Here are 10 practical tips on raising children with character.

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