Many parents struggle with keeping the lines of communication open with their teens. Conversations can become less frequent and less meaningful as children get older. One parent said, “As my son got older we spent less time together. Our conversations were shallow and we just drifted apart.” Are you hearing parents in your church ask, “How am I going to survive the teenage years?”

Many parents struggle with keeping the lines of communication open with their teens. Conversations can become less frequent and less meaningful as children get older.

One parent said, “As my son got older we spent less time together. Our conversations were shallow and we just drifted apart.” Are you hearing parents in your church ask, “How am I going to survive the teenage years?”

When the lines of communication are in disrepair, do not lose hope. Instead, encourage families to parent based on strengths.

The Lord wants parents to connect to their teen’s heart in a deeper, long-lasting way.

What does it mean to parent based on strengths? A strength is something you are good at, you feel good doing and you choose to do often. Some benefits to parenting based on strengths include:

Understanding better how the Lord has uniquely designed and gifted them as a follower of Christ.
Seeing more clearly how the Lord has uniquely designed and gifted their teenager.
Having new conversations about how the Lord could use the strengths of their teenagers in their day-to-day lives. (Read more about cultivating meaningful conversations with your kids).
Exploring the many ways their teen can use their God-given strengths in the future.

The Bible tells us that every human being is made in the image of God. He has entrusted all His image-bearers with a variety of strengths that we have the privilege of discovering, developing and using in every aspect of our lives — especially in our homes.

Parenting based on strengths can help parents avoid unwanted frustrations by providing new opportunities, new perspectives, new purposes and a new fascination for disciple-making in their homes.

The Lord wants parents to connect to their teen’s heart in a deeper, long-lasting way. Parenting based on strengths can help accomplish these goals.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The N.C. Baptist Faith at Home ministry is hosting a free “Parenting Based on Strengths” event for ministry leaders on Monday, Aug. 31. To learn more and to register, click here.