Daniel Ausbun
  • Home
  • About

Four Keys to Raising a Preteen

9/30/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Elizabeth & Daniel, Jr. at Natural Bridge State Resort Park
This month Elizabeth turned 11 - the preteen years are 11 & 12 years old. This is 5th & 6th grade.

Preteen years can be somewhat awkward - you're too old for elementary school, yet not quite a teenager. Here are 4 keys I've learned from raising one, and now two preteens.

1). Avoid the temptation to buy your preteen a cell phone. Their friends have them, they ask for one for Christmas, their birthday, Valentine's Day, from the tooth fairy. Cell phones rob children of their childhood. We still have a landline, that's the children's phone.

2). Preteens need to stay busy. Elizabeth participates in gymnastics, jumps on the trampoline and lives at church. Preteens get bored - very fast. They need to play outside, participate in sports, read books, and be very involved in church. If you let them, they'll sit in front of video games, TV and play on the phone. They'll have the rest of their lives for a phone.

3). Give them responsibility. Unload the dishwasher, fold clothes, vacuum, babysit, take care of the cat - chores should be expected.

4). Attitudes have consequences. The average preteen is smarter than you, knows more than you, and wants to make their own decisions. A bad attitude is the same as disobedience. The 5th commandment says, "Honor your father and your mother." Honor includes your attitude.

Rules and structure are always your friend. Make the preteen years your child's best years - they're still children.

0 Comments

    A resource for Christian ministry, leadership & life issues!

    Archives

    November 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    April 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    October 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012

    Categories

    All
    Addictions
    Adoption
    Alcohol
    Bible
    Calvinism
    Children
    Church Membership
    Culture
    Discipleship
    Divorce
    End Times
    Evangelism
    Leadership
    Marriage
    Ministry
    Missions
    Money
    Parenting
    Pornography
    Prayer
    Preteen
    Seminary
    Sin
    Social Media
    Students
    Sunday School
    Women

    RSS Feed