8 Ways to Encourage Your Kids

“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." Colossians 4:6

1. Please call me by name—especially when you see me outside the classroom. Pray for me by name out loud.
2. Make gentle and direct eye contact. If you really want to honor me—I listen when you kneel down to my level.
3. Please don't ask me "yes" or "no" questions but ask me "how" and "what about" questions. Let me talk and tell you what I think.
4. Touch me in appropriate ways to communicate love. I like hugs, pats on the back, tousling hair, and holding hands. (This does depend on how old I am.)
5. Please be aware of how I'm feeling and accept my feelings. If I'm shy, approach me tenderly. If I'm rambunctious, I might need simply to play with you for a while.
6. I need compliments. But I especially need compliments on the things that God compliments, not just outward signs of beauty the way the world compliments. Compliment the fruits of the spirit that you see in my life.
7. I will really listen to you when I know that you care about me enough to send me a postcard Wow! Hardly anyone has ever done that for me before!
8. Grownups are often in a hurry. I need you to slow down and relax. Take some time and enjoy God with me. After all, didn't he take a day and make it special just so there would be time for his people to spend with him?