Parents, asking your kids questions is a great way to engage them in healthy dialogue! Click the link below for access to 25 Christmas conversation starter questions!

Some parents believe that the only way to be firm is to be harsh. But firmness and harshness are very different.

Firmness says that a boundary is secure and won’t be crossed without a consequence. Harshness, on the other hand, uses angry words and emotional intensity to make children believe that parents mean what they say. Ask yourself an important question about your parenting. What cues do you give your kids that you mean business? Is it anger or is it firmness? If you find yourself using harshness, take time to reevaluate your response. Read and learn about how more action and less yelling can go a long way to bring about significant change for children.

“I’m bored!” Richie whined.

Sometimes kids complain that they’re bored and other times you can just tell because they’re instigating trouble, getting into mischief, or just grumbling and complaining in general. Ephesians 5:15-16 reminds us: “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil.” Children need to learn to manage their time well. It’s a life skill that will carry through to adulthood.

Demandingness in children often manifests through arguing, whining, complaining, badgering, debating, negotiating, and moaning. If you’ve ever thought your child would make a great lawyer, then you likely have a child struggling with demandingness. These behaviors can strain family relationships and create an environment of tension and conflict. The good news is that while it takes two to argue, it only takes one to stop. As parents, the power to halt the cycle of demandingness lies in our hands.

It’s easy for both adults and children to lose track of time as hours slip by in front of a screen. But the problem goes beyond time lost—excessive electronics use can profoundly impact a child’s development, shaping not only how they think but also how they engage with the world around them.