Have you given your son any “tummy time” today? 

“Tummy time” is a fairly new concept in the parenting world, in which parents of infants are encouraged to let their baby spend time on their stomach. Babies often protest and find it very uncomfortable. But without this valuable time, they will not strengthen critical muscles or eventually learn to crawl. 

No matter your son’s age, he still needs one small challenge each day. This could be saying his own order at the restaurant, calling the vet to make an appointment for his dog, or completing a puzzle– anything that he would not normally choose to do himself. He may protest and find it uncomfortable, but it will strengthen his resilience muscle and build his self confidence. 

For more ideas on raising boys to be godly men, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

What’s the difference between being a smart parent and an overprotective parent?

It’s a hard balance to strike. But as Christians, we have a secret weapon that we often forget about: Prayer.

Every boy is different, and parenting strategies that work well with one boy can sometimes have disastrous results with another. But the one method that will always work is hitting our knees in prayer, asking God for wisdom, and surrendering our sons’ lives to God.

This doesn’t mean we will become perfect parents– or that we will always make the right decision. But the difference between an overprotective parent and a smart parent is simply parenting not out of fear and control– but out of faith and trust in God.

For encouragement on raising boys to be godly men, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

It only takes a small mistake– such as incorrect hip placement– to send a novice rock climber on a painful slide back down the rock wall.

In the same way, there’s a small mistake you can make in disciplining your son that can cause you to lose ground with him: getting too emotional.

It can be difficult to not cry or raise your voice when addressing heavy topics with your boy. But as soon as you show emotion, two things will happen in your son’s brain– he will become distracted, and lose respect for you.

Instead, regulate your own emotions by taking a deep breath, and speak to your son in concise, calm statements. He will listen more closely, and be more likely to respond calmly in turn.

For more ideas on raising boys to be godly men, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

If you could pick a superpower as a parent, what would it be? The ability to teleport your son to every sports practice instead of making the long drive?

Researchers have found that every parent has a “superpower” of sorts that can improve their relationship with their son, help him avoid perfectionism, and promote emotional health. It’s  simply this: an apology.

There’s no need to make your apology emotional or turn it into a long monologue. But when you know you’ve messed up as a parent, sincerely and concisely tell your son “I’m sorry”.  It will make him respect you more, and pave the way for him to learn the superpower of apologies in his own life.

For more ideas on raising boys to be godly men, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Who does your child really belong to?

I’ll give you a hint: It’s not you.

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27

God is the creator and owner of everyone and everything. We are called to be his ambassador and steward everyone and everything he’s given to us.

Author Paul Tripp says it’s vital for us to understand that we have no independent, autonomous authority as a parent. God grants us the right and power to exercise authority.

As we strive to raise godly boys, do we have an owner or ambassador mentality?
For more information about a Proven Process that is helping boys grow into godly men, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

How are your arrows doing?

Psalm 127:4 says that children are like arrows in the hands of a warrior.

Nowadays, we can drive down to the local sporting goods store and pick up a package of fiberglass arrows. These arrows are used for sport and are almost always retrieved after being shot.

In Bible times, the warrior’s arrows most likely were built by him. The warrior knew that the battle would be lost if he did not prepare. Preparing for battle takes a lot of time and hard work.

It is not easy, but it is worth it. Your children are your arrows. The time that you have them in your care is a precious time to prepare them for battle. It takes hard work!

Take time today to see your boys as arrows that will be used in battle by the Lord to defeat the enemy.

For more parenting advice and information about a Proven Process that is helping boys grow into godly men, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Can you point to a scar on your body? Perhaps, as a kid, you cut your arm when falling off your bike, or scraped a leg while climbing a tree.

Some boys think scars are cool because they tell an exciting story. But not all scars are visible.

Emotional scars often hurt more than physical wounds. When correcting your son, what kind of words are you using? Hateful speech can scar a boy’s spirit and enthusiasm. Even a person’s tone of voice can cause deep wounds that may not easily heal.

When correcting your son, ask the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts and words as you train and instruct. By doing so, you’ll leave your son with valuable lessons instead of invisible scars.

For more encouragement and parenting advice, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Here’s an interesting parenting twist on the golden rule.

Psychologist Dr. Joshua Straub suggests that, when it comes to your son, you replace the word “treat” with the word “understand.” So the golden rule then becomes “understand your son the way you want to be understood.”

Now, understanding your son may seem like an impossible task– especially if he’s a teenager! But here’s some ideas to start. When your son gets upset over something that seems unimportant to you, instead of saying “there’s nothing to be mad about,” put yourself in your son’s shoes. Most likely, there’s an underlying fear or insecurity behind your son’s anger.

Seek to understand. And in turn, your son may begin to understand your side, as well.

For more ideas on raising boys to be godly men, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Surfers don’t try to avoid the waves or control them– they learn to glide over them.

In the same way, family psychologist Dr. Joshua Straub has developed three steps to help your son “surf” over his emotions, instead of stuffing them down or using them to hurt others.

First, empathize with your boy’s feelings. Second, address the behavior. Explain the difference between healthy and unhealthy ways to deal with emotions. And third, problem solve together. Help your son come up with coping strategies,  like walking his dog when he feels angry or reading at night when he feels anxious.

Remind your son that emotions are a normal part of life that will ebb and flow. As one professor said, “You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.”

For more ideas on raising boys to be godly men, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Johnny dropped his bat to the ground, embarrassed that he had just struck out again. But when he glanced at the crowd and saw his dad give him a reassuring nod and smile, he felt his shoulders relax.

It’s easy as a parent to feel like you’ve “struck out” with your son when you lose patience or make a mistake. When this happens, you may start thinking that you’re a terrible parent, or that you’re destined to repeat the mistakes of your own parents. 

Instead of letting negative thoughts take over, turn to God. Repent. Ask your Heavenly Father for reassurance. And, as Numbers 6:26 says, “may the LORD turn his face towards you and give you peace.”

To learn about the five critical needs your son has as he grows up, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.