Author: Thereasa Winnett

Thereasa Winnett is the founder of Teach One Reach One and blogger at Parenting Like Hannah. She holds a BA in education from the College of William and Mary. She has served in all areas of ministry to children and teens for more than thirty years and regularly leads workshops for ministries and churches. She has conducted numerous workshops, including sessions at Points of Light’s National Conference on Volunteering and Service, the National Urban Ministry Conference, Pepperdine Bible Lectures, and Lipscomb’s Summer Celebration. Thereasa lives in Atlanta, GA with her husband Greg, where she enjoys reading, knitting, traveling and cooking.

Fun Activity For Teaching Christian Kids About Self-Image

Fun Activity For Teaching Christian Kids About Self-Image - Parenting Like Hannah Absalom is a great example of someone in the Bible who thought they were “all that and a bag of chips.” It’s easy to see why. “In the whole land of Israel there wasn’t any man as handsome as Absalom was. That’s why everyone praised him. From the top of his head to the bottom of his feet he didn’t have any flaws.” (2 Samuel 14:25 NIrV)

Evidently, Absalom believed all of this praise and decided he was so very awesome, he should be King. Did I mention he was willing to overthrow his own father in the process? Things didn’t end well for Absalom, because unlike his father, he was not a man after God’s own heart.

Whether your children are physically beautiful to everyone who sees them or only to you, it’s too easy to believe our looks define who we are. Society doesn’t do much to contradict this faulty reasoning. A quick flip through a magazine will help anyone who wondered, realize physical beauty is highly valued.

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Fun Way to Raise Family Encouragers

Fun Way to Raise Family Encouragers - Parenting Like Hannah Family dynamics are interesting. The people who supposedly love you the most in the world, also know exactly what to say or do to make you feel the most unloved. Sadly, we have all been guilty of saying something hurtful to a spouse, parent or sibling. In some families, it quickly becomes a bad habit. Everyone feels safer taking their frustration, hurt and anger from their day and punishing family members with it – even when they had absolutely nothing to do with it.

There’s a fun way to flip that dynamic and make your family a place where the members come home to be loved, encouraged and built up to face the world another day. It’s simple, cheap and can even become an ongoing family project.

Grab some cute blank books. You can find these cheaply at Target dollar spot or at craft stores like Michael’s. Have each family member decorate their book in any way they would like. Have a short devotional explaining that each family member is to write encouraging messages to the person in their book. It can be a scripture, a complement, or just encouragement. (“I know you will do great on the test this week – you’ve studied so hard!)

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Great Resource for Christian Grandpas

Before our daughter was born, the hospital provided classes for new grandparents. It was a great way to update them on some things that had changed since they had their children. Other than that though, there really isn’t a lot of guidance out there for grandparents. It’s supposed to be the fun part of life and therefor intuitive.

It’s a shame really, because grandparents can have a tremendous impact on the lives of their grandchildren. they can shape a child’s faith walk in ways that may be difficult for anyone other than a grandparent to accomplish. So, I was excited to finally find a resource for grandpas (Sorry grandma, I’m still looking for one for you!). Championship Grandfathering:How to Build a Winning Legacy by Carey Casey is actually a sequel to the author’s fathering book.

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Worshipping With Your Kids

Worshipping With Your Kids - Parenting Like Hannah In many churches, children never worship with the adults in worship services. Others whisk them away before the sermon begins. Some may provide other options during worship for children, but only during the school year. A few congregations only offer worship activities for infants, while children remain in worship.

Personally, I think we can learn a lot from how children were treated in the Old Testament. From what we can tell, often the Law was read in front of the entire population – including children. To me, it seems the best place to learn how to worship God is by worshipping Him with your family. For many children the only time God and their family are together is in the church building. As a result, the only time children can worship with their family is during worship service at church. Even if you also worship with your kids at home during the week, there is a special emotional connection that happens when families worship together in a church worship service.

Regardless of how you feel about your kids being in the worship service with you (and I strongly encourage you to arrange that no matter what is available), you will find yourself at some point with your children on the pew next to you in worship service. So what can you do that will allow you to worship and teach your children to worship at the same time? There are probably plenty of things you can do, but here are some of my favorite tips.

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Great Spiritual Legacy and Encouragement Gift for Your Teen

Great Spiritual Legacy and Encouragement Gift for Your Teen - Parenting Like Hannah As your children enter their teen years, you may begin to feel a sense of urgency in your parenting. You only have a few years remaining when you will see your child daily and have hours a day to help build their spiritual foundation. By your child’s senior year of high school, even the most proactive Christian parent can feel a sense of panic. What have you forgotten to teach? What more do you need to say?

There is a way though to create a special gift that will be a subtle (or not so subtle) reminder for your child of the spiritual truths that were so important to you – the ones you pray are also a part of who they are and who they will become. The great thing is you can put your own special touches on it that will also reflect your love for your child and the value you place on your relationship.

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