Helping your children grow into their own unique identity is one of the most important tasks given to a parent. Each child is made in the image of God, yet, has to navigate their way through the years of formation as they grow into the persona they were created to be. With all the noise and distractions of the world around them, some teens may struggle figuring out what that means for them. That is where conversations between parents and teens become so pivotal for growth.

Social media has become a common way for people to stay informed and connected with their community and the world around them. Still, parents may hesitate whether or not to allow their child access to their own social media accounts due to the unknowns of what the content may expose. Yet, instead of living in fear of social media, parents can approach this topic with discernment and wisdom in a way that allows limited exposure for teens until they are mature enough to handle more.

Though parents have many enjoyable and engaging conversations with their children, some topics can feel more difficult to approach. Conversations about friendships, attraction, dating, boundaries, and physical affection may leave parents wondering: What do I say? When do I begin? What if I say the wrong thing? Often, this hesitation comes from not knowing which words to use, or even how to begin. For many parents, teen dating can feel like a topic that arrives too soon.

Being a parent is one of life’s greatest blessings, but it can also be one of its most challenging roles, especially as children grow into their own identities. Many parents feel anxious about initiating difficult conversations with their teens. These topics are often labeled “taboo,” creating the misconception that they should be avoided or discussed only in private, if at all. As a result, parents are frequently left unsure of how, or when, to begin these important conversations.

In today’s culture, it can feel like sports dominate nearly every part of family life. Weekends are filled with tournaments, travel schedules stretch late into the night, and the drive for scholarships or recognition can overtake even the most balanced home. Parents and students alike often feel pulled in conflicting directions between commitment to their sport and commitment to their faith. But here’s the truth: sports themselves are not the problem.

Parenting in today’s world can feel overwhelming. Between cultural pressure, digital noise, and the constant comparison that comes with social media, many families are left asking the same question: How do we intentionally build a Christ-centered home when everything around us seems to pull in the opposite direction?

As the excitement of Christmas builds with lights twinkling, schedules filling, and wish lists growing — it can be easy for students to lose sight of the true meaning of the season. In the middle of the busyness, parents have a beautiful opportunity to gently guide children back to what matters most: God’s love, revealed through the birth of His Son, Jesus. During this special time of year, simple, intentional practices can help children understand the true purpose behind Christmas. Here are three meaningful ways to help refocus their hearts this season.

In a private-Christian high school setting, competing in the state association may present unique challenges for coaches and athletic directors. The expectation to compete with the best and achieve the highest accolades often clashes with the school’s mission and genuine care for each athlete. No doubt, your mission communicates both excellence and the development of Christ-like character and finding a balance between mission and expectation can be difficult. What are the ways we can develop athletes while fostering a winning program?

Every student learns differently — and as educators we see that diversity as a gift. Academically more and more students are experiencing learning challenges in a variety of areas which require specific methods of support. Effective teaching means meeting learners where they are while guiding them toward their God-given potential. 

Athletic training often begins early in life. What begins as a way for parents to keep children active and moving, may eventually turn into a lifelong passion for games that continues to grow well into adulthood. Once these young athletes reach high-school age, they tend to commit to a sport, and their training intensifies. In a secondary school setting, how can student-athletes be supported best in a way that keeps their growing bodies healthy?

Christmas season is upon us and celebrations are in full swing. Among the growing piles of presents, party invitations, Christmas card orders, and letters to Saint Nick — not to mention the travel plans and the arrival of visitors — the Christmas message can be difficult to keep in the forefront of our minds. 

Jesus’s greatest commandment comes in Mark 12 where he teaches to love the Lord our God with all of our hearts and then to love our neighbors as ourselves (Mark 12:30-31). As Christians, service is not optional, but an act of obedience. How then are children and students taught to develop a love of serving one another? Any preschool teacher can probably verify that sharing is not an innate human instinct. 

We are at a pivotal time in parenting communities where there is a notable shift between parents who didn’t grow up with a super computer in their hands and parents who did. Some current preschool parents in our society grew up with cell phones in their childhood, and parents (or soon to be parents) in their early 20’s grew up with a cell phone and posting pictures to document their lives. So there is a significant chasm of understanding between those parents who grew up with technology, and those parents that did not. The older generations remember being able to survive without technology at their fingertips, the younger ones never had that experience. So how can both groups of parents partner together with administrators and their own valuable life experiences to come up with real solutions to the technology challenges of today? 

Education is a life-long journey. Trends in education come and go, but the goal remains the same: students must learn the skills they need to live a successful life. During the last several decades, we have realized that the learning process looks different for different people. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to learning, and human development is not linear, as skills can develop and be mastered at various times for different people. Research also suggests that a key to success in education is knowing students deeply and understanding their uniquenesses. 

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

–Psalm 139: 13-14

We live in a world full of material ease and instant gratification. Need a new butter dish? Amazon. Forgot to make dinner? DoorDash. Want an answer without having to actually talk to someone? Text. This present age can satisfy most of our day-to-day needs, wants, and desires on the spot.