Parenting little kids well, doesn't ever just happen naturally. It takes dedication and conscious investment.
- Start to help kids understand their own priorities in life.
- Help them have their own daily time with Jesus and a Prayer life.
- Help them to really live in community,
and ask someone to disciple them as young kids.
- Teach them to forgive when they’re wronged.
- Give them small amounts of money
and teach them how to tithe, give, and save with it.
Be Intentional
First, be intentionally present when they’re young. You aren't ever going to wish you had spent less time with your kids. Your kids are all going to be different, so you need to be consistent in who you are, but give them specialized care.
Second, be intentional about who you are as a family. Decide on your family mission statement, and share it with your kids so they live purposeful lives.
Pursue Your Children
At it’s core, parenting is about deep and long lasting discipleship. Even when your kid is hard, it’s important to remember that they are a gift from God:
Psalm 139:13-14
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
“the days are long but the years are short”
Be there for your kids and be their superhero… If you don’t, someone else will be.
“Your kids long to be pursued by someone, and they need it to be you.”
Build in Teamwork
You’re not only growing your child up to be uniquely themselves, you’re also growing them to be a part of a team that changes the world.
Teach Obedience
As kids get older they go from leaning to obey you, to really learning to obey God.
Ephesians 6:1-3
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”
God knows that a healthy relationship with Him starts with a healthy relationships with earthy authority.
Discipline Your Kids So They Learn!
Hebrews 12:11
11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Discipline is different than punishment. Our job as parents is to lovingly show them the error of their ways, and get them to understand it.
Protect Your Kids From Evil
When kids are younger, you need to protect them from bad influences, and listen to them if they’re uncomfortable. The idea that we need to respect our little kids privacy when it comes to things that go into their heads is insane! When they’re young, we’re the gatekeepers of what goes into them.
Don’t Let Young Kids Date
Very little is said in the Bible about dating, but what IS said is 100% about finding a person to marry. If they are not at an age where they can work towards marriage, letting them date is just reinforcing the world’s view of what a relationship should be and reinforcing that relationships can be taken lightly.
Operate in Healthy Gender Roles
Dads:
So much of a young child’s identity and ability to see God clearly
comes from their dad.
“Dads, you have power on your life. It’s given to you by God. You expressed that through your words, time, and presence. You will never look back and wish you had a little bit longer or gone on another business trip. But you will regret not being intentionally present with your kids. Choose now to maximize these years and schedule time to be present.”
Moms:
You are the ones who show the closeness, and the presence of God. You show how attentive God is to the details in kids lives, and your nurture in a way that men simply can’t.
Single Parents:
You’re in an unfair position! You have to be mom and dad to your kids. Do your best, but also realize you can’t do it all, and ask godly men, or godly women to step into your kids lives and help.
Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it.
