Parenting
Purposeful Prayer
Prayer is the conduit to heaven. Prayer provides strength and peace to our lives and covers our families with spiritual protection. So why don’t we pray more often? Prayer takes time. Period. We have to create space in our busy lives for prayer. S.D. Gordon sums it up well, “Great people of the earth today…
Read MoreSocial Emotional Learning
Getting along with others requires an ongoing skill set. Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is a process of developing and applying skills to self-regulate emotions, empathize with others, set and attain goals, form and retain friendships, and make responsible decisions. Learning to self-regulate is a skill for life. As parents and teachers, we can promote social…
Read More12 Tips to Stop Kids from Biting
Bites hurt! These 12 tips will help stop your little one from chomping down on others. Baby teeth may be small, but a young child who’s biting needs to learn quickly it’s not okay. Little kids bite for a variety of reasons. They’re overtired, teething, needing attention, or feeling out of control. Young children have a…
Read MoreFoster Scientific Discovery in Kids
Children are scientists at heart. Foster that desire to explore! Scientific discovery is a learning process. As kids of all ages make sense of their world, they study how things work both in nature and the man made world. In the backyard or a neighborhood park: • Search for animal tracks. • Examine tree buds.…
Read More10 Considerations in Choosing an Elementary School
There are a number of considerations in choosing an elementary school. The process can be a nerve-racking experience for parents. Public or private? Faith-based or secular? Large school or smaller school? Moving from a preschool your child liked, with a teacher you’ve come to know and love can make it even harder for both you…
Read MoreGreat Books for Raising Kids
Parents often ask for recommendations in regard to parenting books. Scott and I sought out book suggestions when we were in the midst of raising our boys. A personal recommendation from a friend or expert we trusted was helpful. So, here’s a list of favorites from the Danielson bookcase. The Holy Bible Bringing Up Boys…
Read MoreMatters of Faith
Faith matters. Foundational faith practices come from intentional leading. How Mom, Dad, and other adults model faith building helps children develop their own faith habits. The bible is a roadmap, instruction book, and communication tool all rolled into one. Reading the bible with children of any age provides a solid foundation in faith. The lessons…
Read MoreSharing
Children refusing to share is a common frustration for a lot of parents. Moms and dads are surprised and disappointed by their child’s behavior because hoarding and selfishness are not on the list of attributes one wants to instill in a child. But kids can be taught to share and like it! Use these ideas…
Read MoreFive Tips to Instill Respect
Respecting others in thought, word, and deed is a foundational virtue to instill in young children. When respect reigns in the family, children learn to be kind and thoughtful to others. It’s a simple fact, adult behaviors are the direct model for kids. The antithesis of respect is rudeness and disrespect. With young children, disobedience…
Read MoreTop Ten Tips for Nurturing Generosity
Gratitude and generosity are kindred virtues. Nurture your children through modeling a grateful and giving spirit. When we are thankful we are much more willing to be generous. As parents, we know training kids to be generous can be a bit overwhelming. It’s difficult to get kids to even share with their siblings, much less…
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