Parenting Tips

  By Courtney Cagle   Going back to school is an exciting (and nervous!) time for both kids and parents. We worry about whether kids will do well in their classes, if they will get along with others, and if they will be friends with “good” kids. And of course, we often worry about bullying–not […]

By Haley Hawks   When I was twelve years old I spent much of my time reading. I loved it, and I loved to share it with others. But the kids my age didn’t read the same books I was reading so I searched out individuals to speak with on the internet. I was engrossed […]

By Haley Hawks I remember my very first day of preschool. My mother walked me into this huge building, gently settled me into a group of kids my age, and when I was looking away tried to slip quietly out. When I looked around for her a moment later I was scared to see that […]

  By Kami Loyd Like most little girls, I grew up wanting to be just like my mom. I thought she was the prettiest, smartest, best person ever born. However, she didn’t feel this way about herself and it had a great impact on me that I didn’t quite understand until I was an adult. […]

By: Courtney Cagle and Melody Bergman   It’s happening all around us: the zombie apocalypse. What’s that you say? You don’t hear chainsaws or see gory corpses staggering through the streets? Ah, but look more closely… On a recent beach trip I saw them, a flock of teens staring eerily ahead–not at the balmy seaside, […]

A media guideline is a great tool for protecting your family from online dangers and excessive usage of devices. By Caron C. Andrews Cell phones, televisions, iPods, tablets, laptops, PCs—they’ve become a way of life and a way of communicating and relating to each other. They provide great sources of information and tools that make many formerly time-consuming tasks […]

  By Spencer Loyd Recently, I was speaking to a friend who has a twelve-year-old son. He told me of an experience he had where he walked in on his wife and son speaking about puberty. He overheard his son asking his mother about some of the more intimate details of puberty. My friend told […]

  By Lacy Bentley As parents, it is normal to worry about what our children watch, and how it might be impacting their developing sexuality and understanding of life. As with any important step in raising kids, changing things up requires a few key components. Be on the same page with the other parent. When […]

  By Trishia Van Orden This is part two of a two part series. You can find part one . Parents play so many roles in a child’s life. One of the most important is being their first and most trusted stop for information, love, and support. Parents need to help their teens understand the […]

  By Dina Alexander, MS I’ve spent much of my time warning parents about the dangers our kids are facing online. At times I have felt fear, frustration, and even hopelessness as I have watched our culture become more disconnected, lonely, and increasingly cold-hearted. However, I have come to realize that feeling fear and frustration […]

  By Caroline Hilton, MS The dating scene has dramatically changed for millenials and it is likely to continue to digress for Generation Z. We live in a NOW society, with little ability to wait for that planned date, wait to be courted, or wait for sex with the right person. This lack of self-restraint […]

There is no doubt that our kids will face difficult times in childhood. Some will be minor and some can be life-altering. But if we can help them successfully navigate their concerns and uncertainties, we can teach them the skill of resilience, which will serve them through the rest of their lives.

Yes, we need to talk about dangers and keeping our kids safe online (and offline). But that is just one step in a much richer, fuller process in our modern parenting. It’s time to empower ourselves and our kids to the possibilities all around us! It’s time to connect our wisdom with their tech savvy in order to build better relationships and a better future.

Each of us wants to have mentally, emotionally, and physically strong children, and this time of year is a great time to make new goals to build your relationship with your child. Set these goals today, and see your relationship grow!