Happy June! For most of us school is out or nearly so. It’s a great time to redirect our thoughts towards building strong family relationships, addressing holes in our child training, and creating memories. This month I’m going to give you my best ideas on gently teaching children to listen and obey right away, building respect, creating routines and good habits, forging strong parent child relationships, helping brothers and sisters be friends, and passing on values. It doesn’t require a lot of money to accomplish these things, but it does require time. And I need to warn you, even though it’s simple, it’s not easy. Which is why I stumble with it even though I know what to do.
Here’s the hardest part: Our children learn best by watching us. If big changes need to take place in our homes with the children, then we are going to have to change our own behavior in a big way. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it.
And believe it or not, doing these things will SAVE you a bunch of money. You’ll buy less junk food, bribes, appeasements, fines, and replacing lost or broken items. There’s also a potential medical savings, both physcial and psychological. All this savings means we can redirect our money to the greater benefit of our children and teach them how to manage money at the same time.
This month I’m going to get specific and practical. Do you have trouble getting your children to practice their music, keep their rooms clean, or eat their food? I’ll tell you what works for me, but I want you to know things are far from perfect around here. Our children are a work in progress and so am I, so I’m looking forward to hearing your own ideas in the comments sections each day this month.
I also want to be clear that this is not a “Do this or reap eternal consequences” kind of guide. Just a month of ideas to consider and take or leave.
See you tomorrow. I can’t wait to get started!
Looking forward to this series. Today is day 1 of summer break and establishing good routines for the summer…and I need a cheerleader!!!
I’m glad you’re tackling this. A lot of people are to “scared” to touch the issue because they’re afraid they will offend someone.
Our favorite book about teaching children to obey is “Shepherding A Child’s Heart” by Tedd Tripp. It’s a must read for any Christian parent.
Looking forward to tomorrow! 🙂
Stacy, It’s been awhile (11 years!) since I read Tedd Tripp’s book, but I remember it blessing me a lot. My favorite idea from the book was to train the child according to their motivations and not what other people think of their behavior. For example, I would reprimand a son differently for pushing a boy away who was hurting his sister, than a son who was just running around pushing people for fun. Or take two children who grab money from the collection plate at church. One child might be stealing, the other thought they were passing it around so everyone could have some. They both need correction, but different types.
I am looking forward to this month on your blog! My son is older and we still have yet to set a routine that works. I’m also a memory junkie, and I often wonder what he will be able to reflect on when he is older. I’ve never been through this Bible-study, but everyone says that, “Growing Kids God’s Way” is phenomenal.
TiAnna, I don’t recommend “Growing Kids God’s Way.” There are some good ideas in there mixed with garbage and the way it’s written it’s hard to tell the difference between the two. The Ezzo’s have a way of writing that makes you feel if you trust your own instincts or interpretations of the scriptures instead of their unorthodox views that you will ruin your kids for life. It’s simply not true. I fell into that trap for a year and quickly saw the the error in my ways. I’ve found my best guide to be personal bible study and prayer, plus visiting with older mothers with grown or nearly grown children that I admire.
Angela
Welcome back! I hope you and baby Grant are doing well, and that the whole family is enjoying its newest member. (I hope that’s the right name… yikes… my memory…) I’m looking forward to this series!
Angela,
Thank you so much for this June topic. I have two children (2 1/2 & 15 months). I have read Ted Tripp’s book and love it. I still, however, have trouble with obedience. I think my 2 1/2 year old is a strong willed child but that can still be developed. I would love additional help with obedience. For instance, she does not come to me when I tell her, and often runs away. She thinks it’s playing but we’re not. I discipline her but don’t feel it’s working (or maybe it’s somewhat attributed to her age). Soooo, all that to say, I’m excited to hear what you have to say this month.
Congratulations on baby Grant!
Angela,
Thank you so much for this June topic. I have two children (2 1/2 & 15 months). I have read Ted Tripp’s book and love it. I still, however, have trouble with obedience. I think my 2 1/2 year old is a strong willed child but that can still be developed. I would love additional help with obedience. For instance, she does not come to me when I tell her, and often runs away. She thinks it’s playing but we’re not. I discipline her but don’t feel it’s working (or maybe it’s somewhat attributed to her age). Soooo, all that to say, I’m excited to hear what you have to say this month.
Congratulations on baby Grant!
Hey Angela,
First congrats on your new baby. Second, this article could not have come at a better time! My husband and I have sucessfully raised our oldest (19) but the last two have been a chalenge with both boys 7 years apart 12 and 5. My husband and I have been *Johnny On The Spot* but there are some rough spots that prayer has been added. That is why this is such a blessing to me.