kids Archives

How to Prepare for Middle School

If you’re the parent of a middle schooler, I have a suggestion for you: buckle up.

This may be the most tumultuous time in childhood.

It’s like a prism that focuses a remarkable amount of life change into a short time span. Our two boys are smack in the center of their middle school years, so we’re witnessing it firsthand.

The physical, mental, and hormonal changes alone are intense. But many kids also face the added stress of leaving behind elementary school and entering a larger environment with more classes, new friends to meet, and more responsibility to bear.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, family, kids, parenting August 10, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

How Does Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage Impact Our Schools?

We’re about to enter the first school year after the Supreme Court’s sweeping redefinition of marriage, a decision that will deeply impact our children’s schools and education. Today I want to share a Q&A with Focus on the Family’s Education Analyst, Candi Cushman, where she’ll help explain how the legalization of same-sex marriage will affect the way we educate our children. –JD

***

Q. Give us the big picture: How will this court decision change the environment in our schools?

Topics: Current Events Tags: family, kids, parenting, policy, religious liberty July 29, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Involved Fathers Are Superheroes

In celebration of Father’s Day this weekend, let’s look at one sometimes-overlooked characteristic of a good dad …

He is, quite simply, a hero.

Forget Superman, Batman or Captain America. When you’re in trouble, you need Dad to save the day.

Dad will save kids from the brink of danger:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoQssWPRNR0

He’ll risk his life to save his child.

And sometimes, Dad will even give his life to save his child.

The benefits involved fathers provide to their children are countless.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: husband, kids, parenting June 19, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Seven Stories You Should Know About

A news summary on issues that matter.

North Carolina Law Protects Freedom of Conscience

Good news: A bill that will permit court officials to decline performing same-sex marriage responsibilities became law yesterday in North Carolina. According to House Speaker Tim Moore, the law “protects sincerely held religious beliefs while also ensuring that magistrates are available in all jurisdictions to perform lawful marriages.”

The Value of Children in an Anti-Natality Age

World magazine features an insightful article about the growing anti-natality perspective in our culture, which often pits the environmental movement against childbearing.

Topics: Current Events Tags: finances, homosexuality, kids, news, pop culture June 12, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

How a Young Woman Talked About Jesus in a Public School

I want to share some encouraging reports from this year’s Day of Dialogue free speech event.

When I originally blogged about the April 16th event giving Christian students a chance to share a hope-filled perspective on issues like marriage, sexuality and gender-identity issues, I told you we were expecting 18,000 young men and women would participate.

In reality, an estimated 25,000 students took the initiative to lead Day of Dialogue events in schools across the nation.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: faith, kids, news, parenting, religious liberty May 18, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Abortion Worker Who Became a Friend

Let me ask you a question. How do you think Christians should engage a culture that often stands in direct opposition to God’s truth?

There are likely as many different answers to that question as there are people to respond to it. In my view, that says a lot about the creativity and passion of the Christian community.

But, however we strive to influence the culture, I hope there’s one underlying value that guides all we do and say: Jesus offers salvation to everyone.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, kids, pro-life May 15, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Three Ways to Help Your Kids Avoid Foolish Social Media Mistakes

One foolish mistake on social media can haunt a person for years. All it takes is one insensitive tweet, a misinterpreted picture on Facebook, or an unguarded moment captured on Snapchat.

Think I’m exaggerating?

A recent article in The New York Times profiled people whose lives have been derailed because of something they posted to social media.

There’s the example of 30-year-old public relations consultant Justine Sacco, who sent out a racially insensitive tweet to her 170 followers before boarding a flight to South Africa.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: kids, parenting, pop culture, technology May 6, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

What 18,000 Christian Students Are Planning to Do on April 16 Should Encourage You

Today’s culture will often take issue with traditional Christian perspectives.

That’s what makes what will happen on April 16 all the more encouraging.

On that day, an estimated 18,000 students will share a Christian perspective on sexuality at their high schools and colleges thanks to Day of Dialogue, a student-led free speech event.

Think about the courage it takes for teenagers to commit to sharing a hope-filled, Bible-based perspective on sensitive social issues like marriage, sexuality and gender-identity issues.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: faith, homosexuality, kids, religious liberty April 7, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Seeing the Blessings in Autism

Thomas Edison is famous for saying, “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”

Something similar can be said for God’s blessings.

We’ll readily accept good news as a sign of God’s presence. But when trouble strikes, we’re prone to question why He’s abandoned us.

It’s not unusual for God’s activity in and through our lives to be wrapped in the skin of challenging circumstances. That’s often the case when a child is diagnosed with autism.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, kids, parenting, pro-life March 31, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Encouraging Men to Be Good Dads

This is a fact.

Boys learn to become men in the company of other men as they walk and grow through the challenges of life together.

But in disturbing numbers across our culture, that isn’t happening.

In fact, our video curriculum, The Family Project, reveals the tale of the tape.

Sadly, statistics show that 85 percent of men in prison didn’t have a dad while growing up. Seventy percent of teen suicides occur in homes where there isn’t a dad.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, family, kids, parenting March 24, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura