Posts by admin (Page 16)

Christmas: A Time to Teach Generosity

• • • • • Parenting Tip December 8, 2012   Christmas: A Time to Teach Generosity Christmas is a highlight in the life of most children, but much of the benefit is focused on what they get. Of course one of the blessings of Christmas is giving, so look for ways to teach children generosity this year. Here are some ideas: Involves kids in your gift-giving strategy or help them develop their own. Planning, shopping, and wrapping can each…

Should I Make My Kids Apologize?

• • • • • Parenting Tip December 5, 2012   Should I Make My Kids Apologize? Often reconciliation requires that an offender come back to try to make things right. How do we teach children to handle these situations? Saying “I’m sorry” is a reflection of an emotion that one feels inside. If a child truly feels sorrow for doing the wrong thing, then saying, “I’m sorry” is certainly appropriate. Sometimes children don’t believe they’ve done anything wrong. Or…

The Heart is a Wrestling Place

• • • • • Parenting Tip November 24, 2012     The Heart is a Wrestling Place   The heart is where we wrestling with things. When experience, teaching, and values need to be integrated into life, it happens in the workshop of the heart. Information comes into our heads on a regular basis but much of it just stays there. Only when it moves down to our hearts does it become part of our lives. When eight-year-old, Jordan,…

The Gratefulness Principle

• • • • • Parenting Tip November 19, 2012 The Gratefulness Principle Gratitude increases closeness in relationships. As you parent your children, look for opportunities to take advantage of gratefulness to draw closer to your kids. Give your children small gifts of love day after day. Be careful, though, that you don’t confuse the gratefulness principle with the overindulgence trap. Some parents, wanting their children to like them, recognize giving gifts opens the heart, so they overdo it by…

A Budding Leader

Parenting Tip November 14, 2012   A Budding Leader   The early signs of a budding leader are often things like determination, resourcefulness, and persistence. Unfortunately, some children demonstrate these qualities in ways that create conflict and resistance. They often argue relentlessly, have their own agenda, are stubborn, and expect others to do what they want. Budding leaders are often known for their ability to see how others, including parents, should fit into their goals and objectives. Although those qualities…

Tasks, Problems, Conflict

• • • • • Parenting Tip November 10, 2012   Tasks, Problems, Conflict   One way to avoid emotional outbursts with our children is to understand the difference between tasks, problems, and conflict. Tasks are the normal things parents do each day. You get kids out of bed, make sure they’re dressed, provide breakfast, check that they have all the things they’ll need for the day, and get out the door. Then you’ll stop by the drug store to…

Teaching Cooperation

• • • • • Parenting Tip November 8, 2012   Teaching Cooperation We all want cooperation from our children. Many parents are disappointed when they don’t get it, but do we take time to teach it? Cooperation involves give and take. As parents, we are more than willing to give, expecting that our children will give sometimes too. Unfortunately, some children don’t know how to give; they only take. Any negotiation has to have something in it for the…

Group Offenses Around Character Qualities

• • • • • Parenting Tip October 30, 2012 Group Offenses Around Character Qualities When you feel overwhelmed by the poor behavior of your children, here’s an exercise that will give you some direction. In fact, this activity is good for any parent looking for ways to help children grow, but it’s especially helpful when you’re confused and overwhelmed by a problem’s complexity or deeply rooted nature. Take out some paper and make a list of the offenses committed…

When Addressing Sibling Conflict, Discipline Kids Separately

• • • • • Parenting Tip October 27, 2012   When Addressing Sibling Conflict, Discipline Kids Separately   One of the most challenging aspects of family life is sibling conflict. You want your children to have close relationships but differing personalities, competitiveness, and immaturity often gets in the way. Conflict between brothers and sisters is a child’s first class in relationship school. Your home is the classroom, you are the teacher, and a healthy plan for working on conflict…