PARENTING TEENAGERS – a time of great opportunity

The teen years challenge parents, but when it comes to parenting teenagers, we need to realise that often they are just young adults crying out for some direction on how to be an adult, and certainly there are some fantastic Christian parenting books than can give parents the direction they need on how to help their teens. Raising kids in the twenty first century challenges parents who want their teens to have a faith-based set of values, but their teens are drawn to other beguiling temptations that threaten to derail them.

So how can a parent ride against the tide of culture to raise strong teenagers? These difficult years of parenting teenagers are actually years of great opportunity to mould your child's life for the Lord. Church attendance certainly makes a difference; you will be amazed at how other Christian teenagers can provide your child with the answers they need.

Getting supportfrom other young adults can play a positive role in your child's life, but not only that, when it comes to parenting teenagers, parents can get into groups at church and glean information and support from other parents going through something similar to what you’re experiencing. When what you are doing isn't working, the counsel of others might spark some new ideas or directions with your teen. There is wisdom and comfort in the presence of a church group.

Parenting teenagers can be a nightmare in a world where the heritage of righteous child-rearing has been ridiculed and lost. God graciously disciplines His children when we sin; all parents with teenagers must learn to do the same.

Family Life offers wonderful selections of different resources for parents and counselors to discover what the Bible has to say about a diversity of issues that affect teens in these chaotic adolescent years, and how as parents we can learn to navigate through them.