Jul. 7, 2007 - Teaching Children to Obey the Easy Way
Teaching Children to Obey the Easy Way
When directing or correcting a child, use this simple process consistently for success:
1- Attention: Get the child’s undivided attention.
2- Directions: Give the child clear directions with a reasonable time frame.
3- No Yelling: Expect the child to obey. If he or she does not obey, do not yell or nag.
4- Action: If the child did not obey, take immediate action with appropriate discipline.
If you yell or nag you are wasting your breath and energy, and further training the child not to listen until you have raised your voice or nagged them to death with your request.
It has been my experience and observation that most parents fail on step 4. By failing to take action they train the child that they didn’t really mean what they said and the child knows from experience at what point his or her parents will be ready to take action.
Appropriate discipline can take the form of several different methods:
- Logical Consequences- Let the punishment fit the crime. Example: When Junior leaves his bike out in the rain after you had told him to bring it in, he could have his bike taken away for a period of time.
- Natural Consequences- Do nothing and allow the child to suffer the consequences of having not listened to you. Example: When Missy didn’t hang her towel up after swimming, she had to use a dirty one the next time.
- Spanking- “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.” Proverbs 22:15. Spanking should be used only when the children are young, from toddler to early elementary ages. Do not over-spank and do reassure the child of your love. Never spank in anger.
Remember to praise the children when they do obey. You can offer tangible rewards, but use these sparingly.
Most importantly, be consistent. You will be rewarded with well-behaved respectful children that will grow into well-behaved respectful young adults.
© Sallie H., 2007. All rights reserved.
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Jul. 1, 2007 - A Christian Call to Arms
A Christian Call to Arms
When I was younger, I used to think I wanted to be in the public eye, but now the thought of that scares me. Turn on the nightly news any day of the week and you will see Hollywood teen idols splashed all over it for their widely publicized poor behavior and shameful disrespect for authority. It’s a sad, sad thing that the American public craves such superficial celebrity and puts these character deficient people on some kind of pedestal, which they rapidly proceed to fall off of. While not excusing their behavior, I believe they are tragically poignant victims of a society plummeting downward. A society where values have no clear right or wrong and where each individual chooses their own personal truth is exactly what the Devil wants for us.
Christians are at war against an overwhelmingly powerful force of evil. I feel a weight of tremendous responsibility, a responsibility such as my parents and grandparents never felt. Even though I enjoy many conveniences that my parents didn’t enjoy, I long for simpler days. I want to protect my children from negative outside influences and shelter them from what the world has become, yet somehow prepare them to enter it and stand strong for God’s truth.
This is a call to arms my Christian friend. God’s commandments are upon my heart and I pray that they are on yours also. In Deuteronomy 6:7 God tells us “…impress them on your children, talk about them at home and when you are walking along the road.” How proactively are you training your children to resist the world’s influences? Is Christian character building at the center of your parenting? I can honestly say that over the years I have sometimes strayed and lost my focus, but I cannot let my guard down. My children’s future, your children’s future and the future of our Nation are all in peril. Ultimately, we know who wins this devastating battle. But ask yourself, “Whose team am I on?” Ask God to convict you of your shortcomings in this area and help you to overcome them.
© Sallie H., 2007. All rights reserved.
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