Shaping Your Teen’s Character Part 1: Understanding Contemporary Teens
As adapted from materials from Gary Chapman As a child enters the teen years, they are searching for independence and to establish self-identity. They desire answers to the questions of, “Who am I, and can I make it in this thing called life?” They are stepping out of their life
Delighting In The Lord: One Perspective
Recently, I visited with someone who obviously delighted in their garden. They had spent the winter researching different gardening philosophies and preparing for spring. As I talked with this individual, I could not help but get excited. Their emotion pulled me right in and a vision of beautiful vegetables made
Shaping Your Teen’s Character Part 2: Growing Conversation With Your Teen
As adapted from materials from Mark Gregston- parentingtodaysteen.org Most parents have already spent many years “telling their kid what to do.” Teens don’t learn much from parents constantly telling them what is right. That’s been downloaded many times in their early years already. Instead of parents pouring into them from
Shaping Your Teen’s Character Part 3: The Blessings of Boundaries
Proverbs 4:23 states, “Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.” Children need to learn how to internalize the boundaries that are being provided by loving parents through sound discipline practices. Boundaries build self-control, responsibility, freedom and love. As parents teach and implement
Shaping Your Teen’s Character Part 4: Insights From Teens
According to a recent survey, teens’ top three desires involved being heard or feeling like someone hears them, having their passions and interests acknowledged by others (although not always the same interests as their parents), and hungering for meaningful relationships with adults (especially from caring parents). To help accomplish those
Shaping Your Teen’s Character Part 5: Out of Control Teens
As adapted from materials from James Lehman Even with the best attempts and efforts, parents can find themselves caught in a battle with their teen. The book of Proverbs identifies the characteristics and outcomes of a wayward heart and mind. What looks like “out of control” behavior usually has a
in Biographies
Aaron Plattner, MD
Clinical Specialties: Treatment of psychiatric symptoms including depression, anxiety, impulse control, bipolar disorder, and psychotic symptoms. Populations Served: Adults and adolescents. Aaron started working at ACCFS in 2015. He utilizes telepsychiatry from his office in Grand Rapids to Morton Illinois providing both supportive therapy and medication management for psychiatric symptoms.
Shaping Your Teen’s Character Part 6: Preparing Teens for Launching
This section can be difficult for parents as they consider the idea of their teen transitioning into adulthood. This may be the best time for a young adult to make this move, and it may be with the parent’s joy, blessing and applause. In other cases, it may just need
Shaping Your Teen’s Character Part 7: The Grace/Truth Basics
Remembering that your teen will not always stay a teen can be beneficial. It helps prepare a parent’s mind for the future stage of being a friend and mentor to grown children. Jesus tenderly shared with his disciples that “I have called you friends” (John 15:15). He said that was
Knowing God Podcast
Knowing God God had a controversy with his chosen people in Hosea’s day; they didn’t know God (Hosea 4:1). Christ had a quarrel with the people of his day; they didn’t know God (John 7:28,29). Paul had a burden for the people of his day; that they would know God