kids Archives

The Funny Things Kids Pray

Some time ago, a colleague tacked up the following sign above his door here at Focus:

Live Well (Philippians 1:27-28), Love Much (John 13:34-35), Laugh Often (Proverbs 17:22)

There is so much to say about each of these, but if laughter is truly good medicine, I thought I’d end the week by sharing something sweet – and comical, with you.

Riley was five years old. His father is on our team here at Focus, and he and his wife have made a habit of recording some of the more memorable comments the little tyke makes, especially at bedtime.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, humor, kids August 15, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

12 Suggestions for Loving a Prodigal Child

The following is excerpted from a previous post (which can be found here):

I recently came across an excellent article from Abraham Piper, the son of author and pastor John Piper. For parents who are currently struggling with a child (of any age) who has either strayed from their Christian faith or never professed Jesus as Lord of their life, this will serve as practical guidance to help you manage what is a very difficult reality.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, kids, parenting August 12, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

One Practical Way to Prepare Your Teen for the College Years

Do you have a teen in high school who’s just beginning to think about and make plans for the future? There are a lot of factors to consider. Their talents, interests, and God’s direction all play a part. Do they have goals or sense of purpose? Will they strike out into the workforce or go to college?

It’s an exciting time. But so many changes looming on the horizon can be scary as well. And most teenagers will need their parents’ guidance to help them sort through their options.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: events, family, kids August 11, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

How to Help Help Your Child Thrive in the Middle School Years

By the time kids enter middle school, their march toward independence is well under way.

But let’s face it – it can be a confusing time for parents.

When a child spreads his wings, it can feel like he’s turning his back on you instead. But that’s not really the case. Your middle schooler needs you as much as he always has.

In some ways, more.

He just needs you in a different way than he did in his formative years.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith, family, kids, parenting August 7, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

What Andy Rooney Thought Every Child Should Have

Although he struck many of us as something of a curmudgeon, I enjoyed watching and reading Andy Rooney over the years.

Mr. Rooney lived a long and colorful life before passing away at the age of 92. Many of his newspaper columns were compiled into various books. The following essay that I’m going to excerpt, “What Every Kid Should Have Growing Up,” comes from one of his best-selling works titled Sweet and Sour.

Reading over this list, I have to admit that I wish I had all these things growing up.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: discipline, family, kids, parenting, pop culture August 1, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

How to Know If You’re Making Healthy Food Choices for Your Family

It’s up to parents to show their family how to live a healthy lifestyle. But as you’ve probably discovered, that can be easier said than done. The labels on packages can be tricky. And just how many grams of fat and carbs should be in our diet anyway?

If you’re wondering how to help your family make good food choices, we hope you’ll join us this week for our three-day broadcast series titled, “Sound Advice on Healthy Eating,” with our guest, registered dietician David Meinz.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, family, kids, parenting July 31, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

WATCH: Can You Relate to These Stories?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNQKAF9LdB8

Giving is down and key ministries are at risk. You can help by showing your support at www.focusonthefamily.com/summer2014.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: family, finances, kids, marriage, parenting July 30, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

God’s Blueprint for Healthy Families

If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you know I enjoy highlighting the abundance of research that pops up in support of families. The reason is simple: Well-designed studies affirm again and again that God’s blueprint for healthy families can be trusted, regardless of which way the winds of culture may blow.

Take, for example, a recent article by Dr. Janice Shaw Crouse, Executive Director and Senior Fellow at Concerned Women for America’s Beverly LaHaye Institute.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, kids, marriage, parenting July 29, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Tips for Budgeting for Back-to-School Spending

A new school year is just around the corner, and you know what that means:

The annual hunt for school supplies.

Did you know preparing for school in the fall is, on average, a family’s second largest expenditure each year, outranked only by Christmas?

Maybe that comes as a surprise to you, but I’m sure this won’t: The time and cost required of parents to get their kids ready for a new school year can not only put a strain on their wallet, but on their marriage.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, kids, parenting July 24, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Guest Post: Does New Research Prove Kids Do Better with Two Moms?

Today’s post comes courtesy of Glenn Stanton, Focus on the Family’s director of Family Formation Studies.

A new study from the University of Melbourne in Australia on how kids from same-sex homes fare is getting a good deal of press. Perhaps you’ve seen the news stories and wondered if this changes the nature of the debate over the importance of the family?

It does not.

This new study gives the same kind of findings we’ve seen before, coming from the same kinds of studies with the same kinds of serious short-comings and method problems.

Topics: Current Events Tags: family, homosexuality, kids, news, parenting July 9, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura