Technology can be a fantastic way to connect with our kids.
How many of us have shouted orders to our kids via a text? Things like…
- “Don’t FORGET your homework!!!”
- “When you get home: let out the dog, have a snack, clean your room, because I can’t see the floor! Love you.
- “Be home by 9!”
- “BE QUIET and go to sleep!” (Sent from your bed while they are across the house in theirs.)
Me too. Guilty.
I have made it a priority to connect with my daughters with at least one encouraging text a day.
When your kids get a text from you, what is their first thought? Is their first response one of excitement?
Can you imagine if every time our kids receive a text from us, their first thought was, “I wonder what encouraging thing my dad is going to say now?” What if they looked forward to receiving our texts?
Let’s send at least one encouraging, uplifting, inspiring, funny text every day. There just isn’t a reason not to use this tool to connect with our kids.
As a reminder, put it in your calendar to repeat every day. (Yes. I do this. Don’t tell my daughter.)
Text them stuff like:
- “You did great at…!”
- “Hope you do fantastic on your exam. Praying for you!”
- “Hang in there. The day is almost over.”
- “Is this a good weekend to wash my car?”
- “I thought I would encourage you with a reminder that you have the best dad in the whole world! Love ya.” (With crazy selfie.)
- “Can’t wait to hear about your day. Love you.”
- “Excited to spend time with you this weekend.”
- An inspirational scripture verse. “Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.” Proverbs 13.24 (Just kidding.)
I ran across a picture of my daughter on my computer and I had this idea. I brought the picture up on the screen. Then I wrote adjectives that describe her on post-it notes and put them around the picture and texted it to her. It only took a few minutes and it meant a lot to her.
Our kids need our affirmation. They don’t get a lot of praise for who they are outside our home, so let’s make sure they get it from those who love them the most.
For more insights, inspiration & training on how to safe guard your kids on these electronic devices, host our Parenting Techies workshop. See below.
In His Grip,
Written by Jonathan
Rev. Jonathan Cronkhite has been serving youth and families for the last 28 years. With the heart of a pastor, he encourages and equips families to have Homes Devoted, through conferences, workshops, coaching, and writing. Married to Carrie for 25 years, they have 5 children, three of whom are young adults. Jonathan enjoys working alongside and discipling his teenage sons and their friends, renovating and flipping homes. He supports Carrie as she leads a home school co-op, and together they practice hospitality and serve in the community.
