Practice Makes Parent

The holiday season is here, and Danny & Rebecca are ready to help you make it meaningful! In this episode, join us as we share tips for navigating the joys and stresses of the season, from family traditions to the purpose behind it all. Later, we answer a question from a listener who wants to know how he can help his young son adjust to a newborn in the home.     Click here to sign up for the Focus on the Family Advent Calendar!   Click here to access 7 Days of Gratitude from Focus on the Family!   Click Here to Support the Show!   We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.

Over-protective parenting may feel natural, but it can lead teens to rebellion and entitlement. In this episode, join us as Danny continues the conversation with Ken Wilgus & Jessica Pfeiffer about why handing freedom over to your teen can create a greater sense of responsibility in them, and an easier parenting experience for you! Later, we answer a question from a listener who wants to know how she should handle her 13 year old's desire to stop attending church.   Click here to receive Dr. Wilgus' book "Feeding the Mouth that Bites You" for a gift of any amount!   Click here to learn more about Launch into the Teen Years   Click Here to Support the Show!   We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.

As we guide our teens into adulthood, it's essential that they learn the responsibility that comes with independence. One of the best ways we can do that, as parents, is through "planned emancipation," which gradually grants them freedom to make their own choices before they leave the home. Join Danny as he sits down with Dr. Ken Wilgus & Jessica Pfeiffer to discuss planned emancipation. Later, we answer a question from a listener who wants to know how she should handle her strong-willed 5th grader.   Click here to receive Dr. Wilgus' book "Feeding the Mouth that Bites You" for a gift of any amount!   Click Here to Support the Show!   We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.

Children are rapidly developing a worldview, so it is important that parents disciple them in such a way that their children are prepared to establish a biblical worldview that is resilient to the resistance of the world around them. Join Danny & Rebecca as they sit down with Barrett Johnson to talk about discipling your children to follow Christ. Later, we'll listen to a question from a listener who has concerns about their child's separation anxiety.   Click here to receive Barrett's book, Disciple Them Like Jesus, for a gift of any amount!   Click here to take Focus on the Family's free parenting assessment!   Click Here to Support the Show!   We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.

In a culture that throws lies at your child from every direction, it's important for them to have a confident heart that stands strong on the Word of God. Join Danny & Rebecca as they sit down with Jill Garner to talk about what it looks like to raise your child to have a strong heart. Later, we'll listen to a question from a listener who has concerns about their anxious child.   Click here to receive StrongHeart by Jill Garner for a gift of any amount!   Want to know where you can improve as a parent? Click here to take our free assessment!   Click Here to Support the Show!   We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.

As a Christian parent, you might be asking the question, is it okay to participate in Halloween? Join Danny & Rebecca as they discuss October 31st and it's implications for you and your kids. Later, we answer a question for a listener who how she should handle dishonesty from her 13-year-old daughter.   Click here to read the 'Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?' article from Focus on the Family   Pass out free trial memberships to the Adventures in Odyssey Club this Halloween!   Click Here to Support the Show!   We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.

As parents, prayer is one of the most essential tools we have to guide, nurture, and protect our children. Join Danny & Rebecca as they sit down with prolific Christian songwriter Tony Wood to discuss how intentional, heartfelt prayer can shape your child's spiritual growth and strengthen your relationship with them. Later, we answer a question from a mother who wants to know how she can help her daughter overcome suicidal ideation.   Click here to receive a copy of Lord, Help Me Pray For My Kids for your donation of any amount!   Click Here to Support the Show!   We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.

The definition of masculinity has become vague in modern culture, leaving many of our sons confused about what it means to be a man. Join Danny & Rebecca as they sit down with Mark Hancock to talk about how we can raise our sons to be men of God and maintain a biblical worldview on masculinity in a culture set against it. Later, we answer a question from a listener who wants to know how he can address issues about same sex attraction with his son.   Click here to receive access to a free video series about how you can connect with your son!   Click here to read an excellent Focus on the Family article about 'Raising Little Boys'!   Click Here to Support the Show!   We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.

Modern culture is at war with Christian values, which can make raising our girls with a biblical worldview a challenge! Join Danny & Rebecca as they sit down with Patti Garibay, founder of American Heritage Girls, to talk about how you can raise your daughters to follow Christ with a strong, lasting faith. Later, we answer a question from one of our listeners who wants to know about the boundaries he should establish as his teenager daughter starts dating.   Click here to receive Patti's book, Why Curse the Darkness, When You Can Light a Candle?, for a gift of any amount!   Click here to access the free Focus on the Family Dating Contract!   Click Here to Support the Show!   We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.

Cultivating good mental health in the home is tricky these days! It seems like most everything in the world stands against it. But there are things you can do to ensure your kids are set up to have healthy minds. Join us on this special episode as Dr. Danny Huerta & Rebecca St. James sit down to discuss what you can do to cultivate a mentally healthy home. Later, we hear a question from a listener who wants to know how they can protect their child from a 3 year old bully at church.   Click Here to Support the Show!   We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.

Did you know that anxiety is the number one non-medical diagnosis in the country? And unfortunately, it's effecting our kids. Join us as we sit down with world renowned mental health expert Dr. Gregory Jantz to discuss what you can do about your child's anxiety, and your own. Later, we hear a question from a mom who wants to know how she can help her son overcome his fear of being alone.   Get Dr. Jantz's book, The Anxiety Reset, for a gift of any amount!   Call us at 1(800) 232-6459, or click here, to receive free counseling consultation from Focus on the Family.   Click Here to Support the Show!   We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.

Are you concerned with the radical changes being made to public school curriculum? On this weeks episode, join us as we sit down with policy experts Jeff Johnston and Autumn Leva to discuss how you can stand up for your child against the increasing indoctrination they face at school. Later, we hear a question from a dad who wants to know when it's appropriate to have "the talk" with his son.   Click here to sign up for our free "Equipping Parents for Back to School" e-book!   Click here to access our 'Launch into the Teen Years' resource!   Click Here to Support the Show!   We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.

Marriage experts, and hosts of the wildly popular podcast Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage, Dr. Greg & Erin Smalley join us to discuss if you can attain balance between parenting, marriage, and work. Spoiler alert - you can't! But you can find ways to integrate them with each other; listen to find out how. Later, we'll hear a question from a parent who wants to know how they should go about choosing a babysitter.   Click here to receive the book Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage for a gift of any amount!   Click Here to Support the Show!   We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.

Did you know that's it's possible for your child to enjoy their chores? Join Danny & Rebecca as they sit down with home organization expert Kristi Clover to discuss implementing a fun and effective chores system that engages the whole family. Later, we hear a question from a mom who wants to know when it's appropriate for her children to start cooking on their own.   Click here to receive Kristi's book, M.O.M. - Master Organizer of Mayhem, for a gift of any amount!   Simple Ways to Organize Your Home and Family   Donate Now!   We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.

On this episode, we continue our look at a biblical approach to discipline with parent coaches Chad Hayenga and Lydia Rex. Learn how you can turn moments of discipline into opportunities to call out the strengths in your child. Later, we hear a question from a parent who wants to know how to respond to emotional outbursts from their toddler.   Click here to receive Jim & Lynne's book, Discipline That Connects With Your Childs Heart, for a gift of any amount!   Check out this great, free Focus on the Family resource for age appropriate discipline strategies, and much more!   Donate Now!   We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.

On this episode, Jim & Lynne Jackson join Danny & Rebecca to discuss the four essential messages behind their biblical discipline model. What messages are you sending your child when you discipline them? Later, we hear a question from a mom who wants to know if her 13-year-old is too young to have social media.   Click here to receive Jim & Lynne's book, Discipline That Connects With Your Childs Heart, for a gift of any amount!   Check out this great, free Focus on the Family resource for age appropriate discipline strategies, and much more!   Donate Now!   We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.

On this episode, Dr. Ken Wilgus walks us through how to navigate "control battles" with your teen! Did you know that most teens want to tell their parents everything? Dr. Wilgus outlines the behavior in parents that causes their teens to keep things to themselves. Later, we hear a question from a mom who worries she's not equipped to raise her daughter well.   Pre-order Feeding the Mouth That Bites You   Help prepare your teenager to thrive! Check out Launch into the Teen Years.   Donate Now!   We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.

Launching your teen into independence can be a tricky task! But have no fear.. Dr. Ken Wilgus is here to discuss his approach that gradually introduces adolescents to freedom and responsibility. Join Danny & Rebecca as they learn about Ken's excellent framework for launching successful adults. Later, we hear a question from a mom who feels like her teenager daughter is drifting away from her.   Pre-order Feeding the Mouth That Bites You   Take our free Parenting Assessment!   Donate Now!   We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.

How do you instill a love of reading and writing in your kids in a screen driven world? Join us as Danny & Rebecca sit down with language arts expert Andrew Pudewa as he fills us in on the secret of how you can help your kids become excellent readers and writers. It's a lot easier than you might think! How and when to teach kids to read and to write? How do you help your child with reading comprehension?   Read the Bible as a Family!   What Kids Read: How Stories Develop Us   Donate Now!   We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.

Join Danny & Rebecca as they sit down with PluggedIn's Adam Holz to discuss bullying, cyberbullying, and what you can do as a parent to stop it. What is cyberbullying? How do you stop bullying in schools? We discuss these topics, and more, on this weeks episode.   Check out PluggedIn from Focus on the Family! A guide to entertainment and culture with a biblical lens.   How to Deal with Bullying   The Bullying Breakthrough   Donate Now!   We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.