The following are some of the most frequently asked questions I have received from parents. I will attempt to give you a quick answer and direct you to some of my materials for a more thorough understanding of the subject.
Q. What do you think about spanking as a form of discipline?
A. I would use spanking sparingly and as a last resort. There are usually much better ways to get your child to cooperate. See pages 73-84 in my book, Parenting With A Purpose.
Q. What do you say when a child declares “I want to be baptised?”
A. I would say something like this. “Johnny, I’m glad you’re thinking about this. Tell me why you want to be baptized.” Listen carefully and use more open-ended questions to bring out his thinking. For more help see I’m Big Enough and Children and the Christian Faith, pp.52-58, 67-71 and 89-94.
Q. How do you know when a child is ready to become a Christian?
A. There are several things to consider but one of the most important is the child’s persistence. He continues to want to make this decision. See pages 18-23 and 52-58 in Children and the Christian Faith.
Q. How do I raise my kid in a way so I won’t damage him with my own baggage?
A. That’s a great question and reveals some good insight about how easy it is to put our “stuff” on our child. The simple answer is to be aware of your “stuff”” and own it. There is an entire chapter on this in my book, Parenting With A Purpose.
