, the Character Concepts Curriculum and the Boyers’ large selection of parenting and home-schooling books and recordings give parents the hands-on tools to train up “kids of character!”

Rick and Marilyn Boyer Then:

Rick and Marilyn Boyer Now:

Character-Mega-Bundle

Posted on February 5, 2024 by Marilyn — No Comments ↓

Here are your Mega Bundle Resources:

Just click on these links to access them and then you can save them or print them.

Who We Are:

Marilyn is always appreciated for her keen and warmhearted insights into parenting while Rick, with his humorous, folksy style has been called “the Will Rogers of the homeschooling movement.”

Rick and Marilyn Boyer Then:

Rick and Marilyn Boyer Now:

12 Ideas for Fun Summer Days at Home

Posted on June 19, 2023 by Marilyn — 1 Comment ↓

Fun Summer Days at Home

When my kids were young, I liked to try to do some fun things that weren’t a part of our normal school year- to make summer days more fun. These are simple, inexpensive or free ideas that really just let kids be kids. There’s no need to get fancy or expensive. Kids’ imaginations are the best toy, when encouraged to be used, and simple fun is usually the most fun!

So- before summer bids farewell for another year, here are some simple, yet fun ideas you can enjoy with your kids.

Continue reading 12 Ideas for Fun Summer Days at Home→

Sugar Free Rhubarb Crisp You’ll LOVE

Posted on May 25, 2023 by Marilyn — 2 Comments ↓

Grain-Free, Sugar-free Rhubarb Crisp

I adapted my old stand-by apple crisp recipe as I am now limiting grains and sugar in my diet.
This actually turned out really yummy!

4 cups rhubarb cut into small pieces
1 cup Swerve brown sugar
1/2 cup almond flour
1/2 cup sliced almonds, pulsed in a blender to look like oats
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/3 cup butter, softened

Heat oven to 375 degrees.

Grease square pan 8 x 8.

Place rhubarb in the pan.

Mix the remaining
ingredients thoroughly.

Sprinkle over rhubarb.

Bake 30 min or until rhubarb is tender and topping is golden brown. Serve warm or cold. I
poured a bit of grass-fed cream on top of mine.

Tasted wonderful!

Gluten Free Energy Bites

Posted on May 5, 2023 by Marilyn — 3 Comments ↓

Lately, I’ve been trying to eat sugar and grain-free, it can be challenging to find snack options that are both satisfying and nutritious. However, these energy bites tick all the boxes as Gluten-Free Energy Bites.

Here is a really YUMMY recipe for energy bites. They are great to grab quickly.

These energy bites have quickly become a staple in my diet because they’re so easy to make and perfect for when I need a quick snack. You may want to make a double batch. They quickly disappear in my house.

Ingredients for Energy Bites

Sliced Almonds
Peanut Butter
Sugar-free Syrup I used Choc Zero. You could use honey instead or any sugar-free syrup)
Salt
Vanilla

Recipe for Gluten-Free Energy Bites

1 cup pulsed sliced almonds (you can use pulsed almonds for any recipe that calls for oats.)

1/4 cup peanut butter

1/4 cup sugar free syrup or honey- I used ChocZero syrup

dash of salt

1/2 tsp. vanilla

2 Tbsp. cacoa powder

Mix the ingredients thoroughly in a large mixing bowl, using a spatula or spoon to combine everything evenly. Be sure to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl to ensure that all ingredients are incorporated.

Once the mixture is fully combined, use your hands to roll the mixture into small balls. The size of the balls can vary based on your preference, but aim for a size that is easy to pop into your mouth as a quick snack.

Store the energy bites in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Enjoy!

Bundle Gift

Posted on February 16, 2023 by Marilyn — No Comments ↓

Here are your Mega Bundle Resources:

Just click on these links to access them and then you can save them or print them.

Who We Are:

Marilyn is always appreciated for her keen and warmhearted insights into parenting while Rick, with his humorous, folksy style has been called “the Will Rogers of the homeschooling movement.”

Rick and Marilyn Boyer Then:

Rick and Marilyn Boyer Now:

Valentine Brownies Heart Shaped

Posted on February 8, 2023 by Marilyn — 1 Comment ↓

I Corinthians 13 Valentine Brownie Hearts

This is a simple way to help teach kids about the true meaning of love as described in I Corinthians 13.

It only takes 3 ingredients- little heart pans, brownie mix, and tubes of icing to write with.

Make up the brownie mix per directions on box. Spray mini heart pans with olive oil spray, fill hearts 1/2 way with brownie mix.

Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 10 minutes, but keep a close eye on them.

After they cool, write the characteristics of love on them.

Let children choose which characteristics they want on their Valentine Brownies Heart Shaped.

We wrote ‘LOVE IS’ on a doily and placed it in the middle of our tray and arranged brownie hearts around it.

Then eat and enjoy.

Characteristics of love are:

Love is: kind, patient, not jealous, does not brag, not arrogant, not seeking its own benefit, rejoices in truth, never fails, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

Looking for more ideas? This Valentine’s Day Treats with Rice Krispie treats is fun and simple.

Struggling Learners with Dianne Craft

Posted on March 3, 2022 by Marilyn — No Comments ↓

Struggling Learners with Dianne Craft

Marilyn is talking to Dianne Craft about ways to help all children learn.

Here are two handouts she talked about in the podcast episode.

Healing Teaching Day Handout

ADHD What Now 2022 Summit Podcast Notes

Valentines Day Ideas for Kids

Posted on February 14, 2022 by Marilyn — 2 Comments ↓

Here is a very simple way for little ones to make Valentines Day Craft Ideas for kids. Here are the supplies you’ll need- doilies, glue, and Sharpie pens (I used silver).

Valentines Day Ideas for Kids- I Corinthians 13-Style

We alternated the colors- red and white. On each little heart doily, we wrote one of the characteristics of LOVE from I Corinthians 13. Then we put glue on the big heart doily to attach the little one to it. Very simple but fun homemade gifts from the heart. Ruby made 5 of them!

I did it with my grandkids and they made Valentines for Mom and Dad. You can make these as a Valentine family project and give them to shut-ins, elderly people at church, a neighbor, friend, or anyone you want to encourage.

Here are the characteristics of love:

Love:

is patient

is kind

is not jealous

does not brag

is not arrogant

is not easily provoked

does not seek its own benefit

does not keep an account of wrongs suffered

bears all things

hopes all things

endures all things

rejoices with the truth

Keeps every confidence

Here is the finished Valentines Crafts

Marilyn is wife to Rick, Mom to 14 children, Nana to 19 grandchildren (and counting!) and homeschooler for 37 years.

She and her husband own Character Concepts which they started for the purpose of helping others raise children with a strong, godly character and Biblical worldview.

They have developed character curriculum from preschool through high school, based on what they found worked when teaching their own 14 children over the years.

Her passion is to help young moms raise kids of character and enjoy the journey!