In his book Bringing Up Boys, Dr. James Dobson compares parents of sons to a bug called a processionary caterpillar. 

A scientist once tested these caterpillars by making them walk in a circle, with a food source in the middle of their circle. The caterpillars just kept following each other, instead of stopping to eat, and eventually died of starvation, right next to a food source.

Dr. Dobson says parents of sons often follow other parents in the same way. They put their son in lots of activities, trying to help him keep up with his peers. But in reality, most of the time, what boys really need is to stop, take a rest, and connect with the source of true life– our Creator God.

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

You know who needs to see your mistakes? Your son. That’s right.

When you miss a work deadline or hurt a friend’s feelings, let your son know. If handled properly, it can be a great training ground for your son.

First, manage your emotions. If you’re embarrassed or angry, take a deep breath or go on a walk to calm down. Next, explain what you did wrong. Share with your son how you’re going to fix the problem, and what you’ve learned for the future.

The world desperately needs your son to grow up to be a humble and responsible man. The best way to encourage that is to model it the best you can. Your transparency  will not only combat perfectionism— you’ll also remind him that God’s grace is sufficient for all of us.

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

Maybe your son just needs a break.

You only want the best for your son. You want to make sure he does well in school, eats reasonably well, makes friends, and participates in extracurriculars. And those are all wonderful things. But in this fast-paced society, don’t forget to let your son take a break, as well. Schedule “down days,” where you don’t have anything planned. Give your son long stretches of time where he can do whatever he wants. You might feel like a neglectful parent, but allowing your son to be bored will give him time to relax, play, and learn to manage his own time. When in doubt, just send him outside– he’ll find something to do!

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

Our boys are under attack.

Boys have fallen behind girls in every academic category. Girls are now more likely to have a college education than boys, and boys are more likely to live at home longer and fail to launch into the world.

As a parent, it can be discouraging to raise sons in a world that views masculinity as toxic. But by focusing on the five critical needs of boys, we can help our sons be strong, Godly men. First, boys need clear direction. Second, they need a safe male mentor. Third, they need boundaries. Fourth, they need risk, and finally, they need real-world challenges. With all five, boys have the tools they need to rise up in a world that is so determined to knock them down.

To learn more about these five critical needs, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Have you heard this criticism of Christians? “They’re so heavenly minded, they’re no earthly good.”

Focusing on the world to come doesn’t mean that we are to leave the present world as it is, but everything we do, say, and teach our boys should be filtered through the lens of eternity.

What are the Lord’s instructions for you during your time here on Earth? Act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself.

Remember the refrain of British missionary C.T. Studd’s famous poem: “Only one life, ’twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.”

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

How can you help your children grow spiritually?

Here are three ideas:

Set an example for them. It’s been said that when it comes to children, more is caught than taught. They’ll see when you read your Bible and pray (and when you don’t). And they’ll notice how often you attend church and how important spiritual things are to you.

Read with them. This helps kids grow spiritually in a fun and engaging way. Take the time to read books with them, including the Bible, and discuss spiritual themes you see.

Pray for them. This is, perhaps, the most important thing you can do for your kids. It’s easy to overlook the power of prayer when thinking about how to help your child grow spiritually. Make it a priority.

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

Is your son truly delayed…or is he just a boy?

Asher, who is six years old, got a letter sent home with him from school saying he is delayed and needs to work on sitting still. Asher’s mom took the letter to her son’s pediatrician, who shook her head, and said “He’s not delayed. He’s just being a boy.”

The school system is not designed with young, energetic boys in mind– especially since boys develop more slowly than their female peers. When it comes to your son’s development, pray for wisdom and seek professional advice. And above all, give your son lots of grace. He has a smart Creator, and he may just need some more time.

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

How will you pass your faith on to the next generation?

Psalm 78:4 charges us to “tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD, about his power and his mighty wonders.”

In this psalm, Asaph implored Jewish fathers to pass the faith from one generation to the next because he knew people would be prone to forgetting what God had done for them.

Good parenting requires us to share helpful instructions worth remembering. You should instruct your family according to God’s Word and share stories about what he has done for you. In doing so, God will enable you to impact future generations for years to come.

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

Why do boys like to play with cars and trucks?

In 2002, a study at Texas A&M University was designed to explore this question. Researchers took male and female monkeys, and gave them equal access to both traditional boy and girl toys.

Interestingly, the male monkeys naturally gravitated towards the traditional male toys, like cars, while the females did likewise with the girl toys, like dolls.

As much as our society would like to claim that there are no true differences between genders– boys are different from girls! Encourage your son to play with the “boy toys” he wants to– or, better yet, grab a race car and play along with him. You will see God’s perfect design playing out right in front of you.

To learn about the 5 critical needs of boys, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Has your son become your idol?

That may seem like a ridiculous question. But for even the most well-intentioned parents, their son’s happiness and success can consume their entire life, to the point that it becomes more important than their relationship with GOd.

Take some time to sit with God and reflect on your relationship with your son. Are you willing to discipline him to develop his character, even if it means he is angry with you? Do you obsess over controlling what he’s exposed to?  It may be time to step back, ask the Holy Spirit to influence your son, and exercise your trust in God.

It may be the best thing you’ve ever done for your son.

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