Another item that ranks pretty high on my list of Christian parenting tips is the need to teach kids to take the long look when making major decisions. We must encourage them to consider the long-term consequences of their actions.
The Bible teaches: “A prudent man gives thought to his steps” (Proverbs 14:15b). It is critically important that our kids learn to “take the long look” when it comes to their choices and actions. By learning to consider possible consequences to their choices and actions, their decisions become increasingly responsible and wise.
Kids can be taught that when they’re contemplating an action, they can “take the long look” by considering one key question: “What might happen next if I do this?”
The more this mindset is instilled in your children, the more responsible they will become.
~ Shortcut to Understanding ~
Free free to share this story with your child:
A little boy named Paul was riding his bike one day. As he was riding, his tire hit a stone. When that happened, he lost control of his bike and he crashed on the side of the road.
Fortunately, Paul had a helmet on. Without that helmet, he would probably have hurt his head very bad and would have had to go to the hospital.
It turns out that Paul had put on his helmet without having to be told by his mom. Responsibility is doing what you should without being told. So Paul was being responsible.
Paul had taken the “long look.” He knew that if he crashed without a helmet on, he might hurt his head. So he decided to wear a helmet.
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Like Paul, our children need to “take the long look” before making decisions. Have your children consider:
• If you throw a rock when you’re around other people, what bad thing might happen next?
• If you’re running around by the side of a swimming pool where it’s wet and very slippery, what bad thing might happen next?
Drill it into your children: Before deciding to do things, always consider: “What might happen next if I do this?”
— Dr. Ron Rhodes
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