Archive for February, 2009

It was so much fun doing the show today–debates are always enjoyable, and this one was no exception. Cathy was kind enough to e-mail us the link where she purchased the bank for her childrens’ allowance. Check it out!

Whether you choose to give your child allowance or not is a very personal decision. It will be influenced to a certain degree by the children your children are close to–it is disturbing for one child to have no allowance while their friends can spend freely. But this is a teaching moment for both types of parents. Be open with your children as to why you do what you do. If you choose to give an allowance, remember the importance of teaching good budgeting and most importantly, returning that portion to God that He has asked for. Whether you pay your children for chores, or give an allowance freely, it is good to have parameters on the spending. Repeat after me, “I am the parent, I am the parent.”

Oh, and for those of you (Rose!) who laughed at the bean concept, stickers work well too. The important thing is that our children learn to be good stewards of whatever resource they inherit in life. This principle is biblical, sound, and learning and exercising it will benefit our little ones as they grow and experience life.

Today’s show was such a blessing to me. I love to hear the different ways that people describe their children; shooting stars, stable and dependable, precious, rays of sunshine, intensely curious. We are truly blessed to have children in our lives; they bring a perspective to the everyday and mundane that sparks life and energy. They so innocently express their true feelings, a trait that we as adults often work to delete from our lives. But, childlike innocence will open the doors of heaven.

Children understand without question that God is a God of love, and that His greatest desire is to bring us joy and abundant life. They have a connection with Him that is undeniable and tangible. So, hug a child today. Smile as they walk past. Watch as they learn about the world around them. And, tell them how precious they are. Your life will be enriched and your existence will be enhanced; and you will be blessed “exceedingly, abundantly above what you could ask or think.”

Candy Devore

Our debate this week focused on television-should we or shouldn’t we have it in the home? Should we or shouldn’t we allow our children to watch it? It’s a tough question because to be honest, this is something that isn’t always in our control. Our children are exposed to “life” at church, in play groups, and even with other family members. TV can serve a great purpose; there are programs that bring the wonders of nature and other places of the world into our very living rooms. The important thing is to be discerning where TV viewing is concerned.

- Know what your children are viewing
- Limit the time spent in front of the TV
- Teach your children to be discerning
- Dialog with them about good and bad viewing
- Balance viewing with reading and playing
- Watch with your child

These are things you can do to make viewing safe and educational. By taking precautions and exerting your parental control, you can make TV a positive tool for teaching your children.

Candy Devore