Advice Articles - HomeWord

Many parents look for the latest parenting fad to help their kids grow into mature adults. Yet one key component for building kids’ lives is right in front of them: investing time, energy, and a commitment to “be there” for their kids. A regular, one-on-one ‘date night’ with each of your kids is a great place to begin intentionally investing in the overall health and growth of your child. Here are five tips for having a great ‘date night’ with your kids. 1) Choose to do something your kids want to do. Sometimes, when parents want to do something together with their kids, they’ll select an activity that they have interest in, but their kids do not. If you really want to create a positive “date night” culture where your kids want to hang out with you, try doing things that the kids are interested in. And remember, “date nights” don’t have to be complicated! They can be as simple as taking your child out to get an ice cream cone or throwing a Frisbee around in the yard. 2) Communicate. Be sure to engage your son or daughter in conversation during your “date night.” Don’t start by talking about your “list” of concerns you have about your child. Instead, talk about anything and everything. Ask your kids about their interests, opinions, and feelings. 3) Listen. Don’t dominate “date night” conversation. Communication is a two way street, so be sure to work at listening. Listening is the language of love. Through listening, you demonstrate that you value your kids. When you take the time to really pay attention, show empathy, and listen—you are taking a key step in connecting with your kids. When kids know that their parents will really listen (instead of immediately “correcting”) they will be more willing to talk. 4) Display affection. If you kids are adolescents, it’s important to remember that while they are in the process of becoming adults and separating from their parents, they still need your affection. In fact, sexual promiscuity in teenage girls can often be traced back to a desire for (and lack of) affection from their fathers. Dads, be sure to offer your kids genuine affection through loving words, affirmation, encouragement, small gifts, and appropriate touch. 5) Never embarrass your kids in front of their peers. A “date night” activity might take you onto your son or daughter’s “territory” – to a place where they may run into some of their peers. Gentle teasing is one thing, but embarrassing your kids in front of their peers can destroy all of the connection you are working to build with your child. Show respect to your kids and they’ll be more willing to hang out with you—and your “date nights” will be much more enjoyable as well.The post Five Tips for Having a Great “Date Night” With Your Kids first appeared on HomeWord.

Young women are called to live lives that are set apart from the world’s low standards. document.createElement('audio'); https://homeword.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/HWJB_20240102_v1.mp3The post HomeWord Daily: Leslie Ludy: God’s Sacred Intent for Every Young Woman – Part 2 first appeared on HomeWord.

Adolescents don’t like to lose their friends. But one longitudinal study of teenagers showed that the notion of having a BFF runs counter to reality. In the study, researchers found that just 1 in 100 friendships that begin in seventh grade continue on until the 12th grade. The researchers discovered that the strongest predictors of friendship dissolution were differences in sex, differences in the degree to which children were liked by other children, differences in physical aggression, and differences in school competence. What keeps friendships together? Apparently the old adage of “birds of a feather flock together” applies. Similarities between friends create harmony, lend themselves to cooperative activities, and builds an environment of shared pleasures, costs, and benefits. One caveat: undesirable attributes and behaviors, when displayed at similar levels between friends, also serve to keep relationships together. What Can Parents Do? • Understand that most kids will form new friendships and end old friendships during adolescence. It’s completely normal. There is a bit of a “revolving door” aspect to friendships in adolescence, particularly in early and middle adolescence as kids experiment with their identities and then begin to figure out their preferences. Eventually, they will begin to gravitate to similar peers for their key friendships. • Support and comfort your teen when a previously valued friendship ends. • Understand that you cannot choose your child’s friends, but you can encourage healthy friendships. • Get to know your teen’s friends. Strive to make your home a safe and welcoming place for your teens and their friends to hang out. In the process of getting to know your teen’s friends, you will learn a lot about your own daughter or son, as well. • If you find that your teenager has built a friendship based on similar undesirable attributes or behaviors, encourage him or her to evaluate and make major decisions about their friendships.The post Adolescent Research: Friends Are Friends Forever? Not Likely first appeared on HomeWord.

According to a recent survey, only 2% of teenage girls consider themselves to be “beautiful.” https://homeword.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/HWJB_20240101_v1.mp3The post HomeWord Daily: Leslie Ludy: God’s Sacred Intent for Every Young Woman – Part 1 first appeared on HomeWord.

Many parents look for the latest parenting fad to help their kids grow into mature adults. Yet one key component for building kids’ lives is right in front of them: investing time, energy, and a commitment to “be there” for their kids. A regular, one-on-one ‘date night’ with each of your kids is a great place to begin intentionally investing in the overall health and growth of your child. Here are five tips for having a great ‘date night’ with your kids. 1) Choose to do something your kids want to do. Sometimes, when parents want to do something together with their kids, they’ll select an activity that they have interest in, but their kids do not. If you really want to create a positive “date night” culture where your kids want to hang out with you, try doing things that the kids are interested in. And remember, “date nights” don’t have to be complicated! They can be as simple as taking your child out to get an ice cream cone or throwing a Frisbee around in the yard. 2) Communicate. Be sure to engage your son or daughter in conversation during your “date night.” Don’t start by talking about your “list” of concerns you have about your child. Instead, talk about anything and everything. Ask your kids about their interests, opinions, and feelings. 3) Listen. Don’t dominate “date night” conversation. Communication is a two way street, so be sure to work at listening. Listening is the language of love. Through listening, you demonstrate that you value your kids. When you take the time to really pay attention, show empathy, and listen—you are taking a key step in connecting with your kids. When kids know that their parents will really listen (instead of immediately “correcting”) they will be more willing to talk. 4) Display affection. If you kids are adolescents, it’s important to remember that while they are in the process of becoming adults and separating from their parents, they still need your affection. In fact, sexual promiscuity in teenage girls can often be traced back to a desire for (and lack of) affection from their fathers. Dads, be sure to offer your kids genuine affection through loving words, affirmation, encouragement, small gifts, and appropriate touch. 5) Never embarrass your kids in front of their peers. A “date night” activity might take you onto your son or daughter’s “territory” – to a place where they may run into some of their peers. Gentle teasing is one thing, but embarrassing your kids in front of their peers can destroy all of the connection you are working to build with your child. Show respect to your kids and they’ll be more willing to hang out with you—and your “date nights” will be much more enjoyable as well.The post Five Tips for Having a Great “Date Night” With Your Kids first appeared on HomeWord.