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Parenting

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Becoming a Mission-Minded Family

Missional living, with God at the center, creates fulfilled families.

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Parenting Your Tweens and Teens With Respect (Part 1 of 2)

Nina Roesner and Debbie Hitchcock offer parents practical advice and encouragement in a discussion based on their book, With All Due Respect: 40 Days to a More Fulfilling Relationship With Your Teens and Tweens. (Part 1 of 2)

African-American couple holding their young child

Building Houses, Building Families

Young readers helped realize God’s plan for Rwandan orphans.

Does Parenting Make a Difference?

At some point, most parent wonders if they’re making a difference in their kids’ lives.

Raising Resilient Kids

How to teach kids to bounce back after they face adversity or hardship.

David Robinson: Parenting in the Fourth Quarter

NBA legend David Robinson talks about preparing to launch his three sons.

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Creating a Safe Family Where Your Children Can Thrive (Part 2 of 2)

Child psychology professor Joshua Straub and his wife, Christi, offer parents helpful insights from his book, Safe House: How Emotional Safety is the Key to Raising Kids Who Live, Love and Lead Well. (Part 2 of 2)

Focus on the Family Broadcast logo

Creating a Safe Family Where Your Children Can Thrive (Part 1 of 2)

Child psychology professor Joshua Straub and his wife, Christi, offer parents helpful insights from his book, Safe House: How Emotional Safety is the Key to Raising Kids Who Live, Love and Lead Well. (Part 1 of 2)

sullen unhappy girl staring off

Child of Divorce Doesn’t Want to See Dad

How should I handle my daughter’s aversion to seeing my ex-husband? The court has granted him visitation rights, but she’s very angry with him for leaving the family and doesn’t want anything to do with him. She needs to know that I understand her feelings. At the same time, I don’t want to keep her …

Woman mom talking to upset teen

Talking to Kids About an Unfaithful and Absent Spouse

Should I tell my kids the truth about why their father doesn’t live with us anymore? After becoming involved in an adulterous affair, he left me and moved in with the “other woman.” My children are confused because their dad has been lying to them about where he’s living and the reasons for our separation. …

little girl lying on bed looking sad

Dealing With Attachment Disorder in Adoption

How can I bond with a disconnected child? Our daughter is newly adopted, and we’re excited to have her home. But she’s struggling with attachment issues. We don’t know all the details of her history, but some of her behavior indicates she may have been abused. Can we reverse the damage and move in a …

little girl with stuffed animal everyone in black

Talking to Kids About the Suicide of an Adult Relative

What should we say to our children about the suicide of my father-in-law (their grandfather)? It happened about four years ago. At the time our kids were very young and my wife and I simply told them that Grandpa died because he was sick and elderly without providing any further details. Our two oldest are …

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Helping a Teen Boy Become a Man

What can my husband and I do to help our teenage son become the man God wants him to be? In some ways he seems to be afraid of adulthood, manhood, and everything that goes along with it, and we’d like to get him over that hump. At the same time, we don’t want him …

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Parent Concerned About Teenage Prom

What’s your perspective on high school proms? They sure have changed since my day, and I’m a little nervous about allowing my teenager to go. Can you offer me any practical guidance?

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Son’s Girlfriend Is Pregnant: Marriage As a Possible Solution

Should our son be encouraged to marry his pregnant girlfriend? It’s a regrettable situation, but at least she’s planning to keep and raise the baby. Both of them are emotionally immature, financially dependent, and basically ill-equipped to establish themselves as a family. In spite of this, some of our Christian friends have suggested that he …

Picture of woman holding a remote control toward TV screen that reads Breaking News

Children and Violence in the News

Can the nightly news reports about war, murder, rape, and urban gang activity have a negative effect on kids? I try not to let my children watch too much of this, but sometimes it’s unavoidable. Am I right to be concerned?

pumpkin bucket with candy spilling out

Christians and Concerns About Halloween

Should Christians participate in Halloween by allowing their kids to attend costume parties and go trick-or-treating? We have serious problems with this, but all the other families in our neighborhood go all out in celebrating the holiday. Our kids feel left out if we don’t allow them to join in. What do you think we …

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Parents Fear Child Is Struggling With Faith While at College

How can I help my son hold on to his faith in college? He’s a junior at the university, and I’m very concerned about the state of his relationship – or lack thereof – with the Lord. His faith doesn’t seem to mean as much to him as it did during his high school years. …

girl walking behind dad

Child Angry About Dad’s Out-of-Town Job

How can we help our daughter adjust to the stress and strain associated with my husband’s new job in another city? We only see him on weekends, which makes her very angry and depressed. Despite our reassurances, she insists that her Daddy doesn’t love her anymore. What should we do?

child on floor crying other child stands over him

Correcting Your Child’s Bullying Behavior

How can we prevent our seven-year-old son from becoming a bully? I’ve noticed that he can be very pushy and often tries to dominate other kids. He always wants to be the “winner” — it’s as if he has a need to prove himself. When provoked, he retaliates fiercely and has hurt other kids in …