There’s helicopter parenting, free range parenting, tiger parenting, and even lawnmower parenting. John and Danny discuss how “mowing down” roadblocks for our kids as lawnmower parents can cause serious damage later on.
Focus on Parenting Podcast
Strong-willed children must face the consequences of their actions, but John and Danny warn against breaking the will of the strong-willed child.
Doting moms may have good intentions, but John and Danny discuss how prioritizing the kids too much can end up turning them into idols and hurting the family.
Moms and sons have a special relationship. But there comes a time in every boy’s life that he wages a war on his mom. John and Danny discuss when a boy starts looking at his mom as a potential enemy and what a mom can do about it.
Children are a gift from God, and John and Danny emphasize how important it is for Christian parents to keep that in mind especiallly during tough times.
Out of Dr. Kathy Koch’s 5 core needs of a child, John and Danny focus on identity and how to make kids feel like they know who they are and that they belong in your family.
John and Danny discuss how sometimes we have to allow our children go through some pain and struggle to help them grow strong.
As parents, dealing day in and day out with our children can wear us out. John and Danny challenge parents to reach out for help and resources before complete exhaustion sets in.
Parents need discernment when it comes to some of the advice they’ll come across in raising their kids. John and Danny explain how the terrible advice of “never telling children no” can actually harm our kids.
When little boys who throw temper tantrums don’t get a handle on that into adulthood, things can get ugly. John and Danny emphasize the importance of teaching boys an emotional vocabulary early on so that anger and rage don’t control them as adults.
Little boys share a special bond with their moms because they often spend the most amount of time together. John and Danny explain how time with mom during the first few years of a boy’s life can shape their view of women.
If you’ve ever messed up so badly that you felt like you’ve disappointed everyone around you, pull up a chair and listen. John and Danny explain why it’s important to let go of past mistakes and forgive ourselves so we don’t end up carrying those burdens into our parenting.
Many moms worry constantly that they’re going to mess up their kids, but they don’t have to. John and Danny challenge parents to remember that while they’re significant, God is sovereign in their children’s lives.
When parents worry that a child isn’t living up to their potential, the child’s motivation may need to be re-directed. John and Danny remind parents that the only way kids will do what they’re supposed to, is for them to be motivated in that direction.
It’s our job as parents to help our children understand how to apply the Bible to their daily lives. John and Danny discuss how parents can use language about the fruit of the spirit or the feeding of the five thousand to show how God can work in the lives of their children.
We want our kids to be able to function well in society. That’s why we have to create boundaries for them when they’re young. John and Danny explain how to set boundaries by striking a balance of love and limits even if those boundaries are met with resistance.
There’s no way to keep your children happy all the time. They need to go through their own struggles so they know how to handle tough situations later on in life. John and Danny emphasize the importance of allowing kids to learn resiliency.
There seems to be an identity crisis going on in our culture, as we hear stories of boys wanting to be girls and girls wanting to be boys. John and Danny discuss some of the stark differences between boys and girls and why it’s important for our boys to be boys.
In TV and movies dads are often portrayed as kind of dopey or clown-ish. But dads are called to be leaders in their households. John and Danny emphasize how dads can often provide a unique perspective in troubling situations their daughters may be facing.
God disciplines those He loves and He does so with plenty of grace while implementing boundaries for our good. John and Danny explain how parents can do the same with their children, without using shame.
Saying “I’m sorry” can be difficult, especially for parents. But those two words can make a big difference in a child’s life. John and Danny discuss the times they need to use those words and how taking responsibility for mistakes as parents helps show God’s grace.
A lot of parents want their kids to like them, and not to ever get mad at them. But these wishes are all parenting red flags. John and Danny emphasize that it’s important to parent so that kids want to be your friend when they’re 25 years old, not when they’re young.
One of the hardest things we have to do sometimes as parents is to just sit on our hands, and not rescue our kids from tough situations. John and Danny discuss the importance of giving children the space to succeed or fail, but making sure it’s within a safe environment.
Body language tells more of the story than the actual words that are said when parents talk to their kids. John and Danny explain that non-verbal cues including tone of voice can make a big difference in conversations.
Technology can be great, but sometimes it gets in the way of a family’s ability to really engage with one another. John and Danny discuss ways to use tech like smartphones, laptops and video games as tools for enhancing relationships, not replacing them.
Dads may feel like all they really need to do is go to work to provide for their families. But spending more time together is really what daughters want from their dads. John and Danny discuss how a little extra time with dad can make a big difference in a defiant daughter’s behavior.
