kids Archives

What Kind of “Smart” is Your Child? Unlocking Their Potential

Each day on the daily radio broadcast, John and I have the privilege of interviewing a great variety of people – all of them uniquely gifted by God.

We’ve featured athletes and authors; singers and activists; theologians and politicians… and it’s wonderful to see how they contribute in their own areas, for the glory of God.

By now you might be asking yourself what this has to do with unlocking your child’s potential.

Here’s the link…

All of the luminaries we feature on our broadcast were, at one point in their lives, kids.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, kids, parenting December 8, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Three Ways to Fight Childhood Obesity… at Home

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents over the past 30 years. Along with it comes an increase in all the health problems associated with obesity: tendencies towards heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and bone and joint problems.

So, what can be done about it?

It would seem patently obvious that the solution to obesity in children is to have them eat healthy and move around more.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: kids, parenting December 4, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

A Daughter Shares Her Father’s Influence

Television often portrays dads as blubbering simpletons or even optional accessories to a family. Yet, we all know that dads matter, for good or bad. To lift up this truth, I want to share a story today from a daughter on how her dad positively influenced her.

A father’s influence on his daughter’s life can mean the difference between her entering a good marriage or a bad one. Here’s how Glenn Stanton, one of our family experts, summarizes the research:

Girls with involved fathers, therefore, are more likely to select for themselves good suitors and husbands because they have a proper standard by which to judge all candidates.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: kids, parenting, relationships November 20, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Encouraging Stories from “Bring Your Bible to School Day”

A few weeks ago, I encouraged families to consider taking part in the first-ever “Bring Your Bible to School Day,” sponsored by Focus’ Day of Dialogue free-speech and religious freedom initiative.

Today I want to share with you three amazing things God did through the Oct. 16 event and the students – some just elementary school-aged boys and girls – who participated.

1. “Bring Your Bible to School Day” received positive media attention nationwide
With this being the first year we were sponsoring the event, we kept our efforts small, spreading the word mainly through our website and local Christian radio stations, so families could prayerfully consider participation.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: events, kids, policy, religious liberty November 3, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Teach Your Kids to Serve Others with Operation Christmas Child

There are only 57 days until Christmas.

If your kids are like most, they’ve already given some thought to what they’d like to see under the tree.

But have they thought about what they’d like to give?

It’s an important question to ask. The natural tendency to focus on presents can make it challenging for kids to remember and understand that the season revolves around a Savior who said “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

Topics: Focus Events Tags: faith, family, kids October 28, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

A Visit with Franklin Graham

Do you struggle wondering if you measure up as a parent?

Perhaps you see other families from the outside, and it’s like watching a highlight reel. Their children don’t squabble, the parents never have a disagreement, and life seems perfect.

But is it really?

Every family has its challenges.

Just ask Franklin Graham, the son of Billy and Ruth Graham.

If the Lord would bless any family with model children, it would be the Grahams, right?

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith, family, kids, parenting October 23, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Hardest Peace

I can’t remember the sound of my mom’s voice.

That’s because she died of cancer when I was just 9 years old. It was a blow, of course, the security of my entire world shattered in an instant. The tragedy was made even worse because nobody told me my mom was so ill.

How do you explain to a young child that his mother is dying of cancer?

It’s not easy to explain death and terminal illness to a young boy or girl.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: broadcast, faith, family, kids October 7, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Parenting a “Glorious Act of Chaos”

Most parents can agree with the following two statements:

We love our kids
Our kids can test our patience

Part of it is simply the paradoxical nature of the role. Busy lives, hectic schedules, strong personalities colliding – it all works together to make parenting a “glorious act of chaos,” as Bill Farrel, one of today’s broadcast guests, aptly described it.

Yet, we also know that, without clear leadership and a plan, home life can spiral out of control and become crazier than it needs to be.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: broadcast, family, kids, parenting September 25, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Four Best Places to Raise Your Kids

MONEY magazine recently released its list of “Best Places to Live in America” for 2014, and Castle Rock, Colo., a town just north of Colorado Springs, was number four on the list.

How do they determine which cities make the top ten?

MONEY starts with 781 cities and whittles down the list by looking at factors such as median family income, racial diversity, quality of education, economic opportunity, and even the residents’ level of happiness.

That got me to thinking.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, kids, parenting September 24, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Talking to Your Daughter About Puberty

I have two boys, Trent and Troy. It was challenging enough for me as a dad to have “the talk” with them (and all the other related conversations along the way), so I admit that I cringe a bit when I think about the parents who have to broach these subjects with their girls. For some reason, it seems like a conversation on puberty might be a bit more complicated with a daughter.

For example, girls have to deal with the unrealistic expectations placed on them to look a certain way.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: broadcast, kids, parenting September 23, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura