Help for Parents and Kids

Raising children is a remarkable privilege for married couples and single adults too. Children don’t come with an instruction manual and most parents are not well prepared for the challenges ahead.

However, there are endless resources available to parents who are willing to read, listen and learn. One of the most helpful authors we found when we were raising our children was Dr. James Dobson who was the founder of Focus on the Family ministry. He led that organization for over 30 years with a national daily radio program. He also authored numerous books on a variety of family issues. He now directs the Dobson Family Institute.

Some of his early books were written when our kids were teenagers but most of them have been revised and updated to address issues that parents and children are facing in this internet age. Some of the titles included “Dare to Discipline” and “The Strong Willed Child”. He also wrote “Bringing Up Boys” and “Bringing Up Girls”.

My favorite book was “Preparing for Adolescence”. In this book Dobson addressed topics on self-esteem, peer pressure and other challenges facing teens and pre-teens today. He provided parents and teens with helpful strategies for navigating the turbulent waters of adolescence.

I often tell teenagers at our church that they needed to be patient with their parents because their parents don’t know what they are doing. They have never raised a teenager before. The parents usually looked surprised to hear me say this and the teenagers usually nodded their heads in agreement.

The Bible has a lot of practical wisdom for parents and children. One passage says, “Children, do what your parents tell you and parents don’t come down too hard on your children or you will crush their spirits (Colossians 3:20-21 – from the Message Bible). I’m sure there are other good authors who have addressed many of the challenges facing children, teens and parents today. I also like authors Kevin Leman and Tony Evans. Helpful resources are available online and in local book stores.

Let me encourage you to equip yourself for raising the children in your life. Read some good books and find some helpful parenting passages in the Bible. Listen to some podcasts. Talk with other parents. Get your kids and teens connected in a good church in your area. Ask God for wisdom and patience as you parent your children and teens. They will be glad you did and you will too!

You can read 365 more stories (one for every day of the year) in the author’s book “Let Me Encourage You” by Mark Hopper. Purchase one for yourself and share one with a friend. The pre-holiday price is two books for only $30 plus postage. Order your books today at markh@efreedb.org.