Tag Archives: Parent

Discipline and The Child

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Discipline and the Child
By Deaconess Dolapo Layode

The word “discipline” refers to training  which is both instructive and corrective. The word of God shows us very clearly  that training is targeted towards achieving preset goals and objectives.  Proverbs 22:6 tells us “Train up a child in the way He should go”. The expected  outcome of any training exercise must be clear from the onset.

The responsibility for having a clear  understanding of the expected results of training and discipline lies primarily  with the parents. As Christian parents, it’s important to realize that it is  your responsibility to raise godly children who will grow in the ways of the  kingdom. The Word of God speaks expressly of the uniqueness and peculiarities  of the Christian. (1 Peter 2: 9)  Child  training and discipline therefore should have one primary objective; the growth  and development of a child in the way of the word of God.

The Lord Jesus speaking to us in John 15:  19 tells us “…..we are not of this world”, but we live in this world, thus we  are exposed to the influences of the world. The influences include the senses  and the wisdom of this world therefore as Christian parents, we have the  responsibility of guiding our children to look away from the society and look  unto the way of God’s Word.

Children  Must Know the Word of God

Children in their earlier years learn more  by observation and mimicking rather than from instructions given to them. As  parents, our lives and lifestyles have the primary influence on the lives of  our kids.  Our children learn more from  our actions than from our words, our lives are the first point of contact they  have with the kingdom of God.

Throughout the scriptures, we will observe  that God always instructed His people to plan their lives around the house of  God.  The same applies to us today. In  training our kids, we must show them that we hold the word of God in ultimate  regard. We should do the word of God in all things and at all times.

Our  Convictions Must be Clear

Our convictions and belief system must be  clear in the minds of our children; we must communicate these to them very  early in their lives. They must know that we are non-conformist to this world  and its ways of doing things (Romans 12:1-2). They must know that majority is  not always right and that because an idea is widely accepted does not make it  right; rather they ought to live their lives in the light of God’s Word. This  is very important as our kids begin to interact with the world in school where  they are confronted with negative talking, wrong music, and wrong books etc. As  Christian parents we should be non-apologetic about what we believe and be  dogged in raising our kids to live the Christ– life in its fullness here on  earth, applying corrective measures (punishment) to ensure that our children  are set on the path they must follow.

Training your child in the  way of our kingdom is the best gift any parent can give a child and God has  given you the ability to do this. He depends on you to raise godly kids that  will hurl back the kingdom of darkness and cause the knowledge of the glory of  God to cover the earth as the waters cover the seas.

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Developing bolder and brighter kids

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Developing  Bolder and Brighter Kids
by Pastor Joy Amenkhienan

Learn how to take care of your kids from  the stage of growing up (between the ages of 3-7) to the stage of discernment.

The  Growing Up Stage
At this stage, parents should ensure that  their kids attend church services regularly. They should not leave them at home  while they are in church.

It’s also at this stage that parents ought  to start activating their plans for their kids. That’s when they should  compliment their children on whatever they do. This would give them the  boldness to do better next time. They should not be hushed up whenever they try  to say something and emphasis should not be placed on the wrong things they do  but on the good. Parents must also talk their children up. For example, they  don’t need to have passed an examination before you let them know they’re  intelligent. Parents must use faith-filled words in communicating to their  kids.

Most importantly, kids should be properly  dressed at all times. Good dressing gives them self confidence. They should be  neatly and decently dressed at all times. They should wear the best.

The next stage is between ages 8 and 14.

The  Stage Of Discernment
This is a very critical time for the  children. Parents should pay close attention to their kids because whatever  they learn at this age will not be easily forgotten. Here they begin to make  choices about what appeals to them. Here, constant communication between parents  and kids is very important in avoiding wrong influences. The parents should  guard against wrong habits in their kids.

Parents must know their children’s friends.  They have to ensure that their kids have children of like minds and from  Christian homes around them. Playtime should not just be about playing; parents  should ensure that their kids get the right kind of information during leisure.  This includes the right language, the right games, the right movies, the right  books etc.

Kids can write confessions  and place them on their walls or on their bed sides. They can also have  “talking” sessions and engage in Bible games.

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