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School of Parenting


"Train up the child in the way that he or she should go: and when he or she is old, he or she will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6). Training up a child or children means that, you the parent(s), are investing time into your child(ren). You are equipping them to be great men and women of God. You are teaching them how to be able to stand or handle various situations, when going through life's obstacles. Training up your child(ren), also, means that you are nuturing them with love, wisdom, kindess, discipline, humility, and so much more. You are training your child(ren) not to be just like you, but better.

On the other hand, how can you train your child to be any, if not all these things, when you don't possess some of these great characteristics. We must be in our place as parent(s). We must be their role model, their inspiration. As parents, we must lead by an example. There are some of you that might being saying that, "I am a single parent, and it is hard. There mother or father is never around." In this case, you be both mother and father. There are situations where both mother and father are in the home. However, either the mother is not there or the father is not there. But, once again, you have to be both mother and father, until he or she decides to step up to the plate. Because, if that mother or father does not step up to his or her responsiblity, someone has to take care the child(ren).

In order for you to be an effective parent(s), you must be able to grab a hold of your
child(ren) and come together as a family. I want every parent out there to be encourage. Ask God to help be the mother and father He wants you to be. We are and have taken authority over our children. Satan is no longer in control.







10 Low-Cost Activities To Do With The Kids


1)Go to the library - Most libraries have story times for children once a week. Take advantage of their free events like concerts, art and crafts classes and science shows. Most libraries also have computers available so the kids can try out different software. Call your local library for a list of events.

2)Walk, Walk, Walk - Load the babies in the stroller, put the little kids on the bikes , get the teenagers off the couch and go out and walk. Not only will you and your children be getting exercise but also it is a good way for the kids to relax and talk to you about what's going on in their lives. A great stress reliever.

3)Check out the local Community Center- Community centers offer a wide variety of classes from swimming to karate, from dance to calligraphy. Community centers offer classes at an already low price but most have "scholarships" for families and students which will reduce or eliminate class fees.

4)Picnic in the Park- Pack a picnic lunch and head for a park with a playground. The smaller kids will keep busy on the swings and ladders while the older kids can bring a Frisbee or soccer ball to play with. Plop down a blanket for the kids, bring a lawn chair and book for yourself, and let the kids wear themselves out.

5)Community events- Zoos and children's museums usually have reduced and/or free days for children. Plays and symphonies often have free performances during dress rehearsals. Pick up a free parenting "throw away" paper usually found at libraries, community centers and schools. These papers are a good source of free events in your community.

6)Movie night - Rent a couple of movies or, better yet, most libraries will let you check out videos for free. Have everyone put on their pajamas, pop popcorn and bring out the blankets to cozy up with.

7)Game night - Turn off the TV, turn on the radio and bring out the games from the closet. Play a different game each week. Check out a card game book at the library and learn to play different card games.

8)Go to church- Find a church that fits your philosophy and beliefs. When you find a good match for your family look into the events that they have. Some of the larger churches have support groups, camps for the kids (often offering scholarships), picnics and other events. A nice tradition to start in your family.

9)Garden - From the littlest to the teenagers everyone can help with the garden. Have the kids decide on their own flowers and vegetables to plant. Easy to grow plants include sunflowers and geraniums. If you don't have room for a garden grow container plants on your deck or start an herb garden on your windowsill. Have the kids water and fertilize their plants regularly. Not only will this teach them responsibility but they'll take pride in watching their plant grow from seed to flower.

10)Volunteer- Check out your local nonprofits to see what would be a good fit for you and your family. Neighborhood clean-up projects are good for all ages to participate in. Delivering meals to seniors is another good project for all age groups The benefits of volunteering are immense for families. Giving back to the community will be installed in your kids at a young age while giving your family a nice tradition.

The article is free to reprint in any format provided the information at the bottom, including this, remains intact. Reprinted from Single Parent Central, www.singleparentcentral.com, which offers information and resources to single parent families. ©2000 SingleParentCentral.com



"Don't fail to correct your children.
They won't die if you spank them.
Physical discipline may well save them from death."
(Proverbs 23:13-14, NLT)






Potty Training –Not For The Faint Of Heart
By: Sarah Veda,



Graphics from GranGran

If you’ve determined that your child is ready for potty training, it’s time to take the plunge. It’s not easy, but don’t despair, your child will master potty training some time before kindergarten. It’s important to make sure you’re ready, too, because potty training requires a lot of commitment on the part of the Mom.

First, you need to make potty training a project. If your child is really ready, and you make the commitment to focus on it, many children can be trained in about a week. But, you’ve got to stay on top of it to make it go quickly. Here are some tips to help you out.

Use the timer:
Tell your child that when the bell rings, it’s time to race to the potty. Then set the timer for 20 minutes. When the timer goes off, race to the potty with the child and see if she can go. If not, set the timer for another 20 minutes and try again. As you determine the right interval, you can wait longer between alarms, but 20 minute intervals is a good place to start. Not only does this make a game for you and your toddler, it ensures that you won’t forget to ask if she needs to potty. Success breeds success here. If she can go for a long time without wetting her diaper, it will encourage her to remember. But, at first, you’ve got to remember.

Offer rewards:
Offer some sort of reward every time your child goes in the potty. Double it if she tells you she needs to go and then actually goes. Every success should be wildly celebrated. We do our happy dance, sing our song and get stickers, each and every time. Let the little one go naked:
This tactic works best for those without carpet. Your child will really get the picture about how potty training works if he has an accident while wearing nothing on his bottom. It can be messy, but you’ll probably find that it really speeds up the process. It seems to work especially well with girls, as they really don’t like the feeling of wetness.

The most important aspect of potty training is diligence. There are lots of tools that can help you, like books and dolls with their own potty. But the number one factor in succeeding quickly is simply making potty training a priority, so get prepared. Plan ahead of time to make this week “potty training week” and then stick to the plan. Stay home as much as possible to make training easier. Before you know it, you’ll be kissing those diapers goodbye!

Sarah is a 41 year old wife and mother of two boys and one girl. She spent many years as a manager in the corporate world, and gave it up to be a stay at home mom. www.infantresources.com. Click here now and get her incredible baby minicourse – absolutely free.





Please pray this prayer of faith: Oh Heavenly Father, I thank you for bringing my family together as one. I know that a family that prays together stays together. Lord, I pray that I will always have patience with my children and listen carefully to what they want or need. As for my children, I pray that they will always take heed to my instructions and take heed to my teachings. I bind up every plan that Satan has to divide me and my family. And loose the power of the Holy Spirit to teach and to guide us in all things. Lord, I thank you for my family. I give you the praise and glory for all that you are doing and all that you are about to do for my family. As for me and my house, we are going to serve the Lord, in Jesus' name. Amen.



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