Posts Tagged ‘Phonics Difficulties’

I thought development just happened naturally!

Almost everyone assumed that to be true, but as our society has “invented” items for the sake of safety, convenience, and progress, the human being has a natural path of development that has been interrupted from many of those practices we’ve adopted over the past 40 years.  As we’ve come along, there have been signs and symptoms that there was something happening educationally to our children. Now, we totally understand as we find ourselves in the midst of an epidemic of learning disabilities in our children. People back in the 1800s had better recall and processing abilities than most of our society does today! This decline in our learning abilities has been evident for over 40 years now!  Scientific research has born out the fact that we are raising our children from infants in ways that cause them to miss out on vital developmental steps. Thank heavens the Neurodevelopmental Approach was developed in response to this need.

If the brain and body do not establish strong, fast, and efficient-performing connections, there will be gaps and learning becomes a struggle which is most evident about age eight(8).  It’s at that time, because that is when the educational requirements will no longer accommodate a child’s natural coping and compensating strategies they’ve intuited in order to perform adequately in a school environment.  When their disorganized brain can no longer cope with the amount of information coming in, and they can’t keep up with the input, they are not storing the information where they can get recall; you often begin to see behaviors that show distress such as frustration, short tempers, lack of control, and sometimes very high ranges of anger displayed in as many forms as there are individuals!

What vital developmental steps are missing?

The most prevalent issue is that we are placing our babies in seats for most of their waking hours instead of where they need to be ~ on their tummies on a hard surface.  In order to map and organize the brain and get efficient neuro-pathways established, the body must send stimulating signals created through our sensory system efficiently to the brain.  That’s how God designed us, and no amount of technology will change the natural developmental progression of requirements of early development.  Quite frankly, God’s design will always outperform man’s technology!

A baby needs to feel resistance to let the brain know the signals from the limbs and body. The brain has to learn the functions of each part of our bodies, and get connected in the first six months of life.  The brain also needs to develop it’s ability to feel sensations, textures, temperatures, and begin to build into itself the distinguishing abilities of the millions of impulses it receives. On top of all the sensations it needs to learn about from the environment, and their cause and effect, it also has to learn about the babies “internal environment”!  It needs to develop the neuro-musculature required to be able to move the limbs, body, head, and all body parts in purposeful ways, rather than the reflexes and random movement we are born with.  In fact, all this developmental movement is a part of organizing the lower levels of the brain ~ a very distinctive and necessary part of learning successfully.

What can be done if our baby didn’t have time on the floor to develop properly?

So glad you asked!!  The answer is simple and natural.  Little Giant Steps has been developing corrective tools for families for over twenty years.  Jan Bedell, M.Ed., M.ND., LGS’ Brain Coach, has created an at-home program that can be administered to every family member, if they want to have improved receiving, storing and recall of information by getting DEVELOPMENTAL FOUNDATIONS.  You do specific activities for 2 minutes a day, twice a day for  3-4 months, or until the function shows up.  It’s amazing simple, everything you’ll need to be successful is in the kit, in fact you will be trained how to do the activities by being given access to our online professional training program. It’s a watch and learn training program that helps you to gain confidence in helping your family to unlock the key to their true God-given learning potential.  View the comments of those people who invested a short time and the powerful life-changing rewards they’ve experienced.  Just getting the family down on the floor crawling in a proper cross-pattern manner (Cross-pattern: opposite arm and leg extend forward at the same time ~ right arm, left leg, then left arm and right leg.) twice a day for two minutes for several months will help a great deal.  It organizes the brain!!

What if I need more direction on where to start?

So glad you asked that!!  Then Little Giant Steps has created a survey  just for those who feel they need more information. It allows you to be a bit more specific in your quest for information. You fill it out, email it to us and a Neuro-Educational Specialist or Neurodevelopmentalist will evaluate what you’ve stated and respond to you personally as to their recommendation! This free service is a part of our ministry in helping parents find the right fit or best solution for their child or themselves to eliminate learning difficulties. We deeply respect you, as you are the expert on your child, your family, or self.  You understand better than anyone their needs, struggles, and what makes to most sense in seeking a solution.  The one thing we would have you know profoundly: ” Learning disabilities do not have to last a lifetime”.  Have a blessed day.

 MANY CHANCES FOR SUCCESS

One thing we are finding more and more of these days with our preschool, and kindergarten children are that many display symptoms of having lower level brain disorganization. Organization of the brain is a naturally occurring developmental step, provided our infants were given the opportunity to be on the floor, on their tummies most of their waking hours.  Sadly, most of our children in the U.S. are being brought home in infant/car seats and they are spending most of their waking hours on their backs, waving their hands and feet in the air which doesn’t do anything to help the brain and body develop required neuro-pathways.  Without the stimulation of being on a hard surface where they can push, pull, feel,they need in order to create connections, help the brain learn the stimuli from the limbs, fingers, and toes and actually “map” their bodily systems, these little people are placed in a deficit learning position.  Another problem of sitting too much in seats, jumpers, swings, walkers, is the neuro-muscular strength-building process goes missing, too.  Am infant who is not pushing against hard surfaces which provides the neck and back muscles to gain strength and control will de destined to other probelms with their eyes (tracking, central detail vision, to name a few). The same is true for the extremities, their muscles will remain in a flaccid state, rather than develop strength, and tactility abilities.  All muscle impulses must be experienced by the brain so it can develop and organize the body’s system. Unfortunately for too many little ones, it just isn’t happening as our divine creator has designed with our new off-spring! The good news is that you can help develop these lacking abilitiesand bring them up to speed by working consistantly as directed by the Little Giant Steps’ Programs.  See this article about Teaching Babies.

 First things first

Regardless of the age of the individual, we first must get the brain and the body communicating efficiently. Jan Bedell, M.Ed., M.ND., has created a terrific video training called the Neuro-developmental Approach DVD.  If you watch it, follow what she teaches; you will see functional lagging or lack of function being developed as you work with your child both congnitively and physically through activities that stimulate the brain in just the ways it needs to be stimulated.

The next thing we see is the need to make sure your child’s processing abilities are at appropriate age or grade level.  If a child can’t process information, then their short-term memory can’t retain information long enough for them to learn effectively.  If the short-term memory is impaired, then the long-term memory is impacted, which makes for a serious life of struggling with learning, comprehending, retaining, and recalling information. A very sad state for too many of our kids these days.  How do you change that situation?  First order the Auditory and Visual Test Kits.  Please read the information on that page, as well.  By doing this test you will get a snapshot of your child’s, or family member’s current processing level or abilities.  It’s amazing how when whole families increase their processing abilities, there are fewer misunderstandings, frustrating times, and a more peaceful interaction when everyone is functioning at “grade level” or age-appropriate.  Not only does it solve lots of stressed social interaction, but the benefits of the academic acheivements are really amazing.  At my next post, we’ll talk about what next steps you can do to move into a harmonious, successful, and confidence-building life. A life that you can set in motion to become a well organized brain (through our brain training programs) and when you have neuro-efficiency, it’s been discribed by our clients as a simular experience of going from an internet dial-up line to a high speed, high performance connection!  Until next time ~ Blessings.

It Requires A New Approach

Learning can be made easy! How? With all learning problems there is a root cause that can be identified and remedied. When the brain and body are communicating efficiently then sensory input is improved and the learning process can become a joy.

Learning Disabilities has become an epidemic in the United States. Labels like Dyslexia, ADD/ ADHD, PDD (Developmental Delays), andAutism. These disability labels have invaded the lives of children and their families and have forever changed the landscape of education. Has the joy of learning been diminished? Yes, it has without a doubt. The professionals at Little Giant Steps are trained to utilize the Neurodevelopmental Approach and have had many years of success in making learning fun again!

We address these “symptoms” by using a two-fold assessment. First, using a battery of educational tests, a baseline for math, reading and comprehension is established. Next, a developmental evaluation where nine levels of development in six areas of function are assessed. This information gives the neurodevelopmentalist the basis for writing an individualized program. The program will address the root causes. The one common element in all learning issues, from our point of view, has to do with sensory dysfunction. Built into the brain is the element of neuroplasticity which is the natural ability of the brain to repair those areas that are deficient, incomplete, or damaged. If you are the kind of parent who is a true do-it-yourselfer, we’ve developed many “at-home” programs and we put the tools into your hands by training you how to make a difference in your child’s functional abilities.  See our success stories to be encouraged.

We know from experience we can make a difference in the lives of our clients because we’ve seen it over and over again. Learning can truly be made a joyful experience that will last a lifetime! Educate yourself as to how you can make a profound change in your child’s academic life regardless of the age or I.Q.  Review our website: www.littlegiantsteps.com.  Happy New Year!

 Start Today

I received a call from a woman in Arkansas early this morning. She’d seen the Little Giant Steps website and wanted to know if there were any of our services available in her area.  I explained that we provide services to families or individuals with learning issues/challenges all over the world. If a  professional evaluation was being requested and they were unable to come to Dallas; we can still provide services at-a-distance through the use of technology.  However, there are some things we recommend to do as a matter of gaining knowledge not only about our neuro-educational programs, but with our methods of working with learning issues, and our successes in working with a full range of learning issues regardless of whether an individual was gifted, typical, or challenged, but also take advantage of the many resources available as listed below:

1. Educating yourself so you know how our program works (THE NEURODEVELOPMENTAL APPROACH ~a life-changing seminar 

2. Check your child’s processing abilities – FREE AUDITORY & VISUAL TEST KIT (a snapshot of short-term memory function)

3. FREELY VIEW and READ what people, who have used our services over the past 20 years, have to say about the realities of our success.

4. Then, as a parent, or an individual you can better decide whether WE ARE A GOOD SOLUTION for yourself or your child.  

5. You have several options when working with us. If you decide not to start with a professional evaluation, you may want to invest in our in-home programs, (DEVELOPMENTAL FOUNDATIONS, EARLY LEARNING FOUNDATIONS Level 1,  Level 2,   Level 3) designed to address basic learning issues, such as disorganized thinking, low auditory or visual processing, comprehension or reading difficulties, difficulty with memory recall, or specific areas where function is below ones grade level.  

Neuro-Efficiency is the Answer

Basically, our clients tell us after they have followed the neuro-programs, they experience their functional abilities going from what it’s like being on an Internet Dial-Up Line, to a High Speed Connection! A client told me, “Everything gets better, I can remember, do math, I even play sports better. It’s like my brain got a major tune-up!” One of our adults who was on program states, “For the first time in my life I don’t have sticky notes all over the place to remind me of things, and I can get in the car and drive to a destination without a map. My anxiety levels have dropped so dramatically, it’s like a miracle!”

The reason for the dramatic positive change for these folks is because our programs treat the root causes of dysfunction in the brain, rather than the symptoms associated with learning difficulties.  Jan Bedell, The Brain Coach, has developed curriculum, supplements, and many neuro-educationally-based programs that eliminate learning issues, all together! The secret of our success in the “way” these programs are applied.  They work from the core of our developmental basics.  They succeed because they are modeled from the way God created us and how our brains and bodies develop early on; with intensity, frequency, and short duration.  Everything we do is very natural, no drugs are ever needed, and the whole person is considered with the Little Giant Steps Neuro-Educational Programs.

As I hung up after speaking with this mom seeking a solution for her soon-to-be teen with many learning struggles; I was so glad each individual is treated with dignity, respect, and allowed to be in charge of their choices as to what is best for their own child, whether a full evaluation is where they want to start, or to try an in-home program and see the results they can accomplish through our DVD instructions.  We’ve tried to meet the needs of so many, because there are so many who know their child is smart, but for some unknown reason is failing instead of flourishing in their educational experiences. That’s why Little Giant Steps exists – to put a stop to the failing and to fix the problem, not to teach coping and compensating skills or talk about right or left brain. Learning issues, disabilities, struggles do not have to last a lifetime.  There is a solution.  Just let me know if you are looking for one.  God bless… and Happy New Year!

A Time For Hope, A Time For Learning Success

What a gift Christ has given to every soul on this earth, whether it’s embraced of not! All who believe shall have everlasting life!  It’s a matter of faith in Christ that we are all set free from the mistakes we’ve made, the wounds we’ve inflicted (intentional or not), the grief we’ve experienced, and the wounds we’ve suffered. With Christ, there is great hope, always!  Regardless of circumstances, with him we can overcome any problem.  It is in our spirit that the miracles happen, regardless of whether it is witnessed by others. But first, we must believe.  It’s ours, if only we believe in the beginning.  Then, it becomes self-evident, because there is a change.  A change no one can ignore, because it has become a truth for us and others to see.

Making Learning Easier

Little Giant Steps (LGS Services, Inc.), a neuro-educational consulting group, founded by Jan Bedell, the Brain Coach®, has had over twenty years of successfully turning learning disabilities, difficulties, and  issues into a thing of the past. For those children and families who have embraced our remedy for poor learning skills, followed the programs, and created a new foundation that can literally change the learning abilities of their child for the rest of their lives; there is great success and satisfaction.  Yes, it requires belief  when first starting with a Neuro-Educational Program.  However, typically within a few weeks we get reports from parents that things are changing with their child.  A mentally challenged teen begins to show signs of improved recall of sounds and words, as her processing abilities are developed.  A little ten year old boy diagnosed with Dyslexia after four weeks of program is doing better with his reading as his dominance issues are addressed. Or, an ADHD child who came to LGS because of uncontrollable intolerance to noise, inability to control emotions, etc.  begins to calm down and is less anxious in his world after experiencing the results of brain organization. That happens as a by-product of the neuro-activities that help organize the lower levels of the brain from the individual neuro-developmental program he’s receiving.  Or, when an Autistic child begins to function in a normal range of social and academic performance. Regardless of age, or I.Q., or where, in the range of disability, a child, teen or adult may be functioning – everyone can gain or regain a solid learning foundation when the brain and body can communicate with greater neuro-efficiency, improved processing (auditory or visual) abilities or organization occur, and when specific learning areas of dysfunction are remedied.

Making A Difference In A Child’s Life

The exciting part is that YOU, with the education LGS provides, the individual program, and professional assistance we give, can turn failure into success through the use of the services, tools, and neuro-educational programs that Jan Bedell created.  She’s even created a FREE test kit to help you get a snapshot of how your child is processing information! Learning disabilities do not have to last a lifetime!  We utilize a methodology that develops new connections within the brain.  If there are developmental stages missed in an infants life, that will affect one or more areas of learning, we build those missing foundations, so the dysfunction is eliminated. Over the last 50 years the Neuro-developmental Approach has grown, and become refined due to advances in technology and the neuro-sciences. Scientific discoveries keep confirming how and why the LGS Programs work so successfully.  To learn more, please read the free articles, the success stories, and the full range of products to address learning issues.  Yes, in the beginning it requires faith.  Then, as you begin to see your child gain skills and abilities, and as they learn how to handle themselves, the academics, and social experiences in their lives; you will become a believer, because you will know the truth, because it has become self-evident. Your child is confident, successful in what used to be a problem, and most importantly they are happy.

God bless all!  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Early Brain Stimulation Is Key In Development

 Little Giant Steps is dedicated to provide the most comprehensive and research-based services possible. The study I’m sharing confirms our philosophy and validity of the services we provide. It confirms the knowledge we share and the basis for all the learning tools, aides and curriculum developed.  See what we have to offer to Infants and Preschoolers

Twenty-year research project shows that most critical aspect of cortex development in late teens was stimulation at age four.

An early childhood surrounded by books and educational toys will leave positive fingerprints on a person’s brain well into their late teens, a two-decade-long research study has shown.

Scientists found that the more mental stimulation a child gets around the age of four, the more developed the parts of their brains dedicated to language and cognition will be in the decades ahead.

It is known that childhood experience influences brain development but the only evidence scientists have had for this has usually come from extreme cases such as children who had been abused or suffered trauma. Martha Farah, director of the centre for neuroscience and society at the University of Pennsylvania, who led the latest study, wanted to find out how a normal range of experiences in childhood.

 Farah took data from surveys of home life and brain scans of 64 participants carried out over the course of 20 years. Her results, presented on Sunday at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience in New Orleans, showed that cognitive stimulation from parents at the age of four was the key factor in predicting the development of several parts of the cortex – the layer of grey matter on the outside of the brain – 15 years later.   More…..

Nature Plays A Big Part

It may or may not come to a surprise to you, but our children’s processing ability, short-term memory, and lower level brain organization is not up to par these days! Teachers are telling us, even day-care centers have contacted us, because of the “gaps” they are seeing in cognitive, language, fine motor skills, and comprehension difficulties in so many children! Up to par, means our children, would be effectively functioning at grade level. Especially their auditory processing abilities, which effects their learning ability globally.  Little Giant Steps (LGS) does screenings to give that information to parents and teachers throughout the State of Texas, and offers you a free opportunity to discover whether your child is functioning at grade level with our FREE AUDITORY TEST KIT! (ages 5-adult for the test).  Select Tiny Tots Auditory for Preschoolers. Little Giant Steps (LGS) has helped improve the lives of thousands of children, teens, and adults through the Neuro-Educational Approach. This methodology does not teach coping and compensating skills.  Instead, we work at the root level (foundational level) of function by following what nature has provided with the use of neuro-plasticity of the brain. We can change a struggling child labeled by the symptoms they display into an individual that functions at grade level or above.  We address the symptoms, we alleviate them and do away with the label and dysfunction permanently!

What’s Causing This?

I’ve said it so many times, mainly because it is true….With the invention of car seats, carriers, walkers, jumpers our infants have been left out of the required developmental stages.  Each stage creates significant neuro-pathways and connections between the brain and body. Developing strong connections is an important part of mapping the brain to the experiences of the body, limbs, vision, hearing, thinking, storing and recalling information.  God created the baby’s central nervous system to develop mostly after birth.  Initially there are just reflexes, and necessary bodily functions to live.  The brain doesn’t come with all the sensory system to manage all required bodily (visual, tactile, auditory) and cognitive (thinking) functions. The brain has to learn through experiencing their arms, legs, toes, fingers, all of their parts, sensations, and stimulation the world has to offer for the baby to grow and develop as intended.  Miss the foundational steps and stages, and there is gaps in function. Gaps that can be remedied!

One Of The Most Important Requirements

It is through the baby being on its tummy all waking hours that the grand scheme of development is to occur.  First, the baby must be allowed to “experience” the sensations, temperatures, movements, textures, pressure against its body, arms, legs, face.  It is in learning to raise their head the required muscles are strengthened to begin that long  journey to balance, eye tracking, rolling over, sitting up. It is through cross patterning by belly crawling and creeping (up on all 4 limbs) so the lower levels of the brain is organized, and eventually standing erect, walking, skipping, running, racing, playing competitive sports where coordinated thought and action can reach its fullest potential. It is in the fullest state of foundational development that the greatest abilities each person has can reach the maximum design created by God.

Jan Bedell, the Brain Coach®, has developed many tools and programs that will take what may appear as a learning issue, and turn a neuro-deficiency  into an asset of neuro-efficiency or “LEARNING MADE EASY”!  That’s what the Neuro-Educational Programs such as DEVELOPMENTAL FOUNDATIONS is all about.  It allows you, the parent, to change the course of your child’s academic life.  You can make things so much better for your child when you assist them to process information at their grade level, to have greater, faster, accurate cognitive abilities, motor skills (fine and gross), improved language skills, expression, retention of information, fast recall of events, memory, and mind/body integration with superior sensory integration!

Discover What’s Possible

Can you imagine when you can take your child from experiencing what it is like to be on a dial up Internet connection to a high speed line? Everything works so much better, the ability to function at a high capacity is available, and the brain and body can respond with full force in physical, cognitive and appropriate emotional response.  Leave behind the emotional component of frustration in learning, discouragement, anger, and lack of self-esteem, because all these symptoms go away for good!

 Remember the Smart Kid? The Totally Disorganized One?

We all have known very smart people who loose their keys, wallets, phones, clothes, etc.  They typically don’t get themselves to places on time, or remember what they were to bring with them when they did show up at the right time and place!  What on earth is wrong with them?

They can do advanced mathematics, blow everyone away with their ability to create complex science, language, art projects!  So what gives?  Little Giant Steps (LGS Services, Inc.) has worked 20 years helping people understand and remedy their dilemma. In fact, they will give you the answer today, free!  Please feel free to share this with all those who are struggling regardless of age or I.Q.

It’s Called Lower Level Brain Organization…

That is what is missing in these very gifted, yet developmentally incomplete, individuals.  But, do not despair!  The solution is there!  It’s not difficult, though it does take a bit of persistence to fix the gap that frustrates the bright guy and most of those dealing with him or her!  The “fix” will require at least two – five minutes a day from four to six months of specific brain-stimulating activity, (most folks comlete these developmental steps as infants) twice a day.

 Closing The Developmental Gaps

This by no means is rocket science!  But it works!  However, as a human being stumbling through life with most of their days disorganized, frustrated, anxious beyond belief, and with a low self-esteem, the solution is very natural.  It works regardless of the reason developmental steps were missed!  To really understand the solution, please read this article.  It has the answer!  In fact, if you want to check your or your child’s neuro-developmental function and age appropriateness in their auditory processing abilities,  Little Giant Steps will give you another freebie!  Order a Free Auditory Test Kit.  Stay tuned. I’ve got more really super things to offer for FREE!!  Have a great day!

Little Giant Step’s Mission

Jan Bedell, the Brain Coach ®, founded Little Giant Steps (LGS) almost 20 years ago with the sole purpose of bringing new knowledge to those who educate,  regardless of whether they be a parent or professional,  to change life for those who struggle with learning.  Jan witnessed first-hand the possibilities that can come into being when the vital developmental foundations are established by working with the brain through neuro-educational techniques.  The time to stop this epidemic of learning disabilities that has crept into, not only the U.S., but the world as a whole is now.  Much has been discovered about great academic gains that can come about when  fundamental issues are addressed directly through use of the Neurodevelopmental Approach.  The door is open.  The proof is all around us, yet few even know what wonderful solutions are available to fix these learning issues that are rampant in our children today and are costing them their academic future!  Many of these learning difficulties are results of cultural practices we’ve been doing for the past 30 years that are convenience-based, and interfere significantly with normal and vital developmental steps required by brain and body of our infants, toddlers, and young children.  It’s time parents and educators in America woke up and changed things for the better! Changing functional abilities is very possible and building a life-long learning foundation is available if you are willing to learn what Little Giant Steps has to offer.

A Worldwide Issue

As a expert in the field of providing developmental intervention to students, Sally Goddard Blythe states it well: “ Only last weekend, when I was running a training day for teachers in The Netherlands in how to recognize signs of neuro-motor immaturity in the classroom and how to administer a developmental intervention program, one of the attendees remarked that these problems are now reaching “epidemic” proportions, not only in the United Kingdom, but in other parts of Europe and the rest of the developed world. As technology proceeds apace, children are increasingly exposed to visual stimulation without motor integration we are in danger of creating a state of evolutionary regression rather then progression in the motor and language skills needed to support reading, writing, spelling, math and social integration. The foundations for these skills are laid down in the early years as a child’s brain and body learn to work together through activity. Until successive governments focus attention on developing the whole child instead of trying to treat the symptom, we will continue to see similar depressing statistics.”

Little Giant Steps (LGS) has addressed learning struggles by developing programs, curriculum, and supplemental educational programs that eliminates these “despressing statistics” we are seeing in our children and at schools.  Look at the difference LGS has made in actual lives of our clients.  Look at the true potential that becomes active when a brain is organized, processing abilities raised, and neuro-pathways are established which allows children to receive, comprehend, retain, store and recall information like they’ve never done before!  See the research we’ve done with schools over these past four years.  The time is now for you to make a difference in your child’s life or help someone else to find out how to change the course of academic success for a child, teen or even an adult!

Parents, bring up your children…

in the way they should go, according to the Lord. We are complicated beings. We can be as good as gold, or as bad as evil. All of us were given free will to do as we choose.  However, there have been exceedingly helpful guidelines laid down that can bring about a glorious, and wonderfully resilient family life if we choose to follow them.  It has to do with how we treat each other, and how we choose to treat our children.  I recently ran across this passage and thought it may be inspirational to many who read this, regardless of your religious persuasion, it’s soundness prevails, because it brings us all together with a code of behavior that results in respect, harmony and love.

Little Giant Steps abides by these principles and teaches families to persevere when they are in the role of teacher.  We seek love, respect, honor and an adhering to rules that will help their children increase their learning abilities. It is such a delight to see the “problem” child move from being frustrated and uncooperative to one who gains curiosity, confidence and capabilities that were there, just under the surface, but untouched through developmental actions as are required for neuro-efficiency. See how they did when tested for progress and performance.

Ephesians 6: 1 – 4

This is titled “Children and Parents”.  It begins:  “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.”  It reminds children to honor their parents and none of this is new.  But it also carries a note to parents:  “…do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in  the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”  Parents are to instruct children in the way of the Lord and children should listen and honor their parents.  God has set forth how we need to treat one another and both children and parents are accountable to God for how they treat each other.  As long as we remember that we are accountable for how we love one another and treat one another to God, we will be more likely to be careful and act with kindness toward each other.

Many times parents overlook the necessity to teach about honor and respect starting with toddlers, pre-schoolers, and beyond. Children, as all humans, by nature are pretty self-centered.  We want what we want, when we want it!  Parents are on the hook to teach civility, sharing, being patient, communicating, rather than exploding emotionally when we are frustrated, to be kind, gentle, and loving.

I was on the hook to choose the way in which we should go over and over this past weekend with my twin 4 year old grandsons. They are at an age where they would rather do their thing, than listen to instructions and obey.  We had a talk about being polite to one another, we had a talk about obeying and being respectful.  I had to explain about God’s ways and how he wants us to love and respect each other. I had to explain there were costs associated  with their non-compliance to our rules. They would loose privileges like riding their tricycles, or going swimming, etc.  I am so glad they are aware of the choices, aware of God’s code of conduct, and are gaining a sense that they have to be considerate to others.  However, I  must take the time to be considerate of them and take the required moments to “teach” them the way they should go. Otherwise, we both loose on a personal, community, state and national level!  What’s your choice?