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Many parents, at one time or another, struggle to get their kids to focus ... .barely getting them to sit at the dinner table for five minutes, wait in line at the bank, or while grocery shopping. One of the most common problems that many children have is in focusing on particular tasks for long periods of time. Having a well-developed concentration span, however, is one of the most important keys to success at school. The ability to focus on a particular task, project, or lesson has a direct bearing on the amount of information a child can retain and later apply. The ability to filter out irrelevant distraction and focus oneself on a particular project helps develop self-control in a child as well.

The human body, in its divine design, is capable of developing amazing abilities of all sorts, over time. No where, except in the human body can you see such a range of abilities - from linebackers to ballerinas. The body is an engineering marvel - our feet, our hands, the thumb! No material entity in God’s created world is more complex, more fascinating, more marvelous, more valuable than human life which God designed specifically to represent himself in his created world. We are fearfully and wonderfully made in order to point to God’s glory. Psalm 139:13-14 ESV “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”

Helping your child develop a relationship with God through consistent prayer is one of the greatest things you can do as a parent. Pray as a family and model a life of prayer for them, guiding them in the practice of praying on their own.

In order to develop lifelong readers there are two parts of the equation: Having the “skill” to read and having the “will” to want to read. Teachers can do a great deal to help students build their reading skills and to encourage them to develop a love of reading, but parents and families play a critical role in promoting a love of reading.

Math skills are really important. According to research , math skills entering kindergarten are the best predictor of future academic success, more so than reading skills, attention skills, or socio-emotional behaviors.

The transition to kindergarten can be a big change for parents and children. Even if your child has been attending a preschool, the transition to kindergarten can still feel daunting. There will be new friends and teachers that your child has never seen before. The school will have a different schedule than what they have been used to, and the size of the school can feel intimidating.

The Bible is very clear about the importance of parents in the lives of their children. They are to love them and to bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. In a typical week, however, a large amount of a child’s time is spent in a school setting. It is paramount, then, to consider the influence school is having on a child’s life. Is their educational experience encouraging the flourishing of their physical, mental, and spiritual well-being?