Family by God&#039;s Design

Our Children: Curious or Confident?

Curiosity compels us to explore, to find things out…often with no material reward. We just enjoy learning about those things that arouse our curiosity. Researchers at Columbia’s Zuckerman Institute showed what the brain looks like when curiosity arises. Specifically, they showed people ambiguous visual images and used fMRI scans to witness how their brains responded....

confidence curiosity healthy development parenting play

November 9, 2024

The Effects of Marijuana on Developing Brains

Marijuana seems to be growing in popularity and acceptance. However, we are still learning about its effect on the developing brain. As new information comes out, I would like to share it with you, allowing you to continue making wise decisions for you and your children. With that in mind, I want to share the...

brain development cognitive health health healthy development marijuana

October 14, 2024

Are Screens Robbing Your Children?

How do you respond when your children get upset? When they “throw a tantrum”? How do you help them calm down? What do you do when they complain of boredom? In today’s environment, I often witness parents giving their child a digital device to—a smartphone, a tablet, a handheld gaming device—to help them calm down...

boredom creativity healthy development parenting screen time

October 5, 2024

Fuel Your Life, Not Your Anxiety

The Mayo Clinic News Network suggest that no more than 10% of the calories in a healthy diet come from saturated fats. The University of California, Davis, notes that the average American exceeds this by eating about 12% of their calories through saturated fats and 36% of their calories from fat in general. (Dietary Guidelines...

Celebration Family Shepherds

anxiety diet healthy development

May 20, 2024

The Long-Term Impact of Junk Food on the Teen Brain

Family life is busy these days. Families run from activity to activity stopping to grab something quick and easy to eat on the way. Unfortunately, those “quick and easy” meals are often high in fat and sugar. A University of Southern California study found that a high-fat, sugary diet during teen years may contribute to...

adolescence family meals healthy development parenting

April 8, 2024

Don’t Forget to Teach This to Your Children

Our children need to learn many skills in order to move successfully into adulthood. Perhaps the most important skills have more to do with how they think than what they do. For instance, how they view themselves will play a bigger role in their success than their ability to throw a ball, dance, or do...

efficacy empower healthy development self-image

March 25, 2024

The “Big Little Leap” & All the Leaps That Follow

Ah…the experience of joy on the first day of kindergarten. I never really understood the parental struggle mixed with pride and joy when “letting go” of children until I dropped mine off for their first days of school. It was the first of many leaps that culminated in dropping them off at college or watching...

healthy development leaving home parent child relationship relationship

March 23, 2024

The Starter Ingredients of a Healthy Marriage

Marriages require at least two basic ingredients added in the right order at the start. The first ingredient is dedication. That makes sense, doesn’t it? After all, if we desire to find success in any enterprise, we must dedicate time and energy into creating that success. In marriage, dedicating our time and energy means moving...

Grace Honor

date healthy development marriage

February 19, 2024

The Key to Emotional Health in Adolescence

Adolescence is a time of challenge and opportunity, a time of growth for parent and child. At times you and your child may feel like pulling your hair out during their adolescent years. And, at other times, you may feel like pulling one another’s hair out. But there is a key that can help nurture...