All of us want to be good parents, and want to do our best to raise our kids properly. However, if you look around today you can see the progression of bad parenting has grown.
This progression is the opposite of what we want as Christian parents. However, it is easy to fall into some of these habits in our parenting.
A common progression is:
1. Laugh at what your little ones do; it’s just SO cute!
2. Tolerate their behavior when it no longer seems so cute. .
3. Correct and scold them because the behavior now is irritating you.
4. Berate and humiliate them when you can no longer tolerate the irritation from that “cute behavior.”
5. Lose their heart because of how you now respond to their wrong behavior, and your lack of acceptance of them.
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How To Stop the Progression of Bad Parenting:
1. Even if it’s cute when they do something wrong, don’t laugh at them.
That just encourages them to continue or repeat the behavior. If it’s not something you want them doing when they are two or even ten years older, then don’t laugh at it now!
2. Rather than tolerate their behavior, train them in what is acceptable and what is not.
Don’t just expect them to know what behavior you are looking for. They need training and practice in doing what is right. Set clear standards and rules, as well as consequences for not following them.
Say Goodbye to Whining, Complaining, and Bad Attitudes... in You and Your Kids
Passionate Parenting: Enjoying the Journey of Parenting TeensSolving A Crisis in Christian Parenting: Why so many prodigals?[(Child Training Tips : What I Wish I Knew When My Children Were Young)] [By (author) Reb Bradley] published on (August, 2014)
![[(Child Training Tips : What I Wish I Knew When My Children Were Young)] [By (author) Reb Bradley] published on (August, 2014)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51SnOcJL+QL._SL500_.jpg)
You need to be intentional in your parenting, to be sure you are teaching them what is acceptable behavior.
3. After training them, correct consistently when they aren’t obeying the family rules that have been taught.
Consistency keeps you calm, and teaches them that it’s not worth taking chances.
4. Never humiliate them for their wrong behavior.
That will not make them sorry for their sin, but will make them angry and resentful of you. Let them know we all struggle, and we need God’s help to do what is right.
Using God’s Word as we train and correct our kids is the best way to reach their hearts, because God’s Word has power that our words don’t have.
Using God’s Word also keeps you from getting angry as you train and correct wrong behavior.
5. Remember that the goal of discipline and correction is to change their heart, not their behavior.
In the book, Passionate Parenting, author Cary Schmidt asks the question,
“If you had to quantify your parenting focus with following words, which two would be most accurate: Managing Behavior or Mentoring Hearts?
In the big picture, all discipline is about bringing our children into a right relationship with their Heavenly Father that He might bless their lives. It’s not about controlling behavior, modifying behavior, or minimizing embarrassment. Biblically correcting your child is one of the greatest ways to win their heart to you and to God forever.” (Passionate Parenting)
This is such an important truth to remember! If we focus on the heart issue, when that is taken care of, the behavior will be better.
What are some parenting tips that you would add to this list?
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