News U Can Use: "13 Things Mentally Strong Parents Don't Do"

Raising mentally strong kids who are equipped to take on real-world challenges requires parents to give up the unhealthy — yet popular — parenting practices that are robbing kids of mental strength.

Of course, helping kids build mental muscle isn’t easy — it requires parents to be mentally strong as well. Watching kids struggle, pushing them to face their fears, and holding them accountable for their mistakes is tough. But those are the types of experiences kids need to reach their greatest potential.

Parents who train their children’s brains for a life of meaning, happiness, and success, avoid these 13 things... 

CLICK HERE (to keep reading at FORBES) 

Interview/Podcast: “Stop Preaching, Start Teaching” (Youth Ministry Booster)

 A recent interview with my friends at Youth Ministry Boosters, talking about a variety of topics and experiences including the idea that we need to change your approach to speaking to students, especially in the Middle Years! 

We need to Stop Preaching and Start Teaching!

LISTEN IN ON OUR CONVERSATION!

Game: “Heart Breakers” (Valentine’s Icebreaker)

A Quick Simple Silly Game To Get Your Night Started Around Valentine's Day! 



Supplies:
· Red construction paper
· Scissors
· Optional: Pre-made valentines paper hearts or valentine’s cards

Game Play:
Quick explanation: Players will work to find other players with pieces of the same “broken heart” and “heal the broken heart”

Before the Game:
• Using construction paper make a bunch of large red hearts or purchase paper hearts or Valentine’s cards.
• Cut up hearts into 6-8 puzzle pieces.

Playing:
• Give the quick explanation and rules.
• Give every person a piece of a heart.
• On “Go!” everyone starts working to find other people with pieces to their heart.
• Once they have found another person, player will work continue to work to find other people until their heart is complete again.
• Winners are the group that is first to “heal their broken heart”

Rules:
· No extra rules, but a suggestion for more of a challenge consider having everyone not be able to speak.

Hints/Help:· Great lesson introduction, illustration or activity on topics of love, hurt, God’s heart, or related subjects.

Free Resource: “Parents and Tween Media Use” (Fact Sheet)

"Parents can play an important role in helping children understand the media environment and rules around media use. The Common Sense Census explored how parents and their children communicate about media, including what discussions they have and how aware parents are of children’s media use." 

CLICK HERE (to download the Fact Sheet PDF)