kids Archives

Should 2-Year-Olds Be Given Medication for ADHD?

It’s an unsettling trend that’s quickly gaining speed: toddlers are increasingly being prescribed drugs for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

A recent article from the Today Show cites the number of U.S. 2- and 3-year-olds receiving the medication at 10,000.

Are these drugs necessary?

Let’s be honest: toddlers can be a rowdy bunch. It’s not easy to parent during these years and keep up with the constant running, screaming, climbing, and curiosity that’s characteristic of this age.

But when you think about it, toddlers are active because it’s their “job” to play.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: discipline, kids, news, parenting May 28, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Santa Barbara Killings Remind Us of Violent Video Games’ Role in Culture

Video games are in the news more and more – and usually, it’s not for good reasons.

Gaming is sometimes blamed in the growing trend where young men are finding it increasingly difficult to achieve major life milestones like moving out of their parents’ house, going to college, getting married and starting a family. Some of these men are stuck in a prolonged adolescence; one stat says 18-to- 34-year-old men spend more time playing video games than 12-to- 17-year-old boys.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, kids, parenting, pop culture, technology May 27, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Girls Propositioning Boys: Helping Your Son When the Tables Are Turned

Today’s children are growing up faster than ever. Thanks to TV, overtly sexual songs on the radio and the Internet, most kids have likely seen, heard and experienced more than their counterparts from previous generations.

And sadly – one trend we’re seeing is that sexually aggressive “tween” girls are now propositioning younger boys, offering them sexual favors.

One unbelievable example

In our two-part broadcast starting today, “Helping Sons Guard Their Purity,” our guest, FamilyLife President Dennis Rainey, shares a story about a boy who had notes in his jeans pocket from a girl who wanted to sit by him at lunch.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, kids, parenting, relationships, sex May 22, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Two Ways Dads Can Help Their Children Succeed

Success.

How to define it?

To many Americans, success means challenging yourself to reach your full potential. It can mean financial stability and the ability to provide for a family.

To many in the world, it means reaching a certain level of self-fulfillment. And while there are various ways the above goals can be reached, the fact is that a college diploma remains an important common denominator of the American definition of success in many cases.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: kids, parenting May 14, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

We Need to Love Post-Abortive Women

The video Emily Letts recently made of her abortion was understandably met with shock, horror, sadness and disbelief. In it, the 25-year-old abortion counselor shares her story of facing an unexpected pregnancy, and includes footage of her undergoing the procedure during her first trimester.

It is a sobering and painful video to watch.

How should those of us who value human life respond?

Every abortion involves three people

The reality is abortion profoundly impacts at least three individuals: the child whose life is being terminated, the birthfather and the woman who must live with the reality of this decision.

Topics: Current Events Tags: kids, news, parenting, pro-life May 13, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

There’s Something About Mom

Many of us celebrated Mother’s Day yesterday. Social media platforms were filled with smiling pictures as some of us remembered our moms who have since passed away. Other snapshots were of today’s young moms, surrounded by babies and toddlers and all the hope and promise they bring. Mothers of grown children as well as grandmothers and birthmothers were also celebrated.

The folks at FoxNews.com gave me the privilege of sharing a piece I wrote reflecting on Mother’s Day on their site.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: kids, parenting May 12, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Boy Praises His Way Out of Kidnapping

A 9-year-old Atlanta boy had a unique response to being kidnapped from his own driveway last month: he sang praises to God.

Willie Myrick, now 10, repeatedly sang Hezekiah Walker’s “Every Praise” during the three-hour ordeal. Eventually, his abductor – who had been cursing and telling the boy to shut up – pulled the car over and kicked him out.

One can’t learn of a story like this without thinking of Bible verses that promise God’s protection, like Psalm 46:1, which says, “God is our refuge and strength; a very present help in trouble.”

The song itself references the theme of deliverance in its chorus:

God my Savior
God my Healer
God my Deliverer
Yes He is, yes He is

Thank God that those lyrics proved prophetic for Willie Myrick – and thank God for a family and church community that influenced his young faith.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, kids, news May 8, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Abortion: Empowerment or a Consolation Prize?

Since the U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortion in all 50 states in 1973, about 51 million babies have been lost to abortion. It’s a staggering number that also represents millions of women who chose to end their pregnancies.

We would do well to give serious consideration to those factors that contribute to a mother’s decision to choose abortion for her child.

Proponents of abortion argue the bottom line boils down to a right, a choice – what’s “best” for her and her family.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: kids, policy, pro-life May 2, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Is McDonald’s Harming Children?

The McDonald’s “Happy Meal” is a predictable if not overly nutritious treat of childhood.

You know what you’re going to get: a kid-approved meal and a toy.

But a recent push by a daughter-father team is turning the traditionally mundane product into a political football.

No Such Thing As Girl or Boy Toys?

Slate’s recent blog post, “McDonald’s Gave Me the ‘Girl’s Toy’ With My Happy Meal. So I Went to the CEO,” outlines how, back in 2008, high schooler Antonia Ayres-Brown grew frustrated when McDonald’s asked her family if they wanted a “girl toy” or a “boy toy” with their Happy Meal.

Topics: Current Events Tags: kids, news, pop culture April 28, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Did You Hear What Happened in Denver Last Night?

It’s not every day that you find a high-ranking Catholic prelate standing with a bullhorn on the steps of a state capital building, leading the public in prayer for the defense and protection of pre-born life.

But that’s exactly what happened earlier this week as Denver’s Archbishop Samuel Aquila rallied the faithful and denounced Senate Bill 175.

The bill would have enshrined abortion in law and prohibited any incremental pro-life laws from being passed in the state of Colorado.

Topics: Current Events Tags: kids, news, parenting, policy, pro-life April 17, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura