PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESSFUL PARENTING

1. PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESSFUL PARENTING • Assure them of God’s love. • Be realistic in your expectations. • Spend time with your children. • Give your children regular responsibilities and expect those responsibilities to be completed. • Find the uniqueness of your children and train them accordingly to that. • Establish rules to be followed. • Openly communicate love. • Ensure each individual (child) of their own personhood. • See your family over the long term. • Parents model and children follow Principles not practiced and protected in one generation will be neglected in the next generation because God ordained that we would be Heirs of the Past,Guardians of the Present, and Architects of the Future. That’s a life in balance.

2. It is God’s plan for His Word to be passed on from one generation to the next. And his primary agent is the family. The causes of the problems the Family has been plagued with from the time of the fall…. • As of every human problem – the first cause is the sinful nature with which every person is born. • The second cause of family problems is the satanic world system in which we live. • A third major factor is the destruction of the home is the perverse influence of humanistic philosophy.

3. Ephesians 6:4 The Negative Command …fathers, do not provoke your children to anger Four primary factors necessary to prevent delinquency: • The father’s firm, fair, and consistent discipline. • The mother’s supervision and companionship during the day. • The parents demonstrate affection for each other and for the children. • The family spends time together In activities where all participate. Factors that produce right parent-child relationships: • Genuine love of the parents for each other and for the children. • Firm, consistent discipline. • Consistency of standards for parents and children. • The right example by parents. • The father as true head of his home. To provoke…to anger suggests… • A repeated, ongoing pattern of treatment that gradually builds up a deep-seated anger and resentment that boils over in outward hostility. a. Well-meaning overprotection is a common cause of resentment in children. b. Parents who smother their children. c. Overly restrict where they can go an what they can do. d. Never trusting them to do things on their own. e. Continually questioning their judgment. • Favoritism. • Pushing achievement beyond reasonable bounds. • Discouragement. • Parents failing to sacrifice for their children and making them feel unwanted. • Failing to let children grow up at a normal pace. • Using love as a tool of reward or punishment. • Physical and verbal abuse.

4. The Positive Command …but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord - discipline refers to the systematic training of children – including punishment. Proverbs 13:24; Proverbs 22:6 - instruction is literally a “putting in mind.” Also, includes the connotation of correction. - of the Lord is the key to right discipline and instruction Scriptures (Children) – Ex. 21:15;, 17; Deut. 5:16; Eccl. 12:1; Prov. 1:8; 6:20; 10:1; 13:1; 23:22; Matthew 15:4; MK. 7:10; Eph. 6:1, 2, 3; Col. 3:20 Scriptures (Parents) – Deut. 6:4-9; Prov. 3:12; 13:24; 19:18; 22:16; 22:15; 23:13, 14; 29:15, 17; Eph. 6:4; Col. 3:18, 19, 21; Col. 3:22-25; Col. 4:1.