Part 1: Helping Your Children Reach Their Full Potential

Writing as one who has faced many challenges in life: low self-esteem, being bullied, sometimes being the bully, succumbing to peer pressure, and the uncertainty of not knowing what “I want to become when I grow up,” I am certain that I would not have achieved confidence and success in life without the support of my family and the unending humbling from God’s grace. 

The constant motivating force in my life really boils down to how God has been in control every step of the way. It is my desire to share what I’ve learned as the second of four children in order to shed some light on how children might be guided to grow up to be proud of who they are. 

Throughout my educational experience, I have learned the importance of parental involvement in a child’s life. The involvement can take many forms: being a role model, instilling good habits, being consistent in discipline, and building good relationships. This can be done by taking the time to nurture a relationship with grace and love. Equipping children in such ways can help them overcome various life challenges. Since social interactions are vital for children’s development, let’s review how social interactions occur in the family. 

Many parents ask themselves at one time or another, “How can I set a good example for my child? When is a good time to start? Does it really make a difference?” As Christian parents, we know that God has given us children to teach and direct in His way. It is a great responsibility, but where do we begin?

As a Christian educator, I believe that it is the parent’s, rather than the state’s, primary responsibility to take an active role in their child’s education. The Bible says, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). W. H. Peterson, in his article regarding religious education stated that a child is not the mere creature of the state; those who nurture a child and direct his or her destiny have the right, coupled with the parental duty, to recognize and prepare their child for life (Petterson, 1968). This is very important because parents should have a choice when selecting a school that meets the academic and developmental needs of their child.

Part 2: Helping Your Children Reach Their Full Potential

“So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27).

God works in mysterious ways, and everyone’s combined experiences affect them in ways that makes them unique. You are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). This truth is what is most important for us to instill in our children: every person is made in the image of God, the way that they are meant to be, for their own sake, for the sake of those around them, and ultimately, for the glory of God.

It was yet another sleepless night for me. Tossing, turning, mind-racing, heart-pounding nights were becoming the norm. My anxiety was most prevalent at night. This caused a season marked by stress and tiredness.

Though it no longer looks that troublesome, anxiety is an ongoing battle for me. And the more people I meet and speak with, the more I am convinced that I am not alone. From weathered adults with incredibly painful circumstances to children struggling with completing homework, anxiety is a form of suffering common to many, in varying degrees.

Have you ever felt lonely? I sure have. There are so many lonely people who could use some kind words on coping with loneliness.

For my daughter, it started in preschool and it got worse in Kindergarten. Kids are so nervous to go to school, because they are afraid of being alone. My daughter told me one day, “Although school goes great I am still very lonely. I have no friends.” It almost broke my heart.

The heavy wooden door groaned as I pushed past with a silver cart laden with towels, hot water, and materials to build a splint. Closed blinds shed a dim light on a young boy lying restlessly on the hospital bed. His mother rose to meet me; her eyes too tired from caring for a sick child to return my smile as I entered the room.  She had been by his side almost every moment for the last 72 hours so that her son would have a friendly face whenever he was awake during the day...

The importance of writing a thank-you note cannot be overemphasized. As parents, you have a great responsibility for getting your child in the habit of writing thank-you notes. Yet, very few children will actually want to write a thank-you note. It is an innate response that after a child receives a fun birthday gift, he or she would much rather play with it instead of sitting at the table and trying to come up with something to write down.

But it is so important!!!

Writing thank-you notes shows that your child has good manners. It also displays that they are respectful of the other person and grateful, which are great quality characteristics in a human being. Learning proper thank-you note writing techniques will serve your child very well in their future. Personally, I am so happy that my mother took the time to make me write thank-you notes (which was quite the struggle). It has served me very well as I have had many events where I found it necessary to write a thank-you note.

I fought a lot with my brother when I was growing up, and I am pretty sure he started to get his white hair during my teenage years. I was rebellious from my first day of life.

Ephesians 4:32 reminds us, “ And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.” Now as a parent I have been searching for guidance on how I can raise children that get along with others.

As a child, my father always made sure that I was fully aware of how money worked.  I came from a family that did not have a lot of money, so we mostly just purchased the essentials. However, growing up this way was a great opportunity to understand that children of all ages can learn financial practices. Learning how to budget and to think about long-term financial goals are very valuable lessons your children will carry over into adulthood.

Have you ever felt a bit startled when someone asked you, “How are you planning to spend Father’s Day?” This holiday, which has been celebrated in the U.S. since 1910, aims to focus on a very important male figure that is often taken for granted.

I remember a particular Father’s Day church service where the fathers were given a mini-screwdriver as a reminder of who they really were—troubleshooters! While many fathers do assume this role, they are so much more than troubleshooters. Taking time to honor our fathers really does take genuine effort and thoughtfulness on the part of every family member.

A parent’s heart breaks a little bit when their child slumps home from being with their friends, throws their backpack on the floor and declares how “dumb” they are. From the parent’s perspective, the child is wonderful and it is strange that they would doubt that. From the child’s perspective, they are feeling like they can’t compare to their friends or siblings, and so they must be permanently flawed.

There are fewer things that are cuter than barbeque sauce smeared across a toddlers face. However, when your 11-year-old burps the alphabet at the dinner table in front of your new neighbors, it is not so cute.

Good table manners are very important as they ultimately show respect for others. So where should you start in the non-alphabet burping table manners training? The following lists 5 essential table manners that every child should know: