kids Archives

Helping Your Child Deal with Bullies

Daniel was 13 years old when he wrote a letter to his parents that he had a “great life.” A few weeks later, he was dead.

According to his letter, Daniel’s “great life” spiraled out of control right after he started junior high. Five classmates bullied him incessantly. And when Daniel tried to defend himself, fights broke out.

Daniel wrote that he had “begged and pleaded” with his teachers and the school’s principal to intervene, but they “didn’t do ANYTHING!” The school denied any wrongdoing, but the bullying didn’t stop until, sadly, Daniel ended his own life.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, kids September 10, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Home or Hotel?

The next time your teenager doesn’t want to help out around the house, you’ve got an important decision to make. Do you want your child to live in a home or a hotel?

You see, a home is where a family lives. It’s where moms and dads and sons and daughters all contribute together to the running of the household in whatever way they’re capable. A hotel, on the other hand, is where people are waited on hand and foot and their every need is met.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, kids September 4, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Listening to the Heart of Your Kids

Jean and I recognized early on in our parenting that our boys, Trent and Troy, needed to be parented differently. They were – and are – individuals. They each had their own personalities, needs, and interests. Sometimes that was a challenge to navigate. They did share one thing in common with each other – and with your children: the desire to be heard and valued.

Listening to the heart of your children is key to being an effective parent and having a strong relationship with them as they grow into adulthood.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, kids September 2, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Bringing Your Kids Back to Christ

So many young people are wrestling with their faith that there’s a term for it in the culture: deconstruction. Deconstruction basically means you strip your faith to the bone and see what – if anything – survives.

That process can be scary to watch if it’s your adult child who’s questioning every value they’ve been taught. It can also lead to confusing questions. What are the boundaries with someone who’s deconstructing? How do you come alongside your child while allowing him or her to struggle?

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, kids June 20, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Shaming Kids

Unfortunately, many parents discipline their children with shame.

Shaming takes many forms – screaming, name calling, even humiliation. Shaming may produce an immediate change in behavior, but it results in long-term damage to the child. Shame teaches children that their mistakes lead to condemnation instead of support. They learn to avoid embarrassment and humiliation by hiding rather than seeking help. The parent, instead of being a resource for the child to learn and grow, becomes the cause of the child’s pain and isolation.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: kids June 13, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Nurturing a Love for the Bible in Your Kids

It’s a sad reality that many kids grow up going to Sunday school, church, and youth group and still leave home believing Christianity is a list of dos and don’ts. Somehow, the core message of the Gospel doesn’t break through.

One solution is to read the Bible with your children. Many parents want to, but it can be daunting. Kids have short attention spans, and Mom and Dad are exhausted from busy schedules.

So what do you do?

Topics: Family and Home Tags: kids, parenting June 10, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Fueling Motherhood Through Spiritual Discipline

Before having children, author Heidi St. John’s confidence in God felt unshakable. A few years and a few children later, Heidi felt so discouraged that she could barely get out of bed.

She remembers waking one cold January morning and hearing her children arguing in another room. The day hadn’t even begun, and she was already defeated. She willed herself to her feet by opening her Bible and reading from the Psalms. She soon realized that, while she had placed her confidence in her own abilities, King David’s praises were rooted in his confidence in God.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: kids, parenting November 17, 2023 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Helping Those Suffering from Mental Illness

According to the National Institutes of Health, one in five adolescents in the United States suffers severe impairment or distress from a mental disorder. Often, these teenagers and their families feel isolated and alone, not knowing where to turn for help.

In addition, mental illness is still stigmatized to a degree that hinders many people from seeking treatment or receiving the support they need.

Dr. Matthew Stanford understands this problem well. He’s the CEO of the Hope and Healing Center and Institute in Houston.

Topics: Current Events/ Family and Home Tags: kids, parenting October 23, 2023 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Navigating the Middle School Years

The middle school years can be tough. And not just for the kids. They can be challenging for parents as well.

As your child enters adolescence, your parenting approach will likely have to shift gears. There’s a lot going on, after all. Not only is a whirlwind of puberty at your child’s doorstep, but his or her priorities are changing. Family often becomes an afterthought, while friends and independence become most important.

What’s a parent to do?

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, kids October 17, 2023 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

How Jesus Redeemed My Gender Confusion

Gender identity is a pervasive topic these days. The culture is locked in debate about everything from access to restrooms to competition in women’s athletics to the ethics and morality of certain courses of treatment for children dealing with gender dysphoria.

For Christians, this isn’t a political matter, a psychological orientation, or even a social question. It’s a spiritual battle. The Bible is clear that God created humanity as male and female, biological certainties that are not dependent on how a person feels or “identifies.” However, we battle an enemy who sows seeds of confusion that corrupt our understanding of God’s beautiful design.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, faith, kids September 18, 2023 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura