Use the Gospel to transform your approach to your child’s behaviour

How do you approach your child’s behaviour? Do you find yourself giving commands or trying to persuade? Are you an authoritarian or gentle parent? As a Christian parent, you feel like you want to be able to give your child clear, simple instructions for how they are to behave and why. You also want to speak to their heart, not just their behaviour. 

But how often in the tricky moments – faced with your child lashing out at toddler group or refusing (again!) to put on their coat – do you find yourself falling back on the classics: ‘stop doing that’ and ‘because I said so’? And then afterwards end up guiltily comparing yourself to a Bluey’s parents who have seemingly boundless energy, patience and wisdom? 

It’s striking that the fifth commandment God gives his people in Exodus: “Honour your father and your mother” (Exodus 20:12a) is the only command that comes with a promise: “so that you may live long in the land your God is giving you” (Exodus 20:12b). It seems that God’s approach to parenting children combines both command and reason. God tells his children how to live but also teaches us why this is good for us. As is usually the case, we discover that God really is the best parent! 

Which is why the Training Young Hearts series is a gift to parents, carers, and loved ones of toddlers.