How to Teach your Child The Bible

How to Teach your Child The Bible!!!

William Lyon Phelps, the noted educator, once declared that a knowledge of the Bible without a college education is worth more than a college education without a knowledge of the Bible. With this statement we heartily agree. It is hard to exaggerate the great value of a working knowledge of the Bible. Fortunate indeed is the child whose parents realize the responsibility, the necessity, and the wonderful opportunity of teaching their children the Bible.

Example alone is not enough. We would not in the least minimize the importance of setting the right example before the child by living daily the principles of truth taught in the Scriptures. But this is NOT enough. To build a faith in the child that is strong and to equip him to meet the temptations he shall surely face in life, we must teach him by word and deed the Bible. It is significant that Jesus met temptation with the Word of God (Matthew 4). Each temptation was met with "It is written." It is still true in the 20th century that there is a Scripture that will help us successfully overcome every temptation, James says, "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." The Word of God is our offensive weapon against sin and Satan (Ephesians 6:17).

One of the best ways to train the child in the home is through the medium of a daily devotional. There is something sweet and sublime about a father, mother, and children sitting down together in the quiet of their home, reading the Bible and having prayer. Each father and mother should figure out what time of day is the most logical for the family to have a devotional. For many families the best time may be in the evening just before retiring. If the father works in the evening it may be that immediately following breakfast or lunch is the logical time.

It only takes about five minutes after the family has finished the meal to read a brief selection from the Bible, make a few comments, select a choice verse for the entire family to repeat several times together, and close by having prayer. This may be done while the family is still seated around the table. Such devotionals build spiritual strength and draw the family closer to each other and to God. The family that prays together stays together. In the years ahead these minutes will constitute precious memories that will fortify the soul!

Children enjoy the thrilling stories of the Bible and they can be taught to memorize some of the great passages so easily. Several years ago on the television program "Know Your Bible" a panel of lawyers were asked Bible questions. One prominent attorney was especially well versed in the Old Testament. Here was the explanation he gave for it: "I came from a large family. My father in the evenings read us Bible stories. We had to listen to the story and then write it. I have never forgotten what I learned as a child."

Remember your child will be a child only once. Fleeting years of childhood will soon be gone forever and with them will go the opportunity of training your child in the Bible. Begin today a serious systematic effort! You will be giving him something that cannot be taken from him when you are gone, that will fortify his soul against the attacks of sin and Satan. Begin today!

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Are Video Games Bad for Me?

Lots of kids love video games. In fact, they like them so much that they might hear something like this from mom or dad: "Enough! Unplug that thing and find something else to do!"

It can be good advice, even if you were just about to crash through to the next level. Why? Too much of anything is just too much. It's true that some studies have shown certain video games can improve hand-eye coordination, problem-solving skills, and the mind's ability to process information. But too much video game playing can cause health problems.

It's hard to get enough active play and exercise if you're always inside playing video games. And without enough exercise, kids can become overweight.

Really overdoing video games also could affect other important stuff, like friendships and how well a kid does in school. And it's still unclear what effect violent and disturbing games have on a person's brain.

But here's the good news: Playing video games some of the time can be OK. Just aim for no more than 1 or 2 hours a day and choose quality games.

A good game will be the right one for how old you are. Games are rated like movies and your mom or dad can help figure out which ones you should use. If you can choose one that gets you up and moving, that's even better.

You might challenge your mom, dad — or even your grandma — to swing the bat in a game of baseball or try out some fancy moves in one of the dancing games. Could your grandma be a dancing queen? Time to find out!

Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: March 2008

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Training Your Children to Tidy Their Rooms

Almost every parent comes up against this one - and for many it is a source of great aggravation, frustration, and countless fights and arguments. So how do you solve it? Here are some tips:

Typically, the child's room is overflowing with things, and there is not enough space in the cupboards and drawers. So, the first thing to do is to provide more space for their stuff, which may appear useless to you but is very precious for them. You might have to invest in additional shelves, boxes under the bed, or chests of drawers.

Always, make more room than is required today, because the stuff will go on increasing and the problem will remain unsolved if there is not sufficient space. Moreover, there should be enough space to let the child take out what he wants without having to empty the whole drawer.

Next thing to do is to make a routine and set up reasonable expectations. Many children are by nature very meticulous and organized; some are not. Also, their concept of tidiness may be very different from yours. If you think you can see their room spic and span all through the day, you are mistaken. It is an unreasonable expectation; it will only lead to frustration. It would be better if you take your child's views and then establish a reasonable standard of tidiness, and how often that should be achieved.

Remember, your goal should be to teach your children how to responsibly look after their belongings. That their untidiness upsets you is your problem. You will have to allow them to fail at times and face the consequences of that. In other words, you may have to put up with their untidiness for a bit longer.

You need to establish reasonable expectations, such as putting things away before bedtime and a once-a-week thorough tidy-up. Then you can draw up some kind of contract.

In this you should spell out the consequences for success and failure. Give clear indications of what the rewards or punishments would be.

Again, it is better to focus on rewards such as privileges earned based on achieving the goal. This can be combined with a chart system connected to other chores.

Of course, you can use some punishments for failure also, but they must be logical consequences, and not out of proportion with the crime. Many parents find the "black bag" technique quite effective. This is a simple exercise of picking up anything still lying on the floor at 1pm on Saturday and putting it into a big black bag. This bag will be thrown into the attic, basement or garage for a week. This bag can be 'earned' back if the tidy goal is achieved next Saturday or it will be thrown into the basement and finally into the garbage. But most children learn the lesson much before that happens because they run out of toys.

The secret of success of this exercise is in remaining calm and firm. Avoid shouting or other punishments. Just go at the appointed time and collect the offending articles.

The black bag technique works very well. No child wants to part with his belongings. At the most you might have to use it a couple of times. That is usually enough to drive home the message.

Finally, if there is a special reason why you want the room tidied up at a non-contracted time - if, for example, you have visitors who will need to borrow your child's room for a night or two - then remember that this is extra to your original contract, so it would be only fair to offer an additional incentive for them to tidy up. It is, after all, for your benefit, not theirs!

About Noel Swanson.

Dr. Noel Swanson's website provides free good-child-guide.com/parenting expert parenting tips - you will also find a free chapter to his highly acclaimed book, the GOOD CHILD Guide. You can also meet with other parents on a yesparenting.com/forum parenting forum

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How Long will It Take to Toilet Train My Child?

It may take up to 3 months. It is important for you to be patient and supportive. Do not punish your child when he or she has an accident.

If your child is not toilet trained within 3 months, consult your family doctor. The most likely reason your child has not learned to use the potty is that your child is not yet ready for toilet training. Read More ..

How do I Teach My Child to Use The Toilet?

After your child has become comfortable with flushing the toilet and sitting on the potty chair, you may begin teaching your child to go to the bathroom. Keep your child in loose, easily removable pants.

Place your child on the potty chair whenever he or she signals the need to go to the bathroom. Your child's facial expression may change when he or she feels the need to urinate or to have a bowel movement. Your child may stop any activity he or she is engaged in when he or she feels the need to go to the bathroom.

Most children have a bowel movement once a day, usually within an hour after eating. Most children urinate within an hour after having a large drink.

In addition to watching for signals that your child needs to urinate or have a bowel movement, place your child on the potty at regular intervals. This may be as often as every 1and a half to 2 hours.

Stay with your child when he or she is on the potty chair. Reading or talking to your child when he or she is sitting on the potty may help your child relax. Praise your child when he or she goes to the bathroom in the potty chair, but do not express disappointment if your child does not urinate or have a bowel movement in the potty. Be patient with your child.

Once your child has learned to use the potty chair, your child can begin using an over-the-toilet seat and a step-up stool. Read More ..

How Should I Prepare My Child for Toilet Training?

Allow your child to be present when you go to the bathroom and make your child feel comfortable in the bathroom. Allow your child to see urine and bowel movements in the toilet. Let your child play with flushing the toilet.

Before toilet training your child, place a potty chair in your child's normal living and play area so that your child will become familiar with the potty. Consider placing a potty chair on each floor of the house if you live in a multilevel home. Allow your child to observe, touch and become familiar with the potty chair.

Tell your child that the potty chair is his or her own chair. Allow your child to sit fully clothed on the potty chair, as if it were a regular chair. Allow your child to leave the potty chair at any time. Do not force your child to spend time sitting on the chair.

After your child has become used to the potty chair and sits on it regularly with his or her clothes on, try having your child sit on the potty without wearing pants and a diaper. Let your child become comfortable with sitting on the potty without wearing pants and a diaper.

The next step is to show your child how the potty chair is used. Place stool from a dirty diaper into the potty chair. Allow your child to observe the transfer of the bowel movement from the potty chair into the toilet. Let your child flush the toilet and watch the bowel movement disappear down the toilet.

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When Should I Start Toilet Training My Child

Do not start toilet training until both you and your child are ready. You are ready when you are able to devote the time and energy necessary to encourage your child on a daily basis for at least 3 months.

Your child is ready when he or she can signal that the diaper is wet or soiled, or when your child is able to say that he or she would like to go to the potty. This usually occurs when a child is 18 to 24 months of age. However, it is not uncommon for a child to still be in diapers at 2 and a half to 3 years of age.

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