- 1). Apply God's word whenever you can. This may seem too simple or unappealing to those in the tween age range. However, especially if you are their parent, they will respond better to a different voice than yours, which they constantly hear. Encourage them to live according to God's voice through biblical passages. Use your Bible to find these and keep it simple. Remind them that by applying God's word, he will "free you up" (John 8:31), "build you up" (Acts 20:32), "grow you up" (1 Peter 1:2), "bless you" (James 1:25) and "produce happiness" (Psalm 1:1).
- 2). Designate a regular prayer time. A family prayer time is powerful because it will help connect your tween's heart to God as well as connect you to your tween. This is important to building trust during these years where trusting parents is not a common trend. By having a nightly family prayer time or making time to pray in your youth group each week, the kids under your care will feel loved and cared for, which is important not only for healthy development but also to help them make appropriate decisions and know who to look toward for a good example in the future. Give your tweens a journal to record their thoughts during this prayer time. It will make it easier for them to process the conversation and prayer, and give them something to refer back to later.
- 3). Spend quality time with your children outside of the spiritual obligation. Take them to the mall, play video games, take them out to lunch or dinner. When your children are given a real-life example as to how to treat others like the waiter or store clerk, they will be able to naturally model it themselves. This quality time teaches them patience, self-control and courtesy.
- 4). Listen regularly to the young people in your life. Tweens are going through many changes, torn between childhood and the teenage years. By offering up a listening ear at any time of the day and night -- with healthy boundaries if you are a youth worker, a teen is likely to make more correct choices based upon the thought that someone they love and respect believes in them to do so. Remember, tweens aren't always up for face-to-face communication. Be ready to respond to text messages or Facebook posts.
- 5). Encourage your tween by posting Post-it notes with scripture, encouraging words and inside jokes whenever you can. Don't overdo it, but commit to sticking a kind word on their bathroom mirror, their school or gym locker, or their pillow to find just before bedtime. The more consistent you are with the encouragement, the more likely they are to be self-confident and make smart choices that align with their faith and beliefs.
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