Spiritual Kindling’s Encouragement for Children
Discipline:
"It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.” (Lamentations 3:27)
Goals:
“Keep true to the dreams of thy youth.” (Friedrich von Schiller)
Obedience:
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honor thy father and mother (which is the first commandment with promise), that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. (Ephesian 6: 1-3)
“My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: For they shall be a chaplet of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.’ (Proverbs 1: 8-9)
Personal Growth:
“It takes a long time to become young.” (Pablo Picasso)
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.(2 Peter 3:18)
School:
“Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.” (Proverbs 20:11)
Sports:
“It is very dangerous to have your self-worth riding on your results as an athlete.” (JimCourier)
“Know ye not that they that run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? Even so run; that ye may attain. And every man that striveth in the games exerciseth self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.” (ICorinthians 9: 24-25)
Work:
“To find joy in work is to discover the fountain of youth.” (Pearl S. Buck)
Encouragement for Children
How to Use Encouraging Words with Your Children
By: Judy H. Wright
Jack Canfield, author of Chicken Soup for the Soul, often cites a study completed by graduate students who followed a group of normal two-year olds around for a day. These typical kids from typical homes received 432 negative statements and only 32 positive statements daily. The teachers, aides and other children were constantly saying things like "don't touch that", "no, it is done this way", and "no, you are not big enough."
The national Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) found the ratio of praise-to-criticism of school age children is 18 negative to each positive. It is automatic human nature to state things in the negative; we have to learn positive words to use in encouraging our children.
Encouragement is the process of focusing on your children's assets and strengths in order to build their self-confidence and feelings of worth. I like to think of the word "encourage" as "en"courage, or giving the gift of courage . . . How to Encourage Your Children
