Summary

3 Years - Preteens

Session 1: How to Raise a Responsible Child

Learn why we need to give our children a moral reason why when we give them a directive. Children can learn the moral reason behind a decision to do something.

Session 2: Right Beginnings

The importance of the husband-wife relationship is emphasised, as children need a secure atmosphere to grow up in. If you are a single parent, Gary & Anne Marie deal sensitively with the special issues that confront you.

Session 3: Touchpoints of Love

‘The Five Love Languages’ by Dr Gary Chapman are the key to this session. Do you know how to say “I love you” to your spouse and your children in their own love language?

Session 4: The Father’s Mandate

Fathers are shown what their God-given role is in the family. Eight duties for a father are identified.

Session 5: Your Child’s Conscience

How much do you understand about the conscience and how it works? Class members do a test to determine the state of their own conscience. You cannot repent without regret, but you can regret without repentance.

Session 6: Respect for Authority and Parents

A very practical lesson that covers such matters as honouring parents and respect for those who have authority, such as police or teachers.

Session 7: Respect for Age

Training children to honour and respect age is training them to honour God. Whatever happened to Mr & Mrs? Teaching your children the “interrupt rule”.

Session 8: Respect for Peers, Property and Nature

Learn how to teach children to respect the dominion of others. The emphasis is not on the object, but on showing respect for the person who owns the object.

Session 9: Principles of Obedience

When you give your child a command, do they respond with “yes Mum or yes Dad”? What is it like in your family? First-time obedience is achievable.

Session 10: Discipline with Encouragement

Encouragement is a very important part of discipline. You will learn the difference between a reward and a bribe.

Session 11: Discipline with Correction

Learn the difference between “childishness” and “foolishness”. Under-punishing sets too low a value on the sin but overpunishing exasperates and frustrates the child.

Session 12: Consequences and Punishment

Many parents fall into the cultural use of spanking instead of the Biblical application. A child is robbed of dignity when parents use intimidation, threats, yelling and other unBiblical forms of correction, rather than Biblical chastisement.

Session 13: Repentance, Forgiveness and Restoration

Unfortunately people often confuse regret with repentance

Session 14: Discipline Issues (Part One)

We can allow our children too many choices that are not age-appropriate. The result is that a child becomes “wise in their own eyes”.

Session 15: Discipline Issues (Part Two)

We look at whining, lying, cheating, stealing, temper tantrums, micro-vs-macro rebellion and power struggles … and how to deal with it.

Session 16: The Appeal Process

Col 3:21 says ‘Fathers, do not exasperate your children.’ This lesson shows you how you can fulfill this Scriptural injunction.

Session 17: Building a Healthy Family

Learn how to enjoy the teenage years with your children.