Did you ever jump on a trampoline? If so, you loved seeing how high you could leap into the air. But, inevitably, every time you soared upward, you eventually came back down.

As a Dad, you understand that parenthood also involves “highs” and “lows.” Maybe your son draws a picture that says, “I love my Dad!” Or perhaps he scores a goal on the soccer field.

The “highs” of parenthood are great. But “lows” can be a great opportunity to grow closer to your son, as you process where the challenging experiences of life can bring growth.

Even though parenting is hard, it’s a privilege to use the highs and the lows to help grow character in your son.

Learn about a Proven Process for growing boys into godly men at Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Did you ever try to cut a 2 x 4 with a hacksaw? Or hammer a nail with a wrench? It just doesn’t work very well. Using the right tool makes all the difference in successfully completing a job.

When it comes to training boys, having the right tools and resources makes a big difference. God’s Word is our go-to resource. From it, we learn important truths and principles that guide us as we train our sons.

Ephesians 6:4 says, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

In addition to God’s Word, there are other resources that will help you grow boys into godly men. Check out these practical tools at Trail Life USA or at RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Prison is a hard place.

But the pain of prison extends beyond concrete walls and barbed wire fences.

According to Prison Fellowship, over 1.5 million kids have an incarcerated parent. Around 92% of them are fathers.

That’s a sad statistic. It means that hundreds of thousands of boys are growing up without a dad. All boys need a proper role model to guide, encourage, and love them.

Break the cycle. Be active in your son’s life or be “dad-like” in an organization that serves boys who don’t have the influence of a godly father. In this way, you demonstrate that God’s Word contains truth and guidance on how to navigate the pathway of life.

For tips and resources on parenting boys, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

If you’ve ever been to a circus, you’ve seen clowns juggling balls and clubs. Juggling may look simple enough, but it’s actually a lot harder than it looks.

Parenting boys is also harder than expected. You’re trying to juggle multiple schedules, manage conflicts, and adapt to various personalities. And many times, you hardly have enough time to deal with one issue before another one comes flying at you.

Fortunately, you don’t have to be a clown to successfully juggle the requirements of being a Dad. Simply begin with love, toss in compassion, and throw in a bunch of fun. As you do this, your son will appreciate you more than you’ll ever know.

Invest time and attention in your kids. Learn about a Proven Process that is helping dads grow closer to their sons. Visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com for more information.

Have you ever heard your son say, “I’m bored”? 

If so, you’re not alone. 

These days, boys stay inside the house watching their digital devices for way too many hours a day. In fact, according to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, kids spend an average of 4 to 6 hours a day playing video games and watching TV. 

Do your boys a favor by introducing them to the great outdoors. As you explore the woods together, you’ll develop memories that will last a lifetime.

And guess what? Before you know it, those cries of “I’m bored” will fade away.

For more information on how to have fun with your son in the great outdoors, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com for a Proven Process that is helping transform boys into godly men.

Sometimes, the routines of life can make us feel as if we’re running on a hamster wheel. 

If you had a pet hamster, you know that they love running. Give a hamster a hamster wheel, and they’ll run on it day after day after day.

While there’s certainly value in developing life routines, it’s vitally important that boys experience times of adventure beyond the norms of life. Their minds and bodies crave action and excitement! They need physical and mental challenges that motivate them to work hard and help them grow into godly men.

One of the best places to help boys grow and have fun is in the great outdoors. Leave the hamster wheel behind. Try hiking or having fun at an archery range.

These adventurous experiences will not soon be forgotten . . . For more ideas on outdoor activities, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

A battle rages—and boys are on the front lines. They are daily bombarded by anti-Christian philosophies:

• Relativism—disrupts truth and biblical morality,
• Humanism—teaches that a person must depend on himself, not God, if this is true, then why do we even need God?
• And evolution—teaches that we evolved by mere chance, the very existence of a loving Creator is ridiculed.

Don’t let these worldly philosophies destroy your son’s faith in Christ. Teach him to stand on the solid Word of God.

Training your son in today’s secular culture isn’t easy. It requires time and attention.

Learn about a Proven Process that can help you accomplish this. Visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com for free downloadable resources.

A reporter asked Thomas Edison, “How did it feel to fail 1,000 times?” Edison replied, “I didn’t fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps.”

One of the greatest inventions of the 19th century was the lightbulb. But creating the lightbulb required lots of trial and error. 

Failure is a part of life. In fact, it’s normal and natural. And even though no one likes to fail, it teaches us to do better and to strive harder as we reach for our goals.

Boys need a challenge. Even though trying something new may result in failure, that failure is helping them develop important character traits that are essential for future success.

Are you helping your boys learn from failure? Visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com for practical tips on how to help your boys grow into godly young men.

Have you ever walked across a rickety bridge and wondered if it could manage the weight?

If you are carrying something heavy that fear can be very real.

Carrying truth can be like that. Especially when you are carrying truth to a boy.

Make sure the bridge -- your connection to that boy -- is strong enough to carry the weight of that truth.

The reality with boys, particularly teens, is that simply telling them the truth isn’t enough. You’ve got to have a connection -- a bridge -- strong enough to carry that truth for the truth to have its full impact, otherwise, you are just breaking bridges.

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.

Boys love fireworks!

There’s just something about a monstrous Bang!—Boom!—and Blast! that shakes the air and excites the heart.

As the sky vibrates with fiery explosions, fingers tingle with excitement, and fountains of sparkling light shine down on smiling faces.

But guess what lasts even longer than firecrackers and bottle rockets? Memories do!

Have fun with your son as you ring in the New Year together. As you show interest in him, he’ll be more likely to seek your help when peer pressure and temptation come his way.

Boys desperately need a father figure who can be a godly mentor and guide to them. Be that figure in your son’s life.

For information about a Proven Process that’s growing boys into godly men, visit TrailLifeUSA.com/SavingBoys.