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Thursday, April 12, 2012

Parenting Tips from the Duggars

Whether you have one child or nineteen, these parenting tips from Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar will help to create a loving, family environment.
  1. Teach your children to love God with all of their heart, soul, mind and strength, and memorize God’s word together as a family. As part of their homeschool curriculum, Michelle and the kids gather at the kitchen table for what they call "Memory Lane." They review the Bible verses and character qualities that they have memorized, complete with hand motions.
  2. Teach them to have a servant’s heart, leading by your example. Love your neighbor as yourself. The Duggars are constantly looking for ways to serve others, whether it be by raking leaves for a widow, baking cookies for the local fire department, or distributing soccer balls to the children of El Salvador. 
  3. Read the Proverb of the day that corresponds with the day of the month, and discuss it as a family. Jim Bob and Michelle do this with their kids each morning, before "quick cleaning" the house and starting school.
  4. Diligently keep up with each child’s attitudes and actions, and ask what is going on in their heart. Pray with them one-on-one, letting them lead in prayer and then you closing the prayer time together. With nineteen children, Jim Bob and Michelle take advantage of every opportunity to spend time alone with each of their kids. For the younger ones, these conversations may take place while working on phonics or running errands. Heart-to-heart talks with the older ones often occur late night, after the rest of the family has gone to bed. Even though that means less sleep for mom and dad, Jim Bob and Michelle don't mind at all. "I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world," Michelle explained to us during an interview. "No sleep can be any better than getting to have that time with your kids."
  5. Ask God to help you conquer anger because it can destroy your relationship with your children. The Duggars keep each other accountable for their actions and attitudes. Jim Bob has given his kids permission to tap him on the shoulder and say, "Daddy, I think you're getting angry."
  6. Praise your children ten times more than you correct them. According to Jim Bob, when parents give up their right to a spotless home, then they are free to focus on the positive and praise their children for the things they have done right. Instead of reprimanding a well-meaning child for splashing water all over the kitchen counter, praise them for washing the dishes. When a little one spills milk on the floor while fixing breakfast, praise them for their initiative. After all, practice makes perfect.

14 comments:

  1. Hi Lily and Ellie!
    Maybe I'm being picky, but I think you should add that "Jim Bob has given his children permission to gently tap him on the shoulder." I remember him saying that in their second book.

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  2. Wow
    I think those are the tips for the perfect parents. I never knew about Jim Bob allowing his children to tap him on the shoulder and tell him he's getting upset. I think that's a wonderful idea

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  3. I love the last one. I am sooo not neat freak and always feel like I have to be which makes me stressed out and grouchy...then comes the anger issue...will definately give Monkey permission to tell me I am getting angry.

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  4. Thank you these are great tips!! Maybe you might consider writing a book on parenting .

    Thanks.

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  5. There good tips especially as i home school my kids
    Do you know what songs the Duggars sing as i would like to teach them to my kids
    Thanks, Love your blog
    Aimee-Louise

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  6. Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar are soooo patient! Hopefully I'll learn how to be that patient when I have kids.

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  7. Just want to say thank you to Lilly and Ellie for your wonderful blog! :)

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  8. @Anonymous

    Hi Aimee-Louise,

    Some of the songs that the Duggars sing as a family are "I've Been Redeemed," "It's Through the Blood," "I'm Standing on the Solid Rock," "May the Lord, Mighty God," and "Sweeter Gets the Journey."

    Have a great weekend!
    Lily and Ellie

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  9. these are great tips that i hope to teach my kids one day! thanks for the great blog

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  10. I love how the duggars talk heart to heart with their older children at night.

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  11. You should write a parenting book. As a mother I strive to be as patient and calm as you two and to raise kind, compassionate children.

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  12. I have two girls and I came here looking for tips from one of the most hard-working and patient parents. Parenting is tough. What lovely tips! Love, love, love!!

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  13. You inspire me with the way you all parent your children. Also the way the older girl's parent theirs. Have you already or are you considering writing a parenting book? I really want my children to know the lord but they are so young I'm not sure how to communicate with them.

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