Boys love toys! Some of their favorites are racecars, robots, and rockets. And (according to kids) the louder, faster, and crazier the toy, the better!

As a dad, you probably don’t play with toy dinosaurs anymore, but you just might have a big-boy toy like a motorcycle or boat.

It’s fine to enjoy toys. They can even be a way of connecting with your son. But don’t let toys consume your time and attention.

C.S. Lewis said, “All these toys were never intended to possess my heart. My true good is in another world, and my only real treasure is Christ.”

Teach your son that even more amazing than the most extraordinary toy is the Lord Jesus. He, alone, can bring true happiness and joy into our lives.

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

Did you know our homes are training grounds?

President John Adams said, “Public virtue cannot exist in a nation without private virtue, and public virtue is the only foundation of republics.”

Our homes can be training grounds for good and godly character. More than I want my children to be famous, rich, or exceptional, I want them to be good.

The apostle Peter wrote, [M]ake every effort to supplement your faith with goodness (2 Peter 1:5).

Culture today includes many examples of badness. I want to raise godly offspring who shine like stars for the Lord.

Father figures can intentionally seek to mentor and train boys who grow in good character. That’s the best way to shape a nation.

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

One of life’s great challenges is learning to not just go with the flow, because sometimes the flow goes in the wrong direction.

We live in a day of great distraction. Because of the digital age, information flows constantly. Some say we have become the society that is looking down – always checking our phones, tablets, and devices.

These tools of mass distraction can cause us to miss important things in life. Many families cannot sit through a meal without everyone checking their phones.

As father figures, let’s encourage and set an example for our boys to not always be tied to an electronic device. We can spur them on to play outdoors, read a good book, or build something with their hands.

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

John Wesley, a famous 18th century preacher, said, “There is no such thing as a solitary Christian.”

As parents, we want to raise our kids to love the Lord and be responsible adults. But challenges from the worldly culture around us make parenting tough. Sometimes so tough that we grow discouraged when we don’t see immediate results.

When you feel this way, remember that parenting isn’t a solitary process. That means you don’t have to go it alone. A variety of Christian resources are available. Church staff as well as family and friends are often willing to help out when they know there’s a need.

Raising boys isn’t for the faint of heart. That’s why Trail Life USA has fun activities that are helping boys grow physically, mentally, and spiritually. For more information, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Do you manage your time properly?

In the craziness of normal everyday life, it’s easy to lose track of time.

Perhaps your son starts school at 8 am. You’ve got a work meeting at 10 a.m. Soccer practice begins at 3:15 in the afternoon. And, of course, there’s church, piano lessons, and dozens of other activities that you and your family participate in.

The question is, are you punctual or persistently late?

Don’t let tardiness become a habit. Figure out how much time you need to prepare and travel to your destination. Organize your schedule so that you arrive on time, even if hiccups occur along the way.

By managing your time, you teach your son dependability—an important character trait that will help him thrive throughout life.

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

Remember this famous quote?

“Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country,” President John F. Kennedy during his inaugural address in 1961.

As Christian men trying to raise godly boys, our mantra should be, “Ask not what God can do for me; ask what I can do for God.”

It’s natural for us to think about ourselves first and not what we can do for God and what we can give back to him, including our time, talents, and treasure.

As the Bible says, you must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a cheerful giver.”

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

Successful living involves risk-taking.

Over 300 people rejected Colonel Sanders’ special recipe for Southern fried chicken before he received a “yes.” Today, because of his persistence, KFC boasts 20,000 restaurants in 125 countries.

We are wise as parents to instill in our boys the value of adventurous living. When we do, we cannot control the outcome. But we can control ourselves.

We can make taking risks a healthy part of our family culture. We can encourage our boys to try new tasks, sports, instruments, and friendships.

We cannot create risk-free lives for our children. That world doesn’t exist. What we can do is teach them the value of trusting God, not always playing it safe, and enjoying the process.

For information about raising your son into a godly man, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Do you break your own rules?

You no doubt have rules for your son– like no texting while driving, and no procrastinating on his homework assignments. But if your son constantly sees you breaking your own rules, he will struggle to have respect for you.

 Of course, your boy does need to know that parents have more authority than kids. But, to the best of your ability, demonstrate the good habits you want your son to have– for instance, put your phone down while you drive and don’t procrastinate on your chores.

And when you inevitably mess up— try to be a good example then, too. Demonstrate asking for forgiveness and taking responsibility for your mistakes. Your son will emulate you far more than he listens to you.

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

Want to make a powerful imprint on the lives of children?

I believe the most powerful method the Lord gave parents to influence our children is the simple practice of family worship.

In our sophisticated age, we may forget the spiritual power of opening the Bible, reading it to our families, and leading in prayer. God made it simple: pick up the Word, share it, and lead others to the throne of grace.

Charles Spurgeon said, “If we want to bring up a godly family . . . let us seek to train them up in the fear of God by meeting together as a family for worship.” Let’s be on the alert, parents and mentors, to impact our families for the Lord Jesus.

For information about raising your son into a godly man, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Is it attention deficit disorder– or dad deficit disorder?

In his book Raising Boys, Steve Biddulph tells a powerful story about a dad named Don. Don’s son was diagnosed with “attention deficit disorder.” This was years ago, before ADD knowledge was so widespread, so Don misunderstood the diagnosis. He thought it meant that his son simply needed more attention. When school was out, Don started taking his son with him on his truck driving routes. Within months, his son showed remarkable behavior improvement– and even came off his ADD medication.

Many ADD diagnoses are very legitimate. But it’s likely that your son is also deficient in attention from you. Take some time today to put your phone down and give your boy some quality time.

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