Raising Godly Boys Minute

Now is the best time in history to raise a boy. Michael Reichert makes that claim in his book How to Raise a Boy. At first, it may seem like he is wrong, since boys are falling behind their female peers in almost every area. But Reichert says those statistics are what makes it a great time. Now that we’re aware that boys are struggling, it only takes a little intentionality to help. We can make sure our boys have positive and godly mentors. We can steer our sons away from screens and towards outdoor activity. We can get our son the extra help they need educationally. And, most importantly, we can pray to our all powerful God for wisdom, protection, and a full, kingdom building life for our sons. For ideas on raising boys to be godly men, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Have you ever watched a boy turn into a man?Tony was a goofy boy that liked to chase lizards, quote movies, and prank his friends. But he was smart and kind, and the leaders in his volunteer group began to suggest roles of responsibility.Soon, he began coming up with original ideas for activities, developing new games, and planning outings on his own. As an older youth, he commanded respect from his peers and adults alike.Sometimes, a boy needs curated responsibility to learn the art of leadership and service. Look for opportunities to give your son ways to grow. He may surprise you! This world needs godly men who lead from the front.For information about raising your son into a godly man, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Your son needs to take a walk. Walking has more psychological benefits to your son than you probably even realize. Researchers have found that the rhythmic left and right motion can actually help your boy’s brain process thoughts and feelings. The physical movement can reduce his anxiety and depression, and also helps create new white blood cells in the brain which helps him think better. If your son thinks a walk sounds boring, here are some ideas: Get him a dog that needs to be taken on walks. Buy each other cheap fitness trackers, and compete for most steps taken in a day. Or, set up a reward system– maybe for every mile walked he gets a little bit of screen time. Whatever your strategy, his developing brain will benefit. For more ideas on raising boys to be godly men, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Are you sure your son is on the right path?Once, while teaching a map and compass course to a group of boys, the leaders began to notice that none of the boys were finding the right path.  Some were off by small margins, and some went entirely the wrong direction!  The activity was a failure, and only later was it discovered to be because of  buried power lines and water lines under the church property that were throwing the compass readings off wildly.Set your son's compass to true north.  Show him the right paths, and help him on his way to growing into a man of God.For information about a Proven Process that is helping boys grow into godly men, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

How can you teach your son to be honest? To put it simply: Champion the truth. If your son makes a mistake but confesses, praise his honesty more than focusing on the mistake. And if he does tell a lie, make sure he knows he’s getting punished more for the lie than the wrongdoing. It’s also crucial to remember that your son is watching you closely. He will hear you lie to your boss about why you had to take a sick day. And he will notice when you compliment a friend, but turn around and insult that same friend behind their back. Ask God to give you the strength to model for your son the life described in 1 John 3:18, that loves “with actions and in truth.” For more ideas on raising boys to be godly men, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.