How can we help parents and carers understand they are the best people to help their children and teens meet and know God?
Session 2.2 · Note 1
Helping Parents See Their Role
It’s important that parents and carers realise that they are the best people to help their children understand who God is and grow a relationship with him, not just because they are their parents or carers, but because they have the skills to do this.
Some parents and carers may doubt their ability to do this or feel they aren’t good enough or knowledgeable enough. The questions later on in this part about key truths will help you reinforce that message. Here are some ways to remind parents and carers that they are the best people to help their children and teens meet and know God.
Key Ideas
- Honour the fact that they know their kids the best: ‘These are some kids’ bibles - you’ll know which ones will be the best one for your kid’, or ‘When you think Jamie is ready for confirmation, let me know and we’ll go from there.’
- Share stories of everyday discipling - stories help normalise the idea that all parents and carers can help their children meet and know God - see this post for more ideas of what this looks like. The questions on Creating Windows and Framing in Session 3 Part 2 may also be useful.
- Share the Parenting for Faith podcast - lots of episodes with ordinary parents and carers talking about faith and their families.
- Think about how you talk about parents and carers in church - ‘Parents and carers, you’re doing a great job helping your kids learn about God - how can we help?’ The next question will give you examples of what this might look like.
- Share Parenting for Faith social media posts - we regularly post on the Parenting for Faith Facebook and Instagram accounts.
- Invite parents and carers to courses or other learning opportunities where they’ll be able to explore this more - see Session 3 Part 4.
Here are some top tips from other children's, youth and families leaders:
- Keep reminding them that they are great at helping their kids make sense of the world so they can help them understand who God is too.
- Remind them that ‘they know their child best’.
- Have parents’ breakfast several times a year, where you can talk about this and they can talk to each other.
- Keep pointing them to Parenting for Faith resources.
Find out more
- Share stories of everyday discipling - stories help normalise the idea that all parents and carers can help their children meet and know God - see this post for more ideas of what this
- Share the Parenting for Faith podcast - lots of episodes with ordinary parents and carers
- Share Parenting for Faith social media posts - we regularly post on the Parenting for Faith Facebook and Instagram accounts.
- Share Parenting for Faith social media posts - we regularly post on the Parenting for Faith Facebook and Instagram accounts.
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