Christian Parenting Today articles from September 2001

Christian Parenting Today archives from September 2001

Raising the family of God. (Parent to Parent).(Brief Article)(Editorial)
September 1, 2001... It was an amazing wedding. My friend Heather, a gregarious, energetic junior high youth leader, had finally met Chad, the man of her dreams, who shares her passion for youth ministry and who loves every boisterous inch of his new bride. Because...

Letters from home: mail that matters.
September 1, 2001... Finding Peace Thank you so much for the article on being a mom in today's superficial, non-relationship, pressure-cooker world ("No Time for God," July! August). I am a late-in-life mom and as I read your article, I was on the verge of...

Build a funny fall fellow. (Home Pages: Tips + Resources + Fun).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Making a scarecrow is a great project that even the youngest member of your family can get involved in. And while we can't guarantee that your straw-filled guy (or gal) will scare any crows, you're sure to have a great time when your whole...

Five finger prayer. (Home Pages: Tips + Resources + Fun).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Need to remember who to pray for? Here are a few, fun "pointers" that will help the whole family: 1. Your thumb is nearest to you. So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our...

Memory decor. (Ideas That Work).
September 1, 2001... Even the laundry room, workshop, or mud room deserves some decoration. After my children's artwork has been displayed on the refrigerator, I frame our favorite pieces and hang them in the rooms where we spend our time. I enjoy folding clothes...

Daddy's at the door. (Couple Time).
September 1, 2001... When my husband leaves for work, my 3-year-old daughter and I stop whatever we're doing to walk him to the door, tell him goodbye, and say that we love him. When he returns home, we greet him at the door with a smile, a squeal from her, and a...

Contain the clutter. (Home Pages: Tips + Resources + Fun).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... If kid clutter is taking over your home, try these simple suggestions to get order back in your life. Ask your kids to help--they love to arrange stuff! * Sort toys by size and use. Small toys or parts of toys can go in clear bins, larger...

The V what? (Home Pages: Tips + Resources + Fun).(V-chip)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Most parents have heard about the V-chip, a little electronic chip that lets you block certain television shows, but many of us are still confused about how it works and how we can get one. Here's the scoop: As of January 2000, all televisions...

No more ear infections. (Home Pages: Tips + Resources + Fun).(pneumococcal infections)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... If you've had a baby in the last year and a half, your doctor has probably told you about Prevnar, the recently approved vaccination that protects infants and young children against pneumococcal infections, which range from ear infections,...

Homework helper. (Home Pages: Tips + Resources + Fun).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... The start of a new school year is a great time to help your kids establish good homework habits. The Sylvan Learning Center offers these tips for parents: 1) Let your child divide study time into 15-20 minute sessions with short breaks in...

Stop the show! (Life In Our House).(movies)(Humor)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Our family enjoys planning special evenings out together. One night, we decided to spend "family night" at the movies. About halfway through the movie, our son Charlie whispered, "Mommy, I need to go potty." We got up and tried to exit the...

Missing the point. (Life In Our House).(Humor)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Our 3-year-old son, Jerrod, spends hours playing in his sandbox. He must follow, and that is, the sand stays inside the sand box. One afternoon things were particularly quiet in the backyard, so I went outside to check on Jerrod only to find...

Our toddler is jealous of his new sister. (Can You Help?).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Claire wrote: Our 2-year-old shows his anger by hitting and kicking. Our baby daughter is getting the brunt of his rage. We wonder if our son is jealous of his new sister. Do you have any ideas for our family? Here are your suggestions: ...

Growing with God. (Mom's Moment).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... I was at the airport waiting for my flight when I struck up a conversation with a preschooler. Toward the end of our conversation I asked, "How old are you?" "Well," she said "I'm 4, but they made me stay at 3 a really long time." ...

Crayon saver. (Ideas That Work).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... When my daughter first started to color, her crayons kept breaking when she'd drop them or apply too much pressure. To extend the life of her crayons, I came up with the idea of wrapping them with clear mailing tape. The tape strengthens the...

ABC prayers. (Ideas That Work).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... My 11-year-old son, Josh, and I like to pray using the letters of the alphabet. We start with A and pray for someone or something that begins with that letter and then continue until we reach Z. Usually we pray for friends and family, but we...

CyberBible. (Home Pages: Tips + Resources + Fun).(KidsBible.com)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Want your kids to start reading the Bible on their own? At KidsBible.com children can test their Bible knowledge through online games, message boards where they can share ideas with other kids, and an age-appropriate Bible-reading plan. To make...

Classic movies: movies of faith. (Home Pages: Tips + Resources + Fun).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Believe it or not, there are Hollywood movies that not only portray religion in a positive light but promote Christian values as well. Try one of these titles for your next family movie night: SERGEANT YORK (1941, Warner, NR). This is a...

Car seat houdinis. (Home Pages: Tips + Resources + Fun).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Most toddlers turn into escape artists when it comes to car seats--somehow they figure out how to wiggle free. As parents, our first response to the challenge is to "fix" the car seat by adding extra locking clips, extra straps, strings, or...

Super fudge. (E-Fridge).(Brief Article)(Recipe)
September 1, 2001... Cooking alongside your child is one of the most creative (and messiest) activities you can do together. At the Web site www.scoreone.com/kids_kitchen kids are kings of the kitchen. The site is saturated with all-kid submissions under recipe...

On-screen school. (Home Pages: Tips + Resources + Fun).(www.Bigchalk.com)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... The next time your child asks for homework help, visit www.Bigchalk.com where you and your child will find all the guidance you need. This virtual classroom offers aid for elementary, middle school, high school, even college students in every...

Creature keeper. (Ideas That Work).(dog bed for kids' stuffed animals)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... K., Lynette A creative way to display your child's stuffed animals is to arrange them in a dog bed. Beds can be purchased at your local pet store. They're inexpensive, can be tucked in the corner, and come in a variety of colors.

Lights on! (Life In Our House).(birthday cake)(Humor)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Our grandson was very excited about his upcoming birthday. His mom had spent a lot of time decorating the cake and making sure every detail was perfect. After she'd put on the final touches and added the candles, our grandson could no longer...

Dear Jesus. (Life In Our House).(children', prayer)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... When our daughter turned 2, we decided it was time to take her pacifier away. Several days had passed since the traumatic event, and although the pacifier was gone, the memories were not. I was praying with her one night before bed when all of...

How dads can bond. (Growing Up: Baby).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... When it comes to bonding with a new baby, there's no doubt that mothers have a running start. After all, it's often Mom who is with the baby all day (and often all night) during those first critical months. But that doesn't mean fathers can't...

Who's he talking to? (Growing Up: Toddler).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... When you find your toddler talking to himself, rest assured he's not losing his little mind. According to the publication Growing Child (Dunn and Hargitt), "self-communication is [a] toddler's way of enhancing his language and speech...

Writing to read. (Growing Up: Preschool).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... One day my preschooler handed me a piece of paper with all sorts of indistinguishable squiggles written on it. "That's my name," she said proudly. My knee-jerk response was to show her the correct way to write her name. But doing so might have...

Books that count. (Growing Up: Early Elementary).(math and reading)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... If there's one school subject that kids complain about most, it's math. Here's the good news: New studies say kids can eliminate their fears and nurture their math quotient by reading books that integrate simple math into the storyline. ...

When friendships end. (Growing Up: Late Elementary).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... For parents, watching children struggle through the hurt of losing a friend can be as bad as going through such a loss ourselves. Helping your child cope with the loss of a friendship takes time and understanding. Like adult relationships,...

Don't sweat the wild hair. (Growing Up: Middle School).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Not long ago, 14-year-old Andrew walked into church with an attention-grabbing new look: bright green, spiked hair. Andrew's mom, Lisa, sat down beside him nonchalantly, despite the startled looks of those sitting near them. I couldn't help but...

School violence: how teaching your child empathy can make a difference.
September 1, 2001... The start of a new school year is exciting for kids--new friends, new teachers, new opportunities. But in a recent CNN/Time poll, one-third of teens who responded said that they are fearful of a violent incident happening at their school. And...

5 fun Halloween alternatives.
September 1, 2001... IT'S NO SECRET that Halloween ignites strong debates among Christian parents. Every fall, I can safely bet that someone from church will ask me if my family "celebrates" Halloween, and the truth is that I actually enjoy the question. My answer...

Open hearts, open homes: how you can change the life of a child through foster parenting.
September 1, 2001... My name is Brian. After spending two years locked up in a juvenile detention center, I went to live in a foster home with Scott and Hanne Larson. While I had big dreams for my future, I had no idea of how to get there. Everything I tried only...

I kissed guilt goodbye: how to stop being your own worst critic.
September 1, 2001... My friend Lynn and I sat on the couch in the family room, trying to enjoy a conversation and a cup of coffee while our boys, ages 15 months and 18 months, buzzed around us like fighter jets: dip, roll, crash, recover...prepare for takeoff...

Welcome to the Dad's Club: what it really means to become a parent.(Brief Article)(Column)
September 1, 2001... One of the joys of writing books is hearing from readers around the world. For instance, here's a letter from Dave, way up in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan: Dear Phil, Over the years, I've enjoyed reading the stories you tell about your...

Disciplining other people's children: from your child's friend in your house to the neighborhood kid on the playground, when--and how--should you step in?
September 1, 2001... Downstairs in the church social hail last Sunday, I witnessed the following spectacle: Parents were drinking coffee and munching doughnuts. Kids were running underfoot, some attached to mothers or fathers, some not. Suddenly there was a loud...

Pet pals: we asked you to tell us about the difference your favorite critter has made in your family's life. Here's what you had to say.(Brief Article)(Column)
September 1, 2001... My pet means everything to me because when you get in trouble, he still loves you. Dakota M, Piney View, West Virginia Pets help us feel happy. I catch salamanders, frogs, toads, and snakes. I learn how to take care of them and then let...

The real Survivor: why your wife deserves a million bucks. (A Father's Heart).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Recently, a good friend gave me the details of the newest version of the television show Survivor: Six men will be dropped on an island with one van and four kids each for six weeks. Each kid plays two sports and either takes music or...

8 great devotions your kids will love! (Family Time with God: From Heritage Builders).(Brief Article)(Column)
September 1, 2001... Family devotions don't have to be formal sit-down events. Use these quick ideas to connect with your kids during meals, in the car, or at bedtime. The more involved "Family Night" ideas will help you create memorable evenings (or afternoons)...

Is Ritalin okay? (On the Family Front).(Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Q. My 8-year-old son was recently diagnosed by a Christian psychologist as having ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). The psychologist recommended Ritalin, but I am hesitant to put him on this medication because I believe God made...

Oodles of stuff: our favorite new resources for kids and parents.(11 books for and about children)
September 1, 2001... Baby & Toddler book Ha Ha! written and illustrated by Guido Van Genechten (Pleasant Company) $5.95 One sure sign of a really great story is that it holds a wonderful surprise that even the most savvy reader can't see coming....

The unpredictable path: when your child's life doesn't follow your plans. (Mom's Journal).(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... When we began this parenting journey, most of us set our sights on the end goal: getting from A to Z. You know, A is birth and Z is where your child grows to become a mature-ish, responsible adult who loves God and knows that he has something...