Bethel Church Senior Associate Leader Kris Vallotton shared “11 Parenting Keys for Raising Powerful, Godly Kids.” These are invaluable words of wisdom that some parents may greatly benefit from hearing.
Children are God’s gifts
Every parent is called by God to be a good steward of their child. Psalm 127:3 states, “Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.” From a biblical standpoint, children are treasures sent by God to parents, and therefore, they are expected to be well-cared for.
Marisa Howenstine. (Photographer). (2018). Kids Playing, Retrieved December 15, 2023 from: https://unsplash.com/photos/two-toddler-playing-letter-cubes-Cq9slNxV8YU
However, many parents would agree that parenting is not easy; it’s a challenging journey as kids grow up in different stages of life. That’s why godly wisdom in parenting can be helpful on this journey. Christian author Kris Vallotton shared 11 tips for raising powerful kids.
11 Parenting Keys
Kris posted on his Instagram to offer advice to parents on how to handle their children well. Here are the 11 keys that he shared in the caption:
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Be consistent.
Parenting should not depend on your mood. Make sure your kids can rely on the same outcomes regardless of how you feel.
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Use a calm voice.
If your voice needs to escalate before you take action, you are teaching your kids that you don’t mean what you say until your voice reaches a certain volume.
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Correct attitudes before they lead to actions.
All behavior begins with a thought, which manifests in an attitude, and eventually becomes an action. Therefore, bad actions stem from wrong thoughts. By correcting attitudes, you teach your kids how to manage their inner world so they don’t create chaos in their outer world.
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Be the first to inform your kids about important subjects.
The principle of first mention states that the first time we learn about a subject, we accept it as truth. Subsequent information about the same subject will be evaluated against our initial experience and either embraced or rejected accordingly.
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Allow children to learn from their own experiences.
When you see them making mistakes that won’t have severe consequences, let them learn from the experience. They learn more from their failures than from their successes.
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Speak positively into your children’s lives.
What you think of them and what you say to them has an impact on who they become.
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Teach your kids how to solve conflicts by letting them observe you resolving your own.
Don’t shield them from witnessing you appropriately work through your issues. They need tools to navigate conflicts, not avoid them.
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Create a home filled with affection for your children and your spouse.
Continue hugging and kissing them regularly, even during their teenage years.
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Teach your children how to honor others, especially authority figures.
Your kids won’t thrive in society without a healthy respect for authority.
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Allow your children to “catch you” loving Jesus.
Remember, people are influenced through observation, not just through arguments.
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Teach your kids how to handle money.
They should learn about generosity, trusting God with their finances, stewarding money, and creating wealth. Teach your children that they have two choices: they can serve God or they can serve money. One of them will be their master.
Reference | Instagram – Kris Vallotton
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Header Image: Kris Vallotton [@kvministries]. Kris Vallotton. Instagram, 10 Nov. 2023, https://www.instagram.com/p/Czco214N67v/