Young Children

Q&A: How Do You Focus on One Thing?Jan 28 2013 9:23 am
Karissa wrote in with a great question:In a recent post you talked about “picking one thing” and being consistent about it in the discipline of a toddler. I guess
Just Choose OneJan 24 2013 9:37 am
Over the last few months Hudson has crossed that threshold from baby to toddler. His speech has taken off, his comprehension level is higher. He’s not my baby anymore. But
Target the Heart In TimeJan 15 2013 8:17 am
Targeting our children’s hearts is a very important goal in gospel-centered parenting. Ultimately, I want my children to understand that their hearts are sinful and that they need a
How Is Obedience a Gateway to Understanding the Gospel?Jan 10 2013 8:20 am
One of the most powerful illustrations is from the relationship of Annie Sullivan and Helen Keller. You may know the story. Helen was a young girl who, at the
“Real Simple” MotheringJan 8 2013 7:21 am
Whenever I get overwhelmed and mothering seems as complex as a calculus problem, my mom always helps me put things in perspective. “Gospel-centered mothering at this stage is simple,”
From One Mom to Another: Don’t Grow WearyDec 18 2012 1:38 pm
Our Aunt Betsy (Ricucci) is our dad’s sister and one of the most encouraging people you will ever meet. On Sunday at church she passed on some very encouraging
Teaching Our Children the Gospel Started With ObedienceDec 12 2012 11:25 am
When we brought Jude and Sophie home—before we could even speak the same language—we had two simple priorities: show them we loved them, and teach them to obey. The
Merry Christmas, Because He CameDec 11 2012 10:10 am
“Joy to the Word, the Lord is…LEFT?!” Mike, our children’s ministry director, made a discordant sound with his guitar to emphasize to our church’s four and five year olds
Obedience and Gospel-Centered MotheringDec 10 2012 12:50 pm
As moms, we may be so afraid of raising little heathens of the self-righteous, legalistic, variety that we neglect to teach our children how to obey. Perhaps we grew
Gospel-Centered Child TrainingDec 4 2012 10:53 am
“No scream.”“You may not hit.” “No throw.” “Come to mommy.” I spend all day saying stuff like this to my two-year-old son Hudson—simple sentences that rarely get above three
After Awful ErrandsOct 23 2012 4:00 pm
“Just wanted to say thanks for Janelle’s post yesterday,” wrote one mom:“I just got home from an outrageously awful trip to run errands with my 5 and 3 year
Gospel-Centered Parenting For Real LifeOct 17 2012 2:08 pm
My son, Hudson, will be two in November, and while he brings his family tons of joy, his sinful nature is on full display. He has mastered the art
The Answer to End All QuestionsOct 9 2012 10:17 am
My son Jude asks lots of questions. As I understand it, this is common for children who have been adopted when they are older, and I totally get it.
“But the pace!” CS Lewis on Young ParentsJan 31 2012 5:28 pm
Every mom of young, active, children (especially boys!) needs to take a minute to read these excerpts of letters from CS Lewis. The way he describes the whirlwind of
kidtalk ChristmasDec 9 2011 6:25 am
To all the kids around here, Janelle and her husband Mike are affectionately known as Mr. and
Doing What I CanFeb 15 2011 5:09 pm
My little Claire is now over three months old—hard to believe! She has been such a sweet blessing to our family. This girlie is very loved (albeit a little
Parenting Little OnesJan 19 2011 3:56 pm
Being a parent of young children can sometimes be a confusing experience. You face many new challenges that you don’t always know how to handle. Thankfully Scripture provides the
Q&A - Bedtime RoutineSep 8 2010 3:31 pm
Q. How do I keep my child from getting out of bed multiple times every evening?A. I asked my mom about this recently because I needed an answer! I
Strength For a Weary MomAug 10 2010 2:28 pm
We began this series by asking: “How does the mom with young kids make the best use of her time when she doesn’t feel like she has any time?”
“Walking With the Wise” GiveawayJun 22 2010 3:59 pm
The new Sovereign Grace kid’s album, Walking With the Wise, debuted this week and today we have ten CD’s to give away. Hmmm…maybe we’ll start that girltalk music department
Summer PlansMay 24 2010 2:41 pm
School is almost out and it’s time to make summer plans—swimming and biking, eating dinner on the back porch, and berry picking (I guess Janelle has already gone to
Going Bye-ByeMar 18 2010 5:25 pm
As any mom with small children will tell you, “getting out the door” is an exercise in craziness and chaos. Screaming fits and blow-out diapers, lost keys and runaway
Womanly Dominion.The Gospel.Our Children.Oct 8 2009 9:10 am
Your mission, dear mother, is not to make your children happy, but to prepare them for eternity…You must relentlessly evangelize their never-dying souls.” (Womanly Dominion p. 127-128)In chapter eight
Fool Moon RisingSep 14 2009 1:09 pm
On Thursday we received a special new book from Pop-Pop: Fool Moon Rising by Kristi Fluharty and T. Lively Fluharty; so I took a break from school to read to
Family Talk and a GiveawaySep 8 2009 12:29 pm
On Sunday evening the Mahaney clan gathered at Dad and Mom’s house for dinner. The weather was mild, so we ate outside on the patio and sat around talking
Monsters Under the BedAug 12 2009 1:44 pm
My three-year-old Caly often wakes up screaming in the dead of night. Jolted out of sleep, I run to her room as fast as I can only to be
Battle at the BradshawsNov 13 2008 3:47 pm
A small battle broke out in the Bradshaw house on Sunday. Caly refused to eat a bite of her toast. No, I didn’t say peas or green beans. We
Waiting With LiamSep 26 2007 6:25 pm
My middle son Liam can’t wait for his birthday to get here. He’ll be five. And he’ll get to go to Noodles and Co. for his favorite buttered noodles
The little white bear and some mannersFeb 7 2007 5:01 pm
“Children learn manners mostly by example. It’s only when they don’t pick up on some detail that we must point out their lapses…manners are a cut-to-the-chase way of teaching
RoutineTalk: Some Concluding RemarksJun 23 2006 9:01 am
As we draw this series to a close, we want to leave you with a few thoughts: -A schedule is meant to serve, not rule. When it doesn’t serve,
RoutineTalk: For School-Age ChildrenJun 22 2006 10:24 am
At the beginning of every school year and at the start of every summer holiday, I create a new schedule for Chad. Then I sit down with him and
RoutineTalk: Other MomsJun 21 2006 11:19 am
Wouldn’t you just love to have coffee with a few experienced moms who could answer all your questions about putting your children on a schedule? While we wish we
RoutineTalk: For Multiple ChildrenJun 19 2006 9:35 am
Andrew just finished kindergarten! Actually, I feel like I just finished kindergarten or Homeschool 101. The fact that Andrew can now read and that I have survived the school
RoutineTalk: For ToddlersJun 16 2006 9:32 am
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1 Jack’s life is not so simple as Caly’s. He’s a three-year-old boy. (I
RoutineTalk: For Babies, Pt. 2Jun 15 2006 9:06 am
Caly leads a simple life. She sleeps, she eats, and she has awake time. That’s it. Her life is a constant three-hour cycle of eat/wake/sleep and in that order.
RoutineTalk: For BabiesJun 14 2006 10:39 am
Before Yahoo shuts down our email account due to the flood of requests for us to share HOW to put a baby on a schedule, let me set your
Audio Resources for ParentsJun 13 2006 4:52 pm
Here at girltalk we scour the internet daily, diligently searching for biblical resources to encourage you in biblical womanhood. I wish. Scouring the bathroom floor is more like it.
RoutineTalk: Wake-Up TimeJun 13 2006 11:38 am
A mom wrote: I hope that a hundred people ask you this so you answer. How do you teach a toddler to stay in bed until 7:00? I have
RoutineTalk: For the MomJun 12 2006 12:51 pm
The word “schedule” doesn’t always conjure up fun and exciting feelings for me. Sometimes it can seem easier to sort of let life happen. But I have learned—and am
RoutineTalk: For the HusbandJun 9 2006 4:17 pm
Gone are the days of spontaneous dinners out, midnight walks around the block, and sleeping in. For Mike and me, these are the days of dinners in, midnight feedings,
RoutineTalk: For The ChildrenJun 8 2006 1:29 pm
“The children were always put into a regular method of living, in such things as they were capable of, from their birth.” Susanna Wesley Mom pointed out yesterday that,
RoutineTalkJun 7 2006 9:44 am
Those of you who have read my book, Feminine Appeal, know that when I gave birth to my first baby (Nicole), I had no clue how to care for
Just a SuggestionJun 6 2006 10:53 am
Epidural vs. Natural Child Birth. College vs. No College. Breast-feeding vs. Bottle Feeding. Courtship vs. Dating. Child Immunizations vs. Homeopathic Medicine. Home Schooling vs. Private or Public Schooling. Birth
Q & A—“Quiet Times for Kids”Jan 4 2006 10:14 pm
We’ve received several questions recently related to devotions for younger children. This time of year, many parents not only set goals for their own quiet times, but consider how
Q & A - SantaDec 14 2005 10:43 am
Q. It happened again today. We were at the doctor’s office when a well-meaning secretary told my son that “Santa was watching.” My son had a puzzled “are you
Q & A - Grandparents on a Different PageDec 7 2005 5:20 pm
Q. My parents are Christians but don’t share our convictions regarding how we raise our children (teaching the kids to obey, respect Daddy, careful about TV viewing, not promoting
Activities for KidsSep 23 2005 4:00 pm
Fall provides a variety of memorable activity options for young children. Here are three simple ideas you may remember from when you were a child: 1. Pine cone bird
Children Celebrating the SeasonsSep 19 2005 5:00 pm
Like many Christian children growing up, we didn’t participate in Halloween or get visits from the Easter bunny. But that didn’t mean we missed out on all the fun.
Q & A - Video Games, pt. 2Sep 8 2005 12:22 pm
Yesterday we heard from pastor’s wife and mom Valori Maresco about the matter of video games in their home. Today, we listen in as another mom and pastor’s wife,
Q & A - Video GamesSep 7 2005 3:25 pm
This week’s question is regarding an all-too-common issue confronted by parents today: video games... Q. My boys love playing video games on their dad’s x-box—the sports games in particular.
Hint for Blanket TimeSep 5 2005 5:22 pm
In response to my post last week where I passed on one mother’s suggestion for “blanket time,” our friend Tawn O’Connor sent in a wise caution from her own
Back to school…or notSep 1 2005 5:58 pm
It’s that time of year again: Back to school. Of course, I’m not going back to school and my two-year old Jack isn’t quite ready yet (maybe next year?),
A Mother’s RestAug 30 2005 6:13 pm
I was lying awake on the couch the other night, listening to my one-year-old Owen’s raspy respirations. He had a bad cold and I was little anxious about how
A TributeAug 23 2005 2:28 pm
This is going to be a fun day…I have the run of the blog! Mom and Nicole are heading out of town and Kristin is just returning from a
Yellow Trashcans and Old MacDonald’s FarmAug 22 2005 6:19 pm
Saturday was our final chance to attend the annual Montgomery County Agricultural Fair. And so, ignoring a heat advisory, scoffing at all the cleaning and painting I needed to
Gateway for KnowledgeAug 22 2005 12:22 pm
Last Thursday night occasioned another one of my husband’s surprises. He’s provided a gazillion of them for me through the years. He simply told me what time to be
Q & A - Spiritual Disciplines for Young ChildrenAug 17 2005 4:47 pm
We received another question regarding the spiritual disciplines and children: "At what age did you and C.J. really start encouraging your children to be having quiet times on their
Q & A - Correcting Young ChildrenAug 3 2005 3:42 pm
A mother of school age children wrote to ask: “Would you be able to provide a sample conversation that you might have with your child when they have done
Public Service AnnouncementJun 27 2005 9:16 am
One of our “Philly Friends,” Jeanne Welch, wrote to congratulate me on being “found” last week. She related an experience we thought you all should hear about—just in case
There she is!Jun 24 2005 9:26 am
Looks like we found Kristin. She’s right where I thought she would be, taking great care of her kiddos (my nephews!). You’re the best, Kess!
Where’s Kristin?Jun 23 2005 12:18 pm
Where am I, Janelle?Here’s where I am… I’m in our bedroom, trying to stay awake during morning devotions.I’m in the kitchen, pouring bowls of Rice Krispies. I’m in the