I. Helping children to develop to their fullest potential

1.      How should we regard our children? (Psalm 127:3-5)

2.      How can we discover each child’s unique potential and hidden talents? 

3.      How do we help a child to become all that God wants him to be? (cf. Luke 2:52) 

4.      When should we start to bring up our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord? (cf. 2 Timothy 3:15; Ecclesiastes 12:1)

II. Setting Goals and Self-discipline

5.      What are some benefits and hazards of setting goals for children?

6.      Think of some attainable spiritual goals that we can motivate our children to achieve.(cf. Proverbs 22:6)

7.      How often should we pray for our children and what should we pray for them? (cf. 2 Peter 3:18)

III. Overprotection of Children

8.      What limits should we observe in protecting our children from every inconvenience, discomfort, etc, to avoid making them ‘too soft’? (cf. Philippians 4:12)

9.      What are some ways to help a child to overcome his anxieties and fears? E.g. seeing a dentist. (cf. Psalm 56:3; 2 Corinthians 4:17)

IV. Responding to Success and Failure

10.  How did you respond to your child’s successes in the past? How should you have responded? (cf. Proverbs 25:11)

11.  How can we avoid putting too much pressure on our children to succeed?

12.  What are some ways to help your child to cope with failure? (cf. The response of the prodigal son’s father in Luke 15:20-22)

V. Minimising the Impact of Peer Influence

13.  How can we know whether we are giving sufficient attention and approval to our children? (cf. Proverbs 29:15)

14.  How do we keep the balance between wisely monitoring our child’s peer influence, and giving him ‘enough personal space’? (1 Corinthians 15:33)

VI. Providing Home Conditions that Encourage Good Behaviour

15.  In what ways can we regulate the input of the mass media (TV, Internet, Newspapers, magazines and books) into our homes?

16.  How can we help children to deal with the input of the mass media that they receive outside our homes?

VII. How to Correct Misbehaviour

17.  How should the rod of correction be applied? (cf. Proverbs 13:24; Hebrews 12:6,7)

18.  How do we avoid being perceived by our children as ‘naggy parents’?

19.  How important is consistency in disciplining children, and how can this be implemented?

20.  How would you respond to your child if he uses Colossians 3:21 against you when you attempt to correct him?