A Great Training Tool for Christian Parents

Parenting is not easy – we need all the help we can get.  Books, internet searches, and seminars can be helpful but can leave us wondering, “What now?” or “What am I supposed to DO with this information?”  At Cornerstones for Parents, we understand that the desires of a parent’s heart may not always be easily translated into action.  That is why we have developed a concrete parenting tool that will help you address your child’s misbehavior, but more importantly, the condition of her heart.

Heart of the Matter Training Cards

Consequences (like removing a toy or a time out) don’t always deliver the impact we are after.  Sometimes our children go right back to the misbehavior that earned them their consequence in the first place!  Our Heart of the Matter Cards will help break this cycle by helping your child:

• Accept responsibility
• Identify her wrong behavior
• Connect her heart attitude to behavior
• Understand God’s will

Order Heart of the Matter Cards

Young children are visual learners.  Pictures communicate information better than spoken or written words ever could.  Our cards pictorially depict 5 different common childhood misbehaviors.  It may feel as if the list of misbehaviors is endless, but most behavior problems will fit into these 5 categories:

• Loss of self-control/ anger outbursts
• Disrespect towards parents/ backtalk
• Hurting another person
• Arguing or refusing to share
• Not listening

Here’s a sample:

The front of each card depicts the misbehavior while the back of the card shows the desirable behavior.  More importantly, the card allows the parent to have a dialogue (using pictures) about how a person’s heart determines behavior and what God’s Word has to say on such matters.

How to Use:

• Give an appropriate consequence for the child’s misbehavior
• Wait until the child is “teachable” (has a soft heart)
• Spread the cards before the child and have her pick which one(s) best show what she did wrong.
• Explain that bad behaviors come from angry hearts
• Flip the card over and read the Bible verse.
• Ask the child to describe what she sees (what does she notice different about the heart?)
• Ask what she can do next time instead
• Have her make amends if necessary for the wrong committed.

Many parents have found this tool to be a great aid in helping them instill character rather than just compliance in their children.  Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

Order Heart of the Matter Cards

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Laura is a licensed counselor with over 15 years experience. She is also the mother of two delightfully inspiring children. She loves sharing her passion for godly parenting with others. Through CfP, she provides consultation services and parenting workshops.

2 Responses to “A Great Training Tool for Christian Parents”

1. Melanie Robbins says:

   July 13, 2011 at 10:06 am

   Laura, I love these! I’m going to order some and bring them with me when I speak next. I’ll try to refer to it and also I will have it as a resource for at my resource table!!

   Reply
   • Laura Kuehn, LCSW says:

     July 13, 2011 at 11:23 am

     Thanks Melanie. It is such a simple tool, but having those pictures makes all the differences for little ones. It really helps get to the heart. I am so grateful for our partnership.

     Blessings to you and yours,
     Laura

     Reply