Teaching character to children and motivating them to embrace change can be a challenge.
Dr. Kathy Koch says strengthening your relationship with your child is key to helping him or her to feel known and understood and to intentionally impart character qualities like resilience, humility, self-respect, respect for others, and self-control.
First, you model those qualities yourself. Then, you guide your children to interact with life in the same way. Communicating as a teacher, a coach, a cheerleader, and a referee, parents can address five core needs of a child:
- Security – Who can I trust?
- Identity – Who am I?
- Belonging – Who wants me?
- Purpose – Why am I alive?
- Competence – What do I do well?
So where do you begin to communicate these positive messages? At the end. That is, parent with the end in mind. Start with where you want your children to end up. Deciding where you want your children to be tomorrow will inform how you should parent today.
Dr. Kathy Koch is with us on our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Motivating Your Kids to Reflect the Character of God” to share secrets to better communication with your child – like talking in the dark, doing things side-by-side, or spending time together in the car. You’ll also learn practical tips for interacting with your child in one of the four parenting roles (teacher, coach, cheerleader, and referee).
You can hear the program on your local radio station, online, on Apple Podcasts, via Google Podcasts, or take us with you on our free phone app.
I hope you’ll also check out Dr. Koch’s book Start with the Heart: How to Motivate Your Kids to Be Compassionate, Responsible and Brave, (Even When You’re Not Around). It’s available in our online bookstore, but we’ll send you a copy for a gift of any amount. For more information, visit our website.
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