Parenting - Focus on the Family

The importance of media discernment

Taking media seriously means our choices should be determined by God’s thoughts, not the other way around. Although t...

Mind your media: 8 tips to raise discerning teens

Here’s an alternative "media strategy" for parents that helps build up, rather than erode, your relationship with you...

Tuning into real life in a digital world

It is up to parents to filter through the material and guard their children’s minds and hearts from the harmful effec...

Q&A: Is "bibbidy-bobbidi-boo" taboo? Magic in children's entertainment

We’d suggest that it is important for parents to pay close attention to the manner in which spiritual power is presen...

Parenting • Addiction

5 mistakes to avoid when your child is addicted to video games

While most conscientious parents screen games to protect their children from violent and sexual themes, few understan...

Parenting • Addiction

Easing back on your teen's gaming

If we want to get our kids’ attention, a good place to start is by engaging our teens in respectful discussions about...

Parenting • Depression

13 reasons why not: Talking to teens about suicide

Our teens need to know that there is always hope and help. Here are 13 messages every young adult needs to hear.

Q&A: What's your teen listening to?

I’m disturbed by some of the performers my teenager listens to. How do we set a fair and reasonable music standard?

Protecting your family online: experts tell you how

Internet access is almost universal for Canadian children and teenagers. With such access come all of the Internet’s ...

How to protect your teen from online gambling

The National Research Council reports that 52 per cent to 89 per cent of teens have gambled or are currently gambling...

The problem with princesses: Teaching little girls the difference between reality and fairy tales

Are the princesses a harmless phase that little girls outgrow? I see three possible negative consequences of the "Pri...

Helping your daughter navigate a highly sexualized culture

Our culture tries to convince our daughters that they amount to nothing more than the sum of their parts. Our daughte...

Parenting • Kids dating / premarital sex

Q&A: Girls are constantly texting my son

A helpful first step might be to have a family discussion around when it’s appropriate to be using a cellphone, and w...

Making wise media choices for your family

Then we decided we wanted our kids to develop godly media discernment. Here are some tips that have helped us accompl...

When should your child get a cellphone?

When we give our children a portable window into everything the world has to offer, our parenting challenges increase...

Top eight expert tips on Internet safety

"The Net is vital to a child's success as a student as well as a future member of the work place," says Alexis Moore.

How to help your teen safeguard their faith

When it comes to assessing the spiritual impact of any environment on our kids, knowledge is power.

Know your technology: Parenting in a digital world

Technology doesn’t have to be a frightful menace for today’s parents; it can also be an important ally. Parents brave...

Q&A: Days after watching a scary movie, our child won't sleep alone. What can we do?

A couple of weeks ago we checked out a "kids’ movie" from our library that turned out to be very scary. Ever since th...

Parenting • Sex education

Guiding your son to respond well to sexual attraction

Boys can't control their initial attraction, but they need to learn they do have control over how they respond.