Family by God&#039;s Design

Parents, Sync Up for Best Results

Many couples struggle to parent their children together. They have different ideas about how to discipline, what constitutes acceptable behavior and how to approach behavioral problems. They may even have different ideas about the goal of discipline. If couples do not deal with this difference directly, they will encounter marital stress while trying to nurture...

discipline intimacy marriage parenting

May 25, 2026

The Health Risk of a Smartphone

Smartphones grow increasingly pervasive in our society and our children’s lives…and their influence begins at a younger and younger age. A study of over 10,600 adolescent participants compared the physical health of 12-year-olds who owned a smartphone with 12-year-olds who did not own a smartphone. The results of this study offer important warnings for parents....

development emotional development healthy development parenting smartphone technology

May 23, 2026

To Inspire Your Spouse’s Support

Who wouldn’t like their spouse to support their goals and promote their growth? I know I would. If you would like your spouse to support your goals and promote your growth, I have good news. Specifically, three studies involving over 1,000 adults in romantic relationships reveal a simple way to encourage our spouses to do...

Celebration Honor

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May 18, 2026

3 Ingredients of a Well-Fed Brain…and How to Get Them

We are designed for relationships. In fact, John Bowlby, who is credited with founding attachment theory, went so far as to say loving, secure relationships with our primary caregiver are as essential to life as water and food. And research suggests that “Loneliness Is More Dangerous Than Smoking 15 Cigarettes A Day.” At least one...

Celebration Honor

emotional health family intimacy family relationships health marriage parent child relationship

May 16, 2026

Your Teen Will Love This Simple Way You Protect Them

According to the CDC, teens are experiencing a crisis in mental health. As parents, we struggle to protect our teens’ mental health, nurturing a lifestyle that will protect their mental health over their lifetime. This study, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, suggests one of the simplest ways to protect teen mental health. Even...

adolescence mental health parenting sleep teen

May 11, 2026

Infants, Screen Time, & The Brain

A study published in eBioMedicine followed 168 children for more than a decade. Starting in infancy, the research team measured the infants’ screen time and then conducted brain scans at 4.5, 6, and 7.5 years of age. Screen use during infancy impact brain development, especially during the sensitive period of infant brain development. Specific to...

brain development healthy development parent child relationship screen time

May 9, 2026

Nice Guys Finish Best, Not Last

You’ve probably heard that “nice guys finish last.” I beg to differ; and this study, published in Social Psychology, also begs to differ. More specifically, this study involved two experiments. In the first experiment, 463 participants responded to statements measuring their tendency to show “everyday niceness,” their level of social connectedness, and their attitudes toward...

Honor

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May 4, 2026

Argument Intensifiers & Argument Busters

Families have arguments. Couples have arguments. In those moments of argument, we can engage in “Argument Intensifiers” or “Argument Busters.” Argument Intensifiers, as the name implies, will increase the incidence and intensity of our arguments. Let me share two Argument Intensifiers to avoid. Of course, we can learn to catch the Argument Intensifiers and replace...

Grace Honor

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May 2, 2026

What Would You Do?

Jean Twenge describes two scenarios for parents to consider: Stated that way, most of us have no problem saying, “No way” and putting an immediate stop to the potential damage that such behaviors could cause. However, when we give our children smartphones, we have essentially said “Yes” to both scenarios. Smartphones have made these scenarios...