Parenting - Training Up A Child - Ages 5 - 14 Years Old

Proverbs 22:6 - Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Parenting Children from 5 to 14 Years
At this stage, your child is establishing and cementing a "PATTERN OF BEHAVIOR" for life. 

Children learn best between ages 5–14 years.
Reinforcing a positive direction is so important.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1.     Learn to be consistent in showing the direction you want your child to take.

2.     Encourage responsibility in your child
by giving clear instructions of what you expect. Let them know there are consequences to disobedience and rewards to good behavior.

▶Rewards can be in the form of simple words of praise, an extra privilege, or a treat.

▶Consequences of disobedience can be in the form of the removal of privileges such as watching TV or playing with friends for a set time.
The severity of discipline should match the seriousness of the offense.

3.     Discipline

▶Reasons for discipline should only be for the following:
(a) disobedience,
(b) lying,
(c) disrespect, and
(d) stealing.
 Always explain to the child why you are disciplining them.
Ask, "Why am I disciplining you?" Make it very clear to your child.

▶Discipline should be a teaching tool and not an excuse to vent anger. Disciple and discipline come from the same root word, and has to do with a student learning from a teacher or mentor.
 Your job is simply to teach or train them in the way they should go.
Proverbs 22:6 - Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

▶Do not discipline for accidents such as spilled milk or for something you have not clearly explained.

▶After the discipline, you can encourage them to say, "Please forgive me." And you can answer, "I forgive you." Pray for them, truly forgive them, and hug them. They can then be released with a clear conscience

4.     Home Work

▶ Establish the importance of doing homework by providing a quiet place without distractions.
Be helpful to answer questions they have without actually doing the work for them.

▶Do not RESCUE your child from homework and projects they must do themselves. Even if they face consequences for not doing it, this is how they learn responsibility.

Teach Your Children Important Life Lessons:
Don’t leave it to others who may not share values with you.

HEALTH—Teach them to eat healthy foods and the value of exercising. Offer them fruit instead of snack. Encourage them to play physically, and not just sit in front of the television

HYGIENE—Teach them HOW and WHEN to bathe, brush teeth, and keep hair and nails. Teach them to use deodorant at the appropriate age.
 
RESPONSIBILITY—Teach them that responsibility leads to greater freedoms and privileges. Life is about responsibilities.
(When a child washes his hands, he can eat with the elders)

WORK ETHICS—Teach them to follow through on chores or to complete homework before going to play. Give them regular chores according to their age or ability.
Show them how to do it, then do it with them, and then have them do it alone.

FINANCES—Give them a small weekly allowance, preferably after chores. Teach them to tithe ten percent, save ten percent towards a future item, and spend the rest as they would like.
It's better for them to learn spending through trial and error at this young age, than to wait until they are grown and learn through big mistakes.

CHOICES—Give them "life talks" about issues of right and wrong, such as stealing, lying, drugs, alcohol, being honest, and choosing good friends.

God - Teach them to follow God and to listen to His inner promptings. To know the Bible, and to talk to God. This will bring blessing to their lives.

Finally:
Pray for and bless your children every day.

Your Children will be mighty.
Psalms 112:1 – 2
1 ..Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.