3 Keys to Parenting With JesusSample

2. Provide Instruction

Children are not miniature adults. They aren’t delivered to us full of wisdom and common sense. They arrive fearless and foolish.

“Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child” (Proverbs 22:15). You need to teach them godly disciplines and life skills to overcome their foolishness. “Discipline your children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire” (Proverbs 29:17)

It takes time and patience to train a child. They hardly ever get it the first time—but then, neither do we. Consider the last time you learned something new.

Did you master it the first time? Did any of the instructions have to be repeated? And this is important: Affirm what they do right and well.

What we focus on grows. Catch your kids doing things right more often than exposing mistakes and wrongdoing so they aren’t afraid of trying new things. “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11)