Parenting Tips

Slowing Down the Emotion

• • • • • Parenting Tip December 29, 2016 Slowing Down the Emotion When the emotion starts increasing in your interactions, it’s time to slow down the process. One mom said, “I feel a lot of intensity and tend to react without thinking. It’s as if my emotions have the ability to bypass my brain. It takes work to understand what’s actually going on. I’m learning to slow down and think more about what I’m feeling. I’m making progress…

A Time to Practice Saying Thank You

• • • • • Parenting Tip December 22, 2016 A Time to Practice Saying Thank You Gratefulness is an important life quality because it helps us appreciate what we have instead of complaining about what we don’t have. Gratefulness is a lifestyle but it starts by saying “Thank you” to others who bless us. Begin now to prepare your children for receiving gifts. Talk about the importance of the giver, not just the gift. Teach children to look at…

Practicing Servanthood

 Practicing Servanthood at Christmas Sometimes children believe that the whole world revolves around them. Parents, because they enjoy caring for their kids, may at times contribute to a child-centered mentality and unknowingly reinforce this misconception. Children then get the impression that parents, siblings, and even the family pets are there simply to make them happy. The result is demandingness and an unpleasant attitude. One of the ways to counteract this tendency is to teach children to be servants and Christmas…

Caring for Others

• • • • • Parenting Tip December 9, 2016 Caring for Others One of the great ways to help children think of giving instead of just getting at Christmas is to reach out to others you don’t even know. This one activity can do a tremendous amount to help kids focus on others, not just themselves. Here are some ideas: Pray for missionaries in other parts of the world. Create a care package for a family and mail it…

Understanding Attitudes and How to Change Them

• • • • • Parenting Tip December 1, 2016 Understanding Attitudes And How To Change Them “Attitude” is a shorthand term used to summarize many different feelings, thoughts, and behaviors all at the same time. Various triggers provoke attitudes and simply hearing a word or seeing a signal can change a person’s perspective. All Mom has to do is say Jared?! with that certain voice, for instance, and her son knows she is going to ask him to do…

A Positive Way to Limit Electronics with Kids

  A Positive Way to Limit Electronics with Kids What is your child interested in? What does he think about? Where does she spend her money? What do your kids like to do? Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). Most of the time the activities our children choose indicate what they treasure. Because the heart and behavior are closely linked, parents can look for things their kids can do that will encourage…

How to Make That Heart Connection

  How to Connect with Your Child’s Heart Jesus said, “out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34). Parents can use this principle to gain some understanding and insight into a child’s heart. Listening becomes key. It’s surprising how many times we ask kids why they don’t talk to their parents and hear the answer, “Because they don’t listen to me.” Click here to read more.

How to Build Self Control in Kids Who are Impulsive

How to Build Self Control in Kids Who are Impulsive You could hear the tension in Lisa’s voice, “Living with a child who is impulsive is just down right frustrating!” Maybe you can relate to that statement. Every time you turn around your child is into some kind of trouble or is annoying someone. Kids who lack self control need training and lots of it. Here’s an idea that will help you in the midst of this kind of challenging…

Consistency is Overrated

  Consistency is Overrated! “That is the most freeing statement I’ve heard in a long time.” That’s what one mom said when we freed her from the guilt she experienced because she couldn’t always be consistent. She continued, “It makes so much sense now. Thank you.” Here’s what we told her. If you’re doing simple behavior modification then consistency is essential. Giving the reward or punishment every time you see the behavior will reinforce change. But if you’re using a…

Understanding the Difference between Tasks, Problems, and Conflict

  Understanding Tasks, Problems, and 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 pick up the prescription and drop by the library…