Raising Children in a Christian Home

Published: 8 January 2019

Written by Lil Dino Mommy

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Categories: Marriage, Pregnancy and Parenthood

How many times do we wonder, “Is this kid even listening to me?” When my first child was on the brink turning two, I was asking myself this question. It wasn’t until he was nearly three that I finally found a solution that worked!

I’ve read and searched and studied the answer to this question and it didn’t take me long to realize, that it starts with me. I have to “train my child in the way he should go”. This includes teaching him how to listen, and how to respond to my expectations of him.

It also is something I need to be modeling for him, which brings up another question…”Am I listening to my husband?” Definite food for thought there…

If you’re finding parenting a challenge, you’re not alone, but don’t let yourself fall into a “victim” mentality. Take action!

God has created a perfect model of what parenting should look like. Training is really all about teaching consequences to our children. What better way to set a young person up for the “real world” than to teach them from their little bitty youth, that every single action has a consequence?

1. Set Expectations. When it comes to teaching young children to listen (the first time!), we parents have to enforce the rules accordingly. If you have said or requested something of your child and they are not responding, enforce the consequence of breaking that rule.

2. Start Early. It is easier to train a young child before bad habits are formed, than to retrain old and bad habits. However, don’t lose heart if your child is older. You might explain to your child that things are going to be different now. You didn’t understand before, but now that you know better, you’ll do better and it’s all because you love them dearly.

3. Act Swiftly! Don’t let it fester. If you are to the point of frustration or anger, you have waited much too long to act. God rebukes and chastens us in love. We are to guide our children in the same loving way. We want to respond, not react, to our children’s behavior.

4. Be Consistent. This is the key to having peace in your home as quickly as possible. It is confusing for a child to “get away with it” the first three times you said it, and then get a swat on the fourth time. Now you’ve trained your child to obey on the fourth request, rather than the first.

5. Keep Trying. Don’t let failures set you back or keep you from trying again. Ask for advice from godly friends and take it all with a grain of salt against what God outlines in His word. It was a friend who recommended a book to me that helped tremendously. Her children are older than mine and they are all loving, respectful, and smart. I wanted that for my children.

6. Diligently Seek Wisdom and Discernment. Pray about your parenting. None of us are perfect, but when we allow God to lead us by studying His word, we gain knowledge and a better understanding of how we are to behave.

If you have questions or comments, please share below!

“Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

Do your kids spend their weekends staring at screens?

Well, you may be surprised to know that too much screen time can actually be bad for their health. That’s one of the reasons it is so important for children to spend time discovering new hobbies. More than just a way to burn time, hobbies can provide stress relief, help little minds develop and even be beneficial for their health. Need some ideas to get your kids started? Here are some hobbies guaranteed to get them away from those screens and having actual fun instead.

Make New Friends With Play and Sports

If your children are glued to the couch too much, it could have a major impact on their overall health. Studies show that teenagers these days tend to be less active than seniors, and that means more instances of obesity and related health issues. Keeping your children active, whether it’s by encouraging them to play or try a new sport, can help prevent some of those problems from becoming major issues. Play is also a great way for your kids to connect with other children their age, so try to schedule some play dates with friends or other families that you know. You can also encourage your child to get involved with organized sports. Basketball is a great sport for kids to try and keeps them moving the entire game. Before your kid hits the court, look online for the best basketball shoes that offer comfort while staying affordable.

Connect with Nature and the Outdoors

Want to improve your child’s self-esteem and help them relieve stress? Get them to take their hobbies outside. Spending time outdoors can help children in several key ways. Kids who spend more time outside tend to have improved vision quality, better social skills, and more focus than those who do not. Exposure to sunlight can also increase vitamin D production, as well as decrease stress and feelings of depression. Wondering what hobbies you can do outside with your children? The possibilities are endless. You can start simple by planning some backyard bird watching, or you can teach them how to garden. If you are feeling adventurous, you could even take your family for some hikes or other excursions into nature. There are also scouting groups that can help your children develop a love of nature, as well as other essential life skills.

Unleash Their Creativity on Arts and Crafts

Did you know that the arts can aid development in your children? By practicing arts and crafts as a hobby, your kids are enhancing their fine motor skills, learning to make decisions and developing visual-spatial skills. The arts are also a fun and creative way for kids to explore other cultures. So encourage your children to put down their tablets and pick up a paintbrush or some clay instead. Visit a local arts and crafts store to pick up some basic art supplies, or look online for budget-friendly starter kits that have all budding Bob Rosses’ need. Children benefit the most from art when they have the space to create freely, so let them have fun and keep the experience positive from start to finish for everyone.

Boost Self-Esteem by Baking for Others

When you think of hobbies your kids might enjoy, you may not consider cooking and baking. Studies show, however, that baking for others can have some very positive impacts on self-esteem and mental health. Putting together a meal or baking a cake can help your children practice creative expression, an important element in nurturing positive mental health. You can get your children started by planning a family baking session. Select a kid-friendly recipe and try to keep things simple at first. Depending on your children’s ages and abilities, you may even want to pick up some kitchen equipment that can make the experience safer for little hands.

Kids need hobbies to keep them healthy. So, give your kids a break from those screens and encourage them to explore a new passion. Their bodies, minds, and health will thank you!

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Counting Ones Blessings Can Never Be Overdone

My son is almost 2 years old now, and I am feeling extremely blessed for a variety of things.

I could go on and on about how intelligent my son is and praise God he is hitting every milestone. I am thankful for his very life! Which, admittedly, he challenges me to save nearly every day as he tests out his ever growing strength and physical capabilities. And I’m so very grateful for my husband, with whom I am privileged to call mine. It’s such an honor and brings me so much joy to stand by his side and raise our son together.

What a Journey!

I want to highlight another blessing that I have been reminded of. It’s a portion of Lil Dino Daddy, Lil Dino, and my journey that is looked back upon as a very vivid, bittersweet time.

I’m thankful to still be breastfeeding my son. I have posted before on the benefits of breastfeeding. (I want to also write soon about the benefits of breastfeeding a toddler.)

Let God Lead – Be Prayerful

But today, what I want to highlight is the importance of bringing God unto your decisions, and very specifically the importance of doing so through prayer. You know, the more I read the Bible, the more it makes sense to me. Reading through the Psalms and Proverbs and seeing exactly what God says about how to deal with life is incredibly helpful and practical.

Although, there are days when I don’t read God’s Word (and severely regret it as it is the ultimate way to “think on good things”), there are days when I don’t pray as I should. It’s becoming more habitual as now my son is the one holding me accountable at meal times. 😉

Prayer is Easier When I’m Desperate

My prayer life was never as strong as it was when I was struggling to breastfeed my son. In those early days that turned into weeks, and then turned to months, I just kept asking God for this “good gift” for my baby.

Over the past several years, beginning with my pregnancy, my husband and I have been striving to get back to the basics of life and nature and the way God designed things to be. (For instance, how food is not only life giving, but healing as well!) We’re learning to be more frugal, to waste less, taking steps – baby steps – to be healthier and be more cautious about what we put in and on our bodies. To us, breastfeeding was the natural extension of that lifestyle that we are gradually moving towards. It was the healthiest, most natural, most nutritious, way to feed our child. It was right in line with how God designed it and I was failing!

However, with the support of Lil’ Dino Daddy and others, and through much prayer and petition to our Abba Father, we were successful!

Take Heart! Ask for Help. Rejoice in the Lord!

So please let me encourage any of you new (or seasoned) Mamas who might be struggling with feeling like a failure in some way. Lean on God. Reach out to Him and ask Him for your needs. He wants to help you and guide you. He wants to hear from you, (just like you would want to hear from that tiny baby in your arms once he or she has grown up!).

Also, look around you and ask others for help. Many people want to help, but do not know how unless you tell them specifically.

Remember, no matter how a situation turns out, to worship God. I took many an opportunity rocking my baby to simply sing and pray OUT LOUD.

James 5:11

“Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.”

May we pray for you?

Feel free to comment what’s on your heart below. I would love for this to become a community and a safe place for all Mamas to share and learn from one another.

Have a story to share?

Email me your story and we’ll work together to post it on the blog.
Contact me at LilDinoMommy@ourlittledinosaur.com

Need Breastfeeding Help?

I used this resource many times in that early stage of breastfeeding. I reference it even now as we are thinking of night weaning. Thanks KellyMom for being an online support for me and a place for me to find answers to what I thought were unlikely questions.