Parenting | Connecting Choices and Consequences - Rated PG: Parental Guidance Needed - Part 2

Send us Fan MailCONNECTING CHOICES AND CONSEQUENCESRATED PG: Parental Guidance Needed - Part 2Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith StewartFebruary 26, 2023Teaching responsibility is one of the most important jobs of a parent. It’s what equips our child for life. Helping our children understand that they are in charge of the quality of their own life – that literally everything boils down to the quality of their choices – will make the difference between a child who thrives versus one who flounders. This message will help us avoid the pitfalls, assist us with practical suggestions, and show us how God does this with us. Whether you are in the thick of the parenting years, an empty nester, or without children, this message has something helpful for us all. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS1. One of the primary responsibilities of all parents is to teach our children about personal responsibility. This is best done by helping them make the connection between their choices and the consequences that follow. Today’s message illustrated what that progression should look like by utilizing Dr. Sylvia Rimm’s “V” of Love chart. When a child is young, they have fewer choices and freedom. As they mature and begin to understand the connection between choices and consequences, they are given more choices and freedom. Give some examples of what you believe are age-appropriate choices for toddlers, elementary, middle school and high school.2. There are ways in which a parent can sabotage this growth in their child and interfere in the learning of consequences. Pastor Keith offered three parenting styles as an example of problem parenting. Take some time to discuss the following examples. Specifically for each example;- Can you offer any examples of how you’ve seen these parenting styles in people you have known?- Were your parents anything like these parents?- Have you ever personally struggled with any of these areas? EXAMPLE #1 – RESCUERS - “I don’t want to hurt my kids” EXAMPLE #2 - AVOIDERS - “If I ignore it, it’ll go away”EXAMPLE #3 - OVERREACTORS – “Do this because I’m the parent”3. Have you ever known parents who use guilt, fear or shame as a way of getting conformity out of their kids? Why do parents do this? What is the downside? Why is this an example of a pyrrhic victory? 4. The price tag for learning about the negative consequences of irresponsibility is very affordable when we are young, loved, and protected in our homes. What are some ways a child might make a poor choice and suffer an affordable negative consequence that might hurt in the short term but not do any real lasting harm? 5. There is a big difference between discipline and punishment? What differences stood out to you and why? Were you disciplined or punished as a child? For those of you who were punished as children, how did that make you feel toward your parent(s)? How did it make you feel about yourself? If you could go back and speak to yourself during that experience, what would your adult self say to your child self? https://www.springcreekchurch.org/#realspringcreekchurch #parenting #parents #kids #choices #consequences