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TITLE: 10 Tips for Raising Children with Character
TEXT: Colossians 3:20-21
PROPOSITION: Parents have a huge responsibility.
QUESTION: How?
KEY WORD: Suggestions
SCRIPTURE READING: Same


INTRODUCTION:

  1. Parents have the PRIMARY charge of raising children

  2. Being a good, successful parent is complicated

  3. Here are 10 Tips that might help


  1. Put parenting first

    1. Sermon on Priorities – 2 weeks ago

    2. Keep what is important – at the top

  2. Review how you spend the hours and days of your week

    1. What activities are in your life?

    2. Amount of time at each activity

    3. Amount of time with your children

  3. Be a good example

    1. Do as I say, not as I do - Does not work

    2. Actions (examples) speak louder than words

  4. Develop an ear and an eye for what your children are absorbing

    1. Children are like sponges

    2. TV, movies, songs, internet, books

    3. How are your children behaving because of these things?

  5. Use the language of character

    1. Strong terms of right and wrong

    2. Children must develop a moral compass

    3. We must speak with clear language

  6. Punish with a loving heart

    1. Punishment is necessary

    2. Make sure you don't overdraw your “love account”

  7. Listen to your children

    1. Take time to listen to them

    2. Their problems may seem small to you – BIG to them

    3. You might learn some things along the way

  8. Get deeply involved in your child's school life

    1. Once school starts – parents take a 2nd role

    2. In school 7-8 hours per day

    3. Parents have them for 6 awake hours (evening and breakfast)

    4. Help (don't do) homework – know what your child is learning

  9. Make a big deal out of the family meal

    1. Many homes are just “rest stops”

    2. Make one meal – important – mandatory

    3. Dangerous trend is the death of the family meal

  10. Do not reduce character education to words alone

    1. Virtue comes through practice

    2. Self-discipline, good work habits, kind and considerate

    3. Responsibility, honest, fair, abilit to say, “NO” to wrong



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