EFI 14 Raising Kids Who Take Ownership- Teaching Responsibility and Resilience

We tackle the desperately needed topics of responsibility and resilience in today's anxiety-riddled youth culture, exploring how summer provides the perfect opportunity to develop these qualities in our children.

• 77% of Gen Z struggles with anxiety, feeling overwhelmed, and fearing failure according to Barna research
• Scripture teaches us to persevere through hardship rather than avoid it completely
• Responsibility connects to the biblical concept of stewardship—managing what God has entrusted to us
• Start early with clear expectations and accountability—assign meaningful chores and responsibilities
• Allow natural consequences to teach cause and effect—don't always rescue children from their mistakes
• Celebrate character development (faithfulness, diligence) rather than just outcomes
• Give children heroes who endured difficulty—consider missionary biographies for summer reading
• Anchor children in their identity in Christ—resilience flows from knowing both who you are and whose you are
• Stats show today's 18-year-olds have responsibility levels comparable to 15-year-olds from previous decades
• Only 8% of parents believed their college-bound teens could make a doctor's appointment independently
• Start small by having children order their own food at restaurants—a simple step toward independence

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This podcast is presented by Wayne Christian School- A Christ-centered community school whose mission is to assist parents and churches in the education of their children from a biblical worldview to impact their world for Christ. You can learn more at waynechristian.org