5 Common Sense Tips for Christian Parents

There are hundreds of parenting tips out there, so as a Christian parent, which ones should you follow? The following are a few tips Christian parents should follow:

Discipline should be corrective, not be abusive

As a parent, and more specifically as a Christian parent, it is your responsibility to teach your child about appropriate behavior. There are many ways to discipline a child, from giving them a timeout or yelling to hitting or demeaning them. However, good, effective discipline means using discipline moments as teachable moments. There is never a good time or reason to use any form of abuse as discipline.

Build your child’s self-esteem

Teaching a child about their self-worth one of the best things you can do for them as a child who doesn’t realize their self-worth will be more susceptible to peer pressure and prone to negative behavior as a way to gain attention and acceptance. A child who knows their worth, and believes that they have value, will make their own decisions and be more well-behaved because they are not as likely to do things simply for peer approval. Drinking, drugs, being disrespect and many other issues that arise out of a desire for attention and esteem disappear when a child realizes their self-worth.

Set a good example

Parents, especially Christian parents, should be living examples of how they expect their children to behave & live. If you treat everybody from your family to the garbage man, and everyone in between, with respect your child will learn to do the same. If you are aware of the feelings of others and guard against hurting the, your child will be conscious of other’s feelings, too. If you embrace and enjoy volunteer service, share your passion for volunteering by signing up for projects with your family. The best way to teach a child is through example. Part of being an effective parent involves leading by example.

Teach values and morals

Christians have well-defined values and morals. A critical part of being a Christian parent involves helping your children define their values and moral code. It is your responsibility to ensure your child understands the values and morals which have been instilled in them and the reasoning behind them; when children understand the “what” and the “why”, it solidifies their ability to believe in them. Children, and people in general, who have a strong moral foundation make every choice they’re faced with through that lens.

Love unconditionally

A child needs to know that they are loved no matter what. It is critical that they know that you are not going to throw them out or disown them if they make a mistake. This fosters a sense of trust in them, knowing that they can talk to you about anything. It’s also important for them to know and understand that they are loved unconditionally forever.