My “Homeschool Heroes” interview airs today at 4 PM Eastern time. I hope you’ll be encouraged by this conversation on biblical child training in your homeschool, including: Scripture memory Bible study Encouraging godly character Being consistent in disciplining our children To listen to the interview, just go to my page on Homeschool Heroes at 4 PM. Between 4 and 6 PM (Eastern time), you should see a play bar about […]
Read More →Category: Discipline
Putting Off and Putting On
It’s easy to focus on the “don’ts” in our parenting. We invest a lot of time in disciplining our children for their misbehavior, for their bad attitudes, their sinful words, their disobedient and unloving actions. But teaching our children to get along with each other involves more than breaking up fights and taking away coveted toys. We know that they need to “take off” the impatience and pride that so often […]
Read More →Grumbling
“Do all things without murmurings and disputings” (Philippians 2:14). Children grumble. So did the Israelites. Children (and parents) who grumble are grumbling against the Lord. Sometimes, like the Israelites as they faced the Red Sea with the Egyptians at their backs, our children grumble because they are afraid. We can challenge them with our questions and instruction: “What are you afraid of?” “Is God strong enough to take care of […]
Read More →Helping Our Children Confess
“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted” (Galatians 6:1, ESV). Yesterday, as I read the first chapters of Joshua, an account brought back memories of the “old days” — the days when it was obvious that one of the kids had done something naughty. The evidence was all […]
Read More →What I Would Do Differently, Part 1
“. . . I began to speak less to the kids and more to God. It was actually quite relaxing.” Wow. That statement stopped me in my tracks. The words are from Paul Miller’s book, A Praying Life. They are quoted in a book I’ve been working my way through over the last few weeks, Give Them Grace: Dazzling Your Kids with the Love of Jesus, by Elyse Fitzpatrick and […]
Read More →Lesson in a Coffee Shop
He’s charming in his little black coat. He leans forward in his stroller and makes a desperate, I-want-some-now noise. His mama smiles, gently waves her finger, and almost sings her quiet “no” while she holds the spoon back in her other hand. He sits back and waits and the spoon travels to his mouth. He’s happy. Then the anxious sound again. Again the gentle counsel. Again the baby’s quiet response. […]
Read More →Sharing for Jesus’ Sake
When it comes to teaching our children to share, there is no simple “follow-these-five-easy-steps-and-you’ll-have-a-child-who-shares” formula. Children are born with old sin natures; they inherited them from us. We shouldn’t be surprised when they don’t want to share. Instead, we should thank God for the opportunity to help our children understand and appreciate what Jesus has done for them – and us. Scripture is full of commands that we and our […]
Read More →A Thankful Heart Is a Generous Heart
“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thess. 5:18). Sharing has two sides: 1. Lettings others enjoy the things we have 2. Being content with what we have Several weeks ago we started a series of posts about teaching children to share. So far we have addressed the following topics in previous posts: We as parents need to be willing […]
Read More →What about the child who grabs the toy?
When a child takes a toy from another child, he should be corrected. He has ignored another person’s rights. He has not treated the other child in the way he himself would like to be treated. When this happens, the wronged child – the one who has lost his toy – will probably yell or cry. When this happens, it is easy, as parents, to focus on him because he […]
Read More →What to Do with “I Want It Now!”
If you have more than one child, you’ve had to help your children learn to share. Most household sharing problems start when one child decides he wants something another child has – now. Both children in this situation need to be instructed. One needs to learn to be content. The other needs to learn to share. Let’s focus on the first child today. It can be challenging to teach young […]
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