The document provides 10 tips for raising children with character: (1) prioritize parenting, (2) review how you spend your time daily, (3) be a good example through your own actions, (4) monitor what influences your children absorb from media, (5) teach strong morals of right and wrong, (6) punish lovingly to correct behavior, (7) make time to listen to your children, (8) get involved in their school life, (9) have family meals together, (10) develop character through practice, not just words. The overall message is that parents have the primary responsibility for raising their children and should focus on being good role models through their words and actions.

1. 10 Tips for Raising
Children with Character
How can we be better parents?

2. Tough Work
• Parents have the PRIMARY charge of
raising children
• As they get older there are other influences on
children
• Peers, friends, school
• Being a good parent is complicated
• Today – 10 tips that might help
• NOTE: I am not an expert at raising children

3. 1. Parenting First
• Think about priorities
• I have spoken about this recently
• Keep what is important – first
• PUT PARENTING NEAR THE TOP

4. 2. Review your Day
• What are you involved in?
• What activities are in your life?
• How much time do each of these take?
• How much time do you spend with
each of your children?
• REVIEW HOW YOU SPEND THE
TIME IN YOUR WEEK

5. 3. Good Example
• Parents say, “Don’t do as I do. Do as I
say.”
• This does not work.
• Example shouts louder that words
• BE A GOOD EXAMPLE TO YOUR
CHILDREN

6. 4. Absorbing What?
• Children are like sponges
• TV, movies, songs, Internet, books
• How are your children behaving
because of these things?
• DEVELOP AN EAR AND EYE FOR
WHAT YOUR CHILDREN ARE
ABSORBING

7. 5. Teach Character
• Schools can’t teach the Bible
• But they can teach “character
development” (Whose morals are
being taught – This is the real issue.)
• Use strong terms of right and wrong
• Not – mistake, goof, oops
• But – sin, wrong, illegal, violation
• USE LANGUAGE OF CHARACTER

8. 6. Punish
• Punishment is necessary
• Make sure you do it for the right reason
• NOT – out of anger, to hurt
• BUT – to impress, correct
• Don’t overdraw your “love account”
• Love – deposits; Punish – withdraws
• Don't take out more than you put in
• PUNISH WITH A LOVING HEART

9. 7. Listen
• Take time to listen
• Their problems may seem small to you,
but they are not small to them
• You might learn some things along the
way
• LEARN TO LISTEN TO YOUR
CHLDREN

10. 8. Involved in School
• School children spend –
• 7-8 hours per day at school
• 5-6 awake hours at home
• Parenting becomes a 2nd place role
• Know teacher, principle, activities
• BECOME INVOLVED IN YOUR
CHILD’S SCHOOL LIFE

11. 9. Family Meal
• Many homes become “rest stops”
• Teens come in – change clothes – leave
• Sports, school activities, out with friends
• Communication can break down
• One meal together is mandatory
• MAKE A BIG DEAL OUT OF A
FAMILY MEAL TOGETHER

12. 10. Not Words Alone
• Virtue comes through practice
• Self-discipline, good work habits
• Kind, considerate, patience
• Responsibility, honest, fair
• Ability to say “No” to wrong
• VIRTURE, CHARACTER COMES
THORUGH PRACTICE

13. 10 Tips
• When people become parents they
begin a work that will last
• 18 years of intense training
• Lifetime of counsel, help
• God designed the family to be the
PRIMARY trainer of children