Listening… The FIRST Time.

Listening to the little things prepares our kids to listen to the bigger, more important things. Do you ask your kids over and over to do something?

The other day, I had to ask my kids to get dressed 3 times. I want them to show respect by listening and doing what I say the first time.

I don’t think we should do incentives all the time,  but in spurts, they can help kick start good behavior. Share verses along wth it too so it can have an even more powerful effect.

1. EVERY time my kids listen the first time, I let THEM put a marble in the jar (only allow them to, if they’re old enough to handle marbles): getting dressed right away, cleaning the room after asking once, etc.

2. But I only give a marble for listening the first time and nothing else. When the marble jar is full, they’ll get a reward like go out for ice cream or bake a cake. If listening isn’t the thing your kids need to work on, you can pick another issue.

3. A great verse for our kids to memorize and for us to discuss while doing the marble jar is James 1:19: “Everyone should be quick to listen.”

4. One rule- they cannot ask to get a marble.

Doing this once or twice every so often can retrain our kids to listen well.

My hope is that they would listen with the small things, so that when I speak about bigger things, they will also have open ears and hearts to hear me, and more importantly, hear Jesus, so his words in John 10:27 will come to life, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”