Give the Gift of Connection
Correct With Good Consequences
Wait what… you still need good consequences?!
Remember that first time your sweet little toddler obviously knowingly did something wrong? Whether they bit their brother in anger or snuck off to test out the socket, there’s always a sinking feeling in that first obvious reckoning with your child’s tendency to do the wrong thing.
And guess what? It wasn’t the last time either.
That’s why good consequences that teach your children wisdom are important.
Before we get to good consequences, you need a good framework
We’re jumping ahead of ourselves. Hopefully, you’ve worked your way up to this point by going through the other levels of the Connected Families Framework already.
We start at the bottom and we work our way up:
Foundation
“You are SAFE with me.”
Before you get to correcting your child, make sure you’re consistently building on a foundation of safety. We take every thought captive in order to prepare ourselves to respond in an emotionally safe way to our kids’ inevitable struggles.
Connect
“You are LOVED no matter what.”
Connect before you correct. Connect while you correct. Connect while your child misbehaves. This IS the only opportunity to show unconditional love, and it is absolutely radical and counter-cultural.
Coach
“You are CALLED and CAPABLE.”
Set your kids up for success by identifying their strengths and teaching them how to use them wisely! Meet your kids like a coach on a sports field, instead of as an adversary, and practice good behavior. Learn to build wisdom with great questions.
Good consequences teach “You are RESPONSIBLE”
Even if you were perfect at communicating, “You are safe, loved, and called and capable,” your kids would still sometimes choose to do the wrong thing. Because they’re not perfect, and neither are you.
The “Correct” level of the Framework is where our kids get to reckon with the reality of making mistakes, learning grace, and doing our best to make things right again.
First, learn the art of using consequences.
Consequences That Actually Work
Sign up for our practical, grace-filled newsletter and download the Consequences That Actually Work ebook free.
Our latest on correcting your children
Help! My Child Is Defiant and Disrespectful
You probably know the signs of your child’s defiance or disrespect a few seconds before it lands. You see it in their body language, and you feel it in your own body as you try to prepare. If you’ve got a child who is frequently defiant and disrespectful, you’ve got some practice enduring intentionally painful…
Obedience: A Jesus-Centered View
We are excited to bring you an excerpt from a book that we feel will impact your family for generations to come. Dr. David and Amanda Erickson are co-authors of The Flourishing Family: A Jesus-Centered Guide to Parenting with Peace and Purpose and co-creators of Flourishing Homes & Families. They are also Connected Families Certified…
The Flourishing Family: Don’t Settle for Merely Surviving | Ep. 197
In this episode, Jim and Lynn Jackson, co-founders of Connected Families, chat with Dr. David and Amanda Erickson from Flourishing Homes and Families about their new book, The Flourishing Family: A Jesus-Centered Guide to Parenting with Peace and Purpose. The Ericksons share their journey of integrating Christ-centered theology with modern neuroscience to provide a holistic…
Give Yourself Grace With the Do-Over | 196
In this episode, Jim and Lynne Jackson talk with Ruth Wharton about the transformative power of “do-overs.” They unpack how this practice mirrors the gospel by encouraging us to give ourselves grace, seek forgiveness, and mend relationships. They share the simple steps involved and how do-overs grow and evolve as your children do. By modeling…
Hitting & Biting: How the Right Consequence Might Be Simpler Than You Think
Hitting and biting are really difficult phases for some kids. It’s completely natural if all your mama or papa bear instincts come out to protect their siblings. However, so often, when thinking about appropriate “consequences” for hitting, biting, and other aggressive behavior, what you’re actually looking for is a punishment that will teach your child…
Strengths and Weaknesses: What a Child’s Misbehavior Tells Us | Ep 195
When faced with your child’s misbehavior, it’s tempting to focus on their weaknesses: poor emotional regulation, lack of self-control, or dishonesty. But what if you could see beneath these struggles to recognize the God-given strengths hidden within? At Connected Families, we affectionately refer to these strengths as “gifts-gone-awry.” Listen in as Connected Families Co-Founder Lynne…
The Goal Was to Ask More Questions and Tell Less, But…
If you’ve read much of our content before, you might have picked up on the fact that we like questions. In fact, I often encourage the parents I coach to work toward asking more questions while telling their kids less. Unfortunately, we don’t always meet our parenting goals in one smooth trajectory. But here’s the…
What Do You Do with a Minecraft Addiction?
The long road to recovery from an addiction to Minecraft (or Fortnite, or Roblox, or…)
Make-It-Right Consequences for Kids | Ep. 176
Start teaching your kids the first steps toward reconciliation and restoration by using “make it right” consequences in their relationships. Parent coach Amy Nyvall shares personal stories illustrating how she has taught her kids to take responsibility for their actions and restore relationships when they’ve done something wrong. Amy emphasizes the importance of creating space…
Why Is My Child So Angry? The #1 Unexpected Reason & Practical Steps to Take
Moving from unhealthy to healthy anger responses