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7 Mistakes You Should Let Your Kids Make

It’s hard to know when to let go and let your kids, especially your teens, make mistakes or even fail. But, sometimes, letting your kids make mistakes is the best way to help them learn. Here’s a simple list to help you to determine when it may be okay to let your kids make mistakes. First, let them fail a test. Sometimes all it takes one bad grade and one consequence to wake them up to the importance of studying....
Jun 17, 2015 / Discipline

Why You Need to Stick with Your Kid's Consequences

Unfortunately, discipline is not a “one-size-fits-all” sort of deal. Each child is unique. So here are 2 discipline options to choose from when disciplining your child. First, there’s giving consequences. Consequences could include doing an extra chore. Second, there’s withholding privileges, like playing video games, using social media or spending time with friends. Be sure to address each disciplinary situation...
Mar 27, 2015 / Discipline

What to Do When Your Kids Spell T-R-O-U-B-L-E

All kids get into trouble at some point—that’s a given. Here are some common ways a child spells T-R-O-U-B-L-E and what you should do. The T in trouble is for tantrum. When your child throws a tantrum, instead of reacting, completely ignore them. They’ll quickly stop. The R in trouble is for Rebel. For a rebellious child, validate them and let them know that you love them no matter what. The O in trouble is for...
Mar 05, 2015 / Discipline

Why Firmness Doesn't Require Harshness

When it comes to discipline, parents so often equate firmness with harshness. But the two are completely different. Firmness says that a boundary is secure and won’t be crossed without a consequence. But harshness uses angry words and intimidation to intentionally scare a child into submission.  So how can you discipline firmly without being harsh? First, show less emotion.  This will help your child focus on...
Jan 09, 2015 / Discipline

Creative Consequences for Kids

When it comes to disciplining our kids, we feel pretty confident that we know what we shouldn’t do:  we shouldn’t react in complete anger, shouldn’t scream and so on.  But knowing what we shouldn’t do doesn’t make it any easier to understand what we should do instead.  So for all of you who are struggling in knowing how to discipline your kids, here are 21 creative consequences.  First, try a “time-in” instead of...
Mar 25, 2014 / Discipline

Should You Have a Double Standard in Parenting?

The answer? No, yes, and sometimes. There are times when a double standard in parenting is wise and times when it is damaging.  To know the difference, here are 3 categories to think about. First, you should not have a double standard when it comes to the birth order of your kids.  When we have our first child, we’re in control, fresh and ready to go.  But as we have more kids over time, we begin to loosen that...
Mar 17, 2014 / Discipline

How to Tag Team in Parenting

When we were kids, we all liked to play “Tag, You’re It.”  Once a person was tagged to be “it,” they had the responsibility to tag the next person and so on.  My wife, Susan, shares 3 ways the game of tag can apply to parenting.  First, play on the same page.  Tag team parenting begins with being on the same page as our spouse so we don’t give our kids conflicting answers.  Second, we must play from different...
Mar 14, 2014 / Discipline

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The Family Minute is a daily radio feature that offers everyday advice on marriage, parenting, and family relationships.

Mark Merrill

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