5–Minute Parenting: Tips to Help You Raise Competent, Godly Kids.

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After the holiday break, kids will be heading back to school, and one of the most important things we as parents can help our children with  is teaching them how to get and stay organized. Building these habits early in their lives will benefit them throughout their career as a student and later as an adult.

 In today’s episode we cover:

 1. Creating a designated homework space at home and why having a dedicated area prevents unnecessary stress and promotes a focused mindset.

2. Providing storage solutions for backpacks and school supplies as well as keeping a central family bulletin board or calendar to keep track of all school related things. 

3. Establishing a regular homework schedule and setting expectations. How to establish consistency and routine, along with strategies to help your child adhere to their schedule.

4. How to keep homework and projects organized with color-coded folders.

5. Motivating and breaking down tasks for younger children. Stickers, rewards, and incremental steps can make a significant difference in their productivity and understanding

6. Teaching your children the importance of planning ahead using calendars or planners and how they can track assignments and due dates effectively.

7. Understanding your role as a parent in helping your child with organization, including how involved you should be based on your child's age. Also, how you can provide guidance without taking over their responsibilities and allowing them to develop self-confidence as they learn to become more independent learners.

Check out the Questions for Kids picture book series, perfect for young readers ages 5-10! 

*Are you looking for fun, gospel-inspired merch for your family + discounted picture books for your kids and grandkids? Visit my Etsy store at KarensBooksandMore

Book 3 in the Questions for Kids picture book series is now available! Check out Guess Why God Made the Rainbow on Amazon or your favorite book retailer! 🌈

Love this podcast episode? Please leave a positive rating/review and share this episode with a friend ❤️

Visit our websites at: 

https://www.karenferg.com/

https://www.sandrakaychambers.com/ 

Find our books on Amazon:

Karen Ferguson: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Karen-Ferguson/author/B075SHZ1WV?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true 

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Tips to Help You Succeed in Your Homeschool Journey
with guest speaker Kris Cox

1. Make discipleship your highest priority.
2. Realize that homeschooling is more than just an educational method, it’s a lifestyle.
3. Make it your goal to instill a love for learning in your children.
4. Parents work as a team in educating their children.
5. It’s important to find support.
6. Depending on the Lord for help and guidance is essential.

Podcast guest: Kris Cox is a veteran homeschool mom with a Bachelor of Science in Social Work and 17+ years of experience home educating their four children. She also has 10 years experience as a homeschool consultant, blogger, writer, and speaker.
Website: www.hswithconfidence.com
E-mail contact: [email protected]

Homeschool resources available:
• The Homeschool Life All-in-One Planner: 
• Homeschooling with Confidence:
• Growing the Fruit of the Spirit: A Bible-based Unit Study:

Check out the Questions for Kids picture book series, perfect for young readers ages 5-10! 

*Are you looking for fun, gospel-inspired merch for your family + discounted picture books for your kids and grandkids? Visit my Etsy store at KarensBooksandMore

Book 3 in the Questions for Kids picture book series is now available! Check out Guess Why God Made the Rainbow on Amazon or your favorite book retailer! 🌈

Love this podcast episode? Please leave a positive rating/review and share this episode with a friend ❤️

Visit our websites at: 

https://www.karenferg.com/

https://www.sandrakaychambers.com/ 

Find our books on Amazon:

Karen Ferguson: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Karen-Ferguson/author/B075SHZ1WV?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true 

Sandra Chambers: ...

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We’ve all read statistics about how child and teen depression has been on a steady increase since COVID and with the increasing popularity of social media. Bullying is also on the rise, and right behind it is teen suicide. 

In her book, God-Confident Kids: Helping Your Child Find True Purpose, Passion, and Peace, Cyndie Claypool De Neve’s says, “There is a confidence crisis in a generation of hurting kids, and confused parents struggling to guide them through an obstacle course of stressors unique to this era. To respond to this crisis by telling our kids they’re the “best,” “prettiest,” “smartest,” and “strongest,” is overstroking their confidence while teetering on creating entitled narcissists. We set kids up for failure when we teach them to be self-confident, which is solely based on how they feel about their strengths, talents, competence, and looks and is often determined by what others say about them.“

So just what is God-confidence?

God-confidence is knowing that the God of the universe handcrafted each of us for a purpose and that He will give us strength, courage, and wisdom, and all the gifts we need to do the tasks He has set before us. Self-confidence promotes relying on one’s self to accomplish our own purpose, but God-confidence reminds us to rely on God.

As parents we need to be encouraging our children to build their God-confidence, trusting in Him who designed each of them for a unique purpose with unique talents and gifts.

I’m excited to announce that my kid’s devotional for ages 8-12: Fingerprint Devotions: 40 Devotions That Help You Realize You Are a Kid Uniquely Created by God for a Purpose by Ambassador International Publishers, is now available at all major outlets and  on Amazon (click link). This devotional is focused on the same topic as today’s podcast—helping children know they are uniquely created by God for a purpose. 

Resources for today’s podcast: God-Confident Kids

Helping Your Child Find True Purpose, Passion, and Peace

By Cyndie Claypool de Neve, Baker Publishing Group, ©2019

Check out the Questions for Kids picture book series, perfect for young readers ages 5-10! 

*Are you looking for fun, gospel-inspired merch for your family + discounted picture books for your kids and grandkids? Visit my Etsy store at KarensBooksandMore

Book 3 in the Questions for Kids picture book series is now available! Check out Guess Why God Made the Rainbow on Amazon or your favorite book retailer! 🌈

Love this podcast episode? Please leave a positive rating/review and share this episode with a friend ❤️

Visit our websites at: 

https://www.karenferg.com/

https://www.sandrakaychambers.com/ 

Find our books on Amazon:

Karen Ferguson: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Karen-Ferguson/author/B075SHZ1WV?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true 

Sandra Chambers: ...

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On this episode of “5-Minute Parenting,” we discuss the importance of allowing our children to fail. Failure is a natural part of life, and parents need to teach their children how to learn from their failures and grow from them. 

We also discuss how communication, unconditional love, and support can help children take responsibility for their bad decisions. We discuss the importance of internalization of actions, natural consequences, and not being afraid to try new things. 

As parents, we need to teach our children that God and authority figures love and guide them, while also being willing to share our failures to show them that it's okay to fail and that it can lead to growth and character development. 

Check out the Questions for Kids picture book series, perfect for young readers ages 5-10! 

*Are you looking for fun, gospel-inspired merch for your family + discounted picture books for your kids and grandkids? Visit my Etsy store at KarensBooksandMore

Book 3 in the Questions for Kids picture book series is now available! Check out Guess Why God Made the Rainbow on Amazon or your favorite book retailer! 🌈

Love this podcast episode? Please leave a positive rating/review and share this episode with a friend ❤️

Visit our websites at: 

https://www.karenferg.com/

https://www.sandrakaychambers.com/ 

Find our books on Amazon:

Karen Ferguson: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Karen-Ferguson/author/B075SHZ1WV?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true 

Sandra Chambers: ...

Send us Fan Mail

Have you ever heard a parent perhaps in a grocery store yelling at their kids—berating them, telling them they are no good for nothing? I cringe when I hear things like that because WORDS —especially our words as parents— have the power to actually shape how a child sees themselves now and in the future. We know how someone’s harsh or critical words can hurt us even as adults. And it’s even more hurtful for a child who has no experience in knowing how to accept or reject or evaluate what they hear about themselves. 

There’s been a lot of research done on the effects of criticism and negative words on children. It has been scientifically shown that in order for children to develop a positive view of themselves, they need at least 5 positive interactions to every 1 negative interaction.

Kids don’t come into this world knowing they’re loved, special, have a purpose, and have the power to change the world. They have to be told this! We as a parents need to constantly let our children know they are loved by God and us and that they matter. The purpose of our words should be to affirm, protect, and encourage our children so that they know they are loved, capable, worthy, and brave.

GOD USED WORDS
Think about it--God used only His words when He spoke the universe into existence. In the book of Genesis, we see God made us in His image and after His likeness. Therefore, we were created to be imitators of the way God operates. Our words have power! 
Proverbs 18:21 says “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” Our tongue can be used as a weapon to harm and destroy or as a tool to build up and heal.

In our everyday busy lives, we often don’t even notice our words. We correct our children—sometimes even nag. It takes intention to speak positive and encouraging words. In the notes for this podcast I’ve put a link to a list of short positive phrases you can use to encourage your child. You can download the PDF or print it out. Be deliberate about speaking positive words of encouraging, writing them in notes to put in your child’s lunchbox, leaving them on their pillow at bedtime or under their plate at mealtime.  Aim to offer these positive affirmations at least 5x daily. Let’s encourage our children so they can become all they were created to be.

Check out the Questions for Kids picture book series, perfect for young readers ages 5-10! 

*Are you looking for fun, gospel-inspired merch for your family + discounted picture books for your kids and grandkids? Visit my Etsy store at KarensBooksandMore

Book 3 in the Questions for Kids picture book series is now available! Check out Guess Why God Made the Rainbow on Amazon or your favorite book retailer! 🌈

Love this podcast episode? Please leave a positive rating/review and share this episode with a friend ❤️

Visit our websites at: 

https://www.karenferg.com/

https://www.sandrakaychambers.com/ 

Find our books on Amazon:

Karen Ferguson: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Karen-Ferguson/author/B075SHZ1WV?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true 

Sandra Chambers: ...

Send us Fan Mail

Holidays are a  busy time for families with traveling and holiday activities, so I'm re-posting the top five podcasts of this past year. So be sure to check each week to see if you missed one of the top episodes. We'll be back in 2024 with new episodes covering some topics such as:

• How to Help a Fearful Child
• How to Help Your ADHD Child
• How Does Your Child Learn Best
• What Middle Schoolers Should Know

We will also have new podcast guest including:

• Lori Cochard--a counselor with Bethany Christian Services
• Terri Hellard-Brown from the podcast, Books That Spark!

Check out the Questions for Kids picture book series, perfect for young readers ages 5-10! 

*Are you looking for fun, gospel-inspired merch for your family + discounted picture books for your kids and grandkids? Visit my Etsy store at KarensBooksandMore

Book 3 in the Questions for Kids picture book series is now available! Check out Guess Why God Made the Rainbow on Amazon or your favorite book retailer! 🌈

Love this podcast episode? Please leave a positive rating/review and share this episode with a friend ❤️

Visit our websites at: 

https://www.karenferg.com/

https://www.sandrakaychambers.com/ 

Find our books on Amazon:

Karen Ferguson: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Karen-Ferguson/author/B075SHZ1WV?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true 

Sandra Chambers: ...

Send us Fan Mail

Today, the world’s influence on our children begins so much earlier than most of us experienced in our lives. We live in a society where even young children are bombarded daily with media advertisements on TV, social media, magazines, etc. that portray success as external beauty, popularity, sexiness, etc. The earlier we begin in a child’s life to build that foundation of Truth, the earlier they will be equipped to stand against a ungodly world view that permeates our current culture. By the time children reach their tween and teen years, many of these harmful lies about who they are, their value as a person and their purpose in life has already caused much harm psychological, emotionally and physically.

Fingerprint Devotions: 40 Devotions To Help You Realize You Are a Kid Uniquely Created by God for a Purpose,” helps kids understand they were created by God who has a purpose and plan for their life. It pairs fun scientific facts about the uniqueness of each person’s fingerprints with Scripture, a short devotional, a prayer and a question to journal or an activity to do. It has four sections with topics about each person’s creation and uniqueness, their identity in Christ, accepting Jesus, developing the fruit of the Spirit in their lives, and discovering the gifts and talents that God has given them  to serve others and live a purposeful life.

My Goals for This Devotional 

1. Help children know that God created them, choose them, loves them and has a purpose for their lives. 

2. Help children be grounded in the truth of who they are in God to withstand our current culture of “wokeness” and lies about who they are. Just as Satan sought to destroy the generation of children at Moses birth and later at Jesus’ birth, he still is trying to destroy our generation of children with his lies. 

3. That this devotional will reach not only children in Christian homes, but children who are not being raised in a Christian setting or attend church. I’m excited about my partnership with 7Homes—a NC-based Christian foster and adoption agency. I plan to donate copies of my devotional for them to put in their “care bags” they give to children who have to be taken out of their homes (sometimes suddenly) and placed in foster care. These children need to know that God loves them and that they are important and have a purpose for their lives. My heart is that this book would show them how much God loves and cares for them. 7Homes will also give copies of the devotional as Christmas gifts to some of their children in this age range.

I’m also asking those who purchase a book for their own child or grandchild to purchase an extra paperback copy for $11.99, or if you don’t have children this age, buy one to donate to 7Homes. You can have the book sent directly to their office at: Seven Homes, 4270 Piedmont Parkway Suite 109, Greensboro, NC 27410. Link to book on Amazon.

Check out the Questions for Kids picture book series, perfect for young readers ages 5-10! 

*Are you looking for fun, gospel-inspired merch for your family + discounted picture books for your kids and grandkids? Visit my Etsy store at KarensBooksandMore

Book 3 in the Questions for Kids picture book series is now available! Check out Guess Why God Made the Rainbow on Amazon or your favorite book retailer! 🌈

Love this podcast episode? Please leave a positive rating/review and share this episode with a friend ❤️

Visit our websites at: 

https://www.karenferg.com/

https://www.sandrakaychambers.com/ 

Find our books on Amazon:

Karen Ferguson: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Karen-Ferguson/author/B075SHZ1WV?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true 

Sandra Chambers: ...

Send us Fan Mail

Today’s special guest is Anastasia Corbin. She’s a dedicated mother of four and an advocate of faith, family, and fitness. She is passionate about sharing her insights and experiences to help overwhelmed moms prioritize their family relationships. She is the author of Becoming an Intentional Family and co-author of When the Bases are Loaded: Encouragement for Moms to Hit a Grand Slam in Life.

Here are 3 key takeaways from our conversation:

1.    Communicates value:

 One-on-one time with your child communicates that they are important and worth spending quality time with. Your presence is one of the greatest gifts you can give them.

2.    Builds relationships:

 Just like with friends or spouses, spending time together helps build a deeper connection and understanding with your child. You get to know their preferences, fears, and interests, which strengthens your bond.

3.    Behavior improvement

Often, children act out to gain attention. By intentionally setting aside one-on-one time, you meet their need for attention and help reduce negative behavior. Investing in your child pays off in the long run.

4.    Finding time

 For one-on-one moments can be challenging, but it's worth it. Be creative and explore opportunities like car rides, walks, special treats, or even playing their favorite games together. If you want more ideas and guidance on how to create intentional family time, I encourage you to check out Anastasia’s book, Becoming an Intentional Family.

For more info on Anastasia check out her website. 

Check out the Questions for Kids picture book series, perfect for young readers ages 5-10! 

*Are you looking for fun, gospel-inspired merch for your family + discounted picture books for your kids and grandkids? Visit my Etsy store at KarensBooksandMore

Book 3 in the Questions for Kids picture book series is now available! Check out Guess Why God Made the Rainbow on Amazon or your favorite book retailer! 🌈

Love this podcast episode? Please leave a positive rating/review and share this episode with a friend ❤️

Visit our websites at: 

https://www.karenferg.com/

https://www.sandrakaychambers.com/ 

Find our books on Amazon:

Karen Ferguson: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Karen-Ferguson/author/B075SHZ1WV?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true 

Sandra Chambers: ...

Send us Fan Mail

In today’s episode I have the privilege of interviewing Crystal Bowman, an award-winning and best-selling author of over 100 books for children and families. Crystal Bowman is not only an accomplished author but also a mentor and coach for children's writers. 

Crystal's heart is to reach children with the message of Jesus from a young age. She believes that even the very youngest children can begin to understand God's love and presence through devotions focused on security and belonging. Crystal's books, like "Good Morning, God Loves You," provide comfort and encouragement to little ones through beautiful illustrations and uplifting messages. As children grow older, Crystal introduces them to Jesus as God's son and helps them grasp the importance of His sacrifice and resurrection. Her devotionals and Bible storybooks are designed to help children understand what it means to be a Christian and follow Jesus. Crystal emphasizes the importance of age-appropriate materials that do not water down the gospel, but engage children at their level of understanding.

You can find out more about Crystal and her books on her website.  

She and her daughter, Terry McKinley, have a brand new kid’s devotional titled Our Daily Bread for Kids: 365 Devotions from Genesis to Revelation

.

Check out the Questions for Kids picture book series, perfect for young readers ages 5-10! 

*Are you looking for fun, gospel-inspired merch for your family + discounted picture books for your kids and grandkids? Visit my Etsy store at KarensBooksandMore

Book 3 in the Questions for Kids picture book series is now available! Check out Guess Why God Made the Rainbow on Amazon or your favorite book retailer! 🌈

Love this podcast episode? Please leave a positive rating/review and share this episode with a friend ❤️

Visit our websites at: 

https://www.karenferg.com/

https://www.sandrakaychambers.com/ 

Find our books on Amazon:

Karen Ferguson: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Karen-Ferguson/author/B075SHZ1WV?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true 

Sandra Chambers: ...

Send us Fan Mail

I gave a lot of statistics last week about bullying, defined what bullying is and looked at the four types of bullying. We also gave a few ways you can help your child if they tell you they are being bullied. This week we are going to look at some traits kids who are bullied often have, and some ways you can help your child if they are being bullied.

First, let’s look at some common traits children who are bullied have:

1. They give in easily to the aggressor’s demands.
2. They lack self-confidence and have low self-esteem.
3. They are unable to project and air of indifference to verbal abuse.
4. They are anxious and fearful.
5. They exhibit an extreme emotional response to the abuse.
6. They lack the skills needed to turn the situation around with humor or other verbal strategies.
7. They have few friends.
8. They are ineffective in rebuffing a bully in the first encounter, encouraging repeat attacks.

Some things parents can do:

1. Create a safe and non-judgmental environment for your child to talk about their bullying. Encourage them to share what's happening and how it makes them feel.
2. Show empathy and reassurance to your child. Let them know you are there for them.
3. Remind your child to pray and ask for God’s help. Remind them that bullies are the ones who usually have low self-esteem and use bullying to make themselves feel more important.
4. Encourage your child to keep a record of bullying incidents, including dates, times, locations, and descriptions of what happened. This can be helpful if the situation escalates and you need to report it to someone.
5. Reach out to your child's school if bullying continues. Provide them with the documented incidents and request that they take action.
6. Help your child develop assertiveness skills to stand up for themselves calmly and confidently. Role-playing an be a useful tool for practicing these skills. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this, perhaps a school counselor could help.
7. Foster your child's self-confidence and self-worth by engaging them in activities they excel in and by emphasizing their positive qualities.
8. Encourage your child to form healthy friendships outside of school.
9. If your child is experiencing severe emotional distress or the bullying persists, consider involving a therapist or a counselor to help them cope.
10. Monitor online activity—be aware of your child's online presence and encourage responsible internet use.
11. In extreme cases or when physical harm is involved, consider involving law enforcement.

Even if your child is not being bullied, it’s likely he or she knows someone who is. We should teach our children to be defenders and not to be afraid to protect other people. Research has shown that more than half of the time (57%), when children intervene and play the role of “defender,” bullying stops within 10 seconds.

Some basic rules to teach your child about bullying:

1. I will not bully other.
2. I will try to help other children who are bullied.
3. I will try to include other children who are left out.
4. If I know somebody is being bullied, I will tell an adult at school or my parents.
5. I will pray both for those who are being bullied and those who are bullying others.

Sources used for this podcast:

National Bullying Prevention Center. https://www.pacer.org/bullying/ 

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/teach-childrn-deal-bullying/

https://www.focusonthefamily.ca/content/empowering-your-child-to-deal-with-bullies)

Check out the Questions for Kids picture book series, perfect for young readers ages 5-10! 

*Are you looking for fun, gospel-inspired merch for your family + discounted picture books for your kids and grandkids? Visit my Etsy store at KarensBooksandMore

Book 3 in the Questions for Kids picture book series is now available! Check out Guess Why God Made the Rainbow on Amazon or your favorite book retailer! 🌈

Love this podcast episode? Please leave a positive rating/review and share this episode with a friend ❤️

Visit our websites at: 

https://www.karenferg.com/

https://www.sandrakaychambers.com/ 

Find our books on Amazon:

Karen Ferguson: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Karen-Ferguson/author/B075SHZ1WV?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true 

Sandra Chambers: ...