How parents can raise healthy, happy children

There is no question that children and young people have it tough today. They face many more temptations and challenges than most of us ever knew when we were growing up. Many never get to know a real childhood as they are forced to grow up much too fast. When I was a pastor I often told our church that our number one priority as a church was to reach people for Jesus Christ and our second priority had to be to help families thrive in today's culture. I still believe that. There is no other organization than the church that has the tools that can help children survive these difficult growing-up years. How can we help parents ensure their children grow up to be healthy and happy individuals?

In his book What Americans Really Want...Really: The Truth About Our Hopes, Dreams, and Fears Frank Luntz offers six parental behaviors that can help raise such children.

1. Have dinner with your children. I have read that the average amount of time parents spend in meaningful conversation with their children is 3 1/2 minutes a WEEK. Sitting down to eat dinner with our children sends a message that they are important to us and gives parents an opportunity to actually talk with their children. This means no phones and no interruptions. Family dinners may be a thing of the past, but they do not have to be, and they are important for raising healthy children.
2. Take your child to church every Sunday. Church attendance keeps dwindling while cultural problems keeps increasing. I think there is a connection. Don't take your child to church and drop him or her off while you do something else. Attend services with your child so they know that your faith is important to you. 
3. Check your child's homework every night. This demonstrates that you believe their school work is important, and it helps you spot early on if there are problems. It also allows more time for conversation, especially about things going on at school.
4. Demand the truth from your children. When your children are going out you should know where they are going, who is going with them and what they are going to be doing. Don't be afraid to set boundaries about acceptable behaviors and those they associate with. Never tolerate deceit from your children. 
5. Take your children on vacation at least one week every year. They need a break from the normal lives they are living, and this gives you more time with them. Create special memories that will outlive you.
6. Encourage them to participate in a team sport. When playing team sports they learn they are responsible to other people. It also gives them exercise and gets them away from video games, social media and other things that consume so much of children's time today.

Each year when I pastored a church I preached a series of sermons on family life between Mother's Day and Father's Day. It was a way to emphasize the importance of the family and a way to present biblical teaching on family life. With so many trying to tear apart the traditional family, the church needs to rise up in support of the family. Because children are so vulnerable we need to especially focus on their needs and challenges.