Ten parenting tips that can instantly impact your family

Last updated on: July 2, 2015 at 2:53 pm by Dave Willis

Ten parenting tips that can instantly impact your family 2015-07-02T14:53:30-05:00 Dave Willis

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

When Ashley and I became parents a decade ago, we were pretty clueless about how to take care of this little human being who was now our responsibility. Along the way, we’ve been collecting good parenting advice for mentors, books and anywhere else we can find it. I need all the help I can get, because parenting is the hardest (and also the most important) responsibility I’ve ever been given.

Below is a list of the some of the advice that’s helped us the most. I’ve still got a lot to learn, but these tips have been a tremendous source of instruction and encouragement, and I hope they’re encouraging to you as well.

In no particular order…

1. Be there for your kids in the moments that are important for them, not just the moments that are convenient for you. Kids measure your love by your time.

2. Don’t miss out on a beautiful moment with your kids, because you’re trying so hard to capture that moment to share it on social media. Put the camera away sometimes and simply savor the moment. Encourage them to put down screens too. Families need less screen time and more face time.

3. Give clear rule and expectations, but remember that rules without relationships lead to rebellion. All our rules must come from a place of love or they’ll eventually lead to rebellion (and sometimes they’ll lead to rebellion anyways, but keep loving your kids).

4. Don’t try to make your kids think you’re “perfect.” Just be real with them. Kids aren’t looking for perfection; they’re looking for authenticity.

5. When you’ve blown it, apologize. It doesn’t make you look weak. A genuine apology from you is the best way to teach your kids how and why to apologize when they mess up.

6. If you have multiple children, try to block off some time each day (even if it’s only ten minutes) where you can have uninterrupted, one-on-one time with each child. The relationship dynamics completely change in a one-on-one setting.

7. Teach your kids to be honest more than you teach any other virtue, because honesty is the foundation for all the other virtues, and trust is the foundation of any healthy relationship.

8. The Bible (which actually has all kinds of great parenting insights) says, “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” (Proverbs 22:6) In other words, don’t just leave your kids on autopilot. Be intentional about defining the right path and helping them stay on the right path.

9. Don’t put your marriage on hold while you’re raising your kids or else you’ll end up with an “empty nest” and an empty marriage! One of the greatest gifts you can give your children is to have the kind of marriage that actually makes them want to get married someday.

10. Through your words and your actions, constantly communicate your love for them. The Bible says that “love covers over a multitude of sins.” That means love has a way of healing all those areas where we blow it as parents. If love remains our top parenting priority, everything else tends to fall into place.

For some additional parenting principles, please check out my most popular parenting post on “The 5 things your kids will remember about you” by clicking here.

For daily encouragement to help build your faith and family, you can connect with me on Facebook by clicking here.

If this post helped you, please share it using the links below so we can help others too!

Family and Parenthood

Previous Post

July 1, 2015

An unexpected parenting lesson from a Mob Boss

Next Post

July 5, 2015 5 vital ways to connect with your spouse

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Bible Study Family and Parenthood General Inspiration and Encouragement Life Tools Marriage Uncategorized Videos

Select a Month August 2022 May 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What qualification does Paul give for elders, saying they must be the husband of how many wives?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Two wives As many as he can support No more than three wives One wife

Books by This Author Books by Dave Willis

See All Titles »