parenting Archives - Page 4 of 59

Rethinking Your Parenting Strategies

A father who came to psychologist Michael Anderson’s office for counseling illustrates the shift in thinking many moms and dads need to make.

The father said, “In the last 90 days, my daughter has completely changed. She’ll do anything her friends tell her to do. She’s smoking. She’s drinking. She’s shoplifting.”

Michael asked him, “What was she like 90 days ago?”

The father said, “She was an A-student. She was in the church youth group. She’d do anything we told her to do.”

That last phrase caught Michael’s ear.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, children, parenting October 8, 2019 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Preparing Your Child for the Teen Years

Have you had “The Talk” with your child? You know, the one about sex?

If so, how did it go?

If not, why not? Maybe you feel nervous because you don’t know what to say.

I don’t blame you. The talk I had with one of my boys didn’t go as well as I’d hoped. I’d planned a weekend long father/son getaway. We had a good time, and I did my best to explain everything in a way he’d understand.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, family, parenting September 30, 2019 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Catching a God-Sized Vision for Your Family

Amy Rienow says she and her husband Rob got married … then dated for 10 years.

It was just a few months from first their first date to their wedding, which meant the years that followed were filled with surprises. They both loved the Lord, but they were clueless about the purpose of marriage and family.

Their crisis moment came 10 years into their marriage. Rob was a dedicated youth pastor. His number one passion was passing his faith to other people’s children.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, family, parenting September 27, 2019 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Connecting with Your Teen or Young Adult

There’s no one way to raise children. Discipline that works magic with one child may be completely ineffective with another.

At the bottom of every effective parenting strategy lies a universal foundation to good parenting: relationship.

Author Josh McDowell says, “Rules without relationship leads to rebellion.” That means your child’s primary concern in life is not your rules.

What matters most to your teen or young adult is knowing that you love them.

That sense of intimate connection won’t come through your instruction, lectures, or rules.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, parenting, relationships September 26, 2019 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Reaching Your Child’s Heart When They Disobey

I remember taking our boys to Disneyland when they were around 6 and 8. One of them was determined to get his way and had a meltdown. My attempted solution was to threaten, “Control yourself, or you will never come here again.”

It was a silly parenting strategy on my part because at the time, Jean and I enjoyed taking the boys to Disneyland and creating memories. In other words, I wasn’t really willing to follow through on the consequences I threatened.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, children, parenting September 20, 2019 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Braving Middle School Like a Boss

At some point, almost every boy will struggle with the feeling that he doesn’t measure up.

My teenage feelings of inadequacy shot to the surface one day while I was in gym class, standing behind a muscular upper-classman named Glen and one of his buddies. They were talking about how guys grow bigger as they get older.

Without warning, Glen wheeled around and – Bam! – he socked me right in the chest. “See this guy?” he said.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith, parenting August 26, 2019 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

A Poignant Day in the Daly Household

I’ll cut right to the point.

Jean and I are grieving a little bit this week – not over the death of a loved one or a dire medical diagnosis – but grieving nonetheless.

Our oldest, Trent, left for a nearby college earlier this week.

We couldn’t be happier for him, of course, especially seeing how he’s matured and grown over these last few years. We’ve been impressed with his choice of friends, his attitude and his overall goals and sense of direction.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: children, faith, parenting August 21, 2019 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Heroic Moms Raising Godly Heroes

“We practiced an active shooter drill today.”

Those words from Lee Nienhuis’ grade-school aged son, Ryan, felt like a gut punch. She could barely hold herself together when he told her, “We pile up in the corner like puppies, and we hide.”

That wasn’t the only time Lee was confronted by the darkness her children face in this world. Another incident happened in church. The congregation was singing the hymn I Have Decided to Follow Jesus. Lee could hear her son Ryan singing when they reached the words: “The cross before me, the world behind me.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, parenting August 15, 2019 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Of Course Violent Video Games Desensitize Kids

As officials attempt to continue piecing together the motives behind last weekend’s horrific cold-blooded murder sprees in both El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, attention has turned once again to the role violent video games play in these types of attacks.

In remarks from the White House earlier this week, President Trump suggested they were likely one factor in a long list of many.

“We must stop the glorification of violence in our society,” he said.

Topics: Current Events Tags: current events, entertainment, parenting August 8, 2019 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Discovering the Best Ways to Educate Your Child

So here’s the scenario. It’s a weeknight, and your child has spent most of the evening on the same school assignment. It’s pretty clear he doesn’t understand the information. To top it off, he’s brought home a note from the teacher warning you about a failing grade.

What do you do?

Many parents immediately assume the worst. They think their child has a behavior problem, difficulty learning, or is just plain lazy. But most of the time school challenges like this aren’t a crisis.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, children, faith, parenting August 5, 2019 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura