Character Training – Page 74 – Parenting Like Hannah

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 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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Teaching Kids About Needs and Wants

Teaching Kids About Needs and Wants - Parenting Like Hannah Years ago when I lived in New York City, there was a well known “preacher” who promised people if they gave him $500, God would give them a new Cadillac. Most of the members of his congregation were some of the poorest people in New York City. I always wondered what happened when the promised car failed to appear.

God never promised us everything we want in life, no matter what we give Him. A quick look at the lives of the Apostles and how they ended, will reinforce this concept. As far as we know, none of them gathered great wealth and power. In fact, they all experienced periods of imprisonment, beatings, exile and rather horrid deaths (except for the Apostle John who apparently died of old age). Yet, through it all, their faith remained strong and they stayed focused on God’s mission for their lives – no matter the cost.

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Fun Way for Kids to Practice Responsibility

Fun Ways to Teach Kids Responsibility - Parenting Like Hannah If you read our 7 Tips for Raising Responsible Children, you know how important it is to raise your kids to be responsible. Most parents use chores and/or pets to begin teaching responsible behavior. Even if your child is mastering those, he or she may still not realize the impact being irresponsible can have on others.

Want a fun way to teach them the concept and help others at the same time? Have a service project assembly line. Find a project that involves several steps which must be repeated multiple times. (Our parent website Teach One Reach One has lots of great free ideas.) Often collections, like bags of school supplies or disaster supplies, make great assembly line service projects. Or maybe you can make multiple batches of cookies or games. Anything that requires multiple steps and you can afford to make several of them.

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