For many, success looks like good grades, hard work, and confidence. Those are good things. But if we stop there, we risk raising kids who know how to achieve but not how to live.

Gaming isn’t evil; it’s a mirror. It shows us where our kids are finding their worth. Even the rich young ruler struggled with this. His sense of self came from what he could control and achieve. Jesus offered him freedom through surrender.

A recent study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association found that children ages 9–13 who spent more time on social media performed significantly lower on tests of reading, memory, and vocabulary than their peers who used little or none.

Math is more than memorization or mastery; it’s discipleship in order. When kids learn math, they’re practicing the discipline of faith: believing there’s structure, beauty, and truth even when it’s hard to see.

Our kids don’t need artificial companions; they need authentic connection. They need to learn that real love is costly, that friendship is refining, and that no chatbot can mirror the image of God in another person.

Compassion without condescension teaches kids to see people through God’s eyes, as fully capable, fully loved, and fully human. When our homes are filled with that kind of awareness, empathy becomes instinctive, not forced.

“Confusion is never fun,” Dr. Kathy says. “But when we meet confusion with compassion, that’s where identity starts to heal.”

Kids are busier than ever, yet lonelier than ever. They have every toy, every screen, every opportunity, but many don’t feel good about themselves. They often feel anxious, restless, unsure who they are or where they belong.

When your child asks about the violence they see, don’t panic.
Pause.
Pull them close.
Pray together.

Tell them, “Yes, the world is broken, but God is healing it. And He’s invited us to help.”

Many parents quietly wrestle with questions that don’t have easy answers. When should my child get a phone? How much freedom is too much? We want to trust our kids, but we also see how technology changes them, how it shapes moods, sleep, confidence, and attention.

Cultural renewal doesn’t mean canceling everything that’s worldly; it means redeeming what can be redeemed and celebrating what points to truth. It means teaching our kids that joy is deeper than hype and belonging is holier than popularity.

When Dr. Kathy said those words on the Celebrate Kids Podcast, I couldn’t help but pause. It’s a bold statement in a world where technology often feels like the solution to everything, from faster reading apps to “smart” classrooms. But maybe the real “smart” begins when we put the screens away and look up.

Parenting isn’t about perfection — it’s about partnership with the One who still calls children close. When you celebrate kids, you join Jesus in the sacred work of restoring wonder, value, and life to a world that’s forgotten how to see them.

Belonging and identity are inseparable. Who kids spend time with shapes who they become. That’s why teaching traits like hospitality, faithfulness, and kindness matters so much. These aren’t just “nice extras.” They are roots of character that give kids security, confidence, and lasting friendships.

Helping boys find their words isn’t just about emotional health, it’s about shaping identity. When boys know they can express feelings without shame, they learn that being strong includes being honest. They realize they’re not defined by anger but by the God who made them and walks with them.

The way we test kids may need an update, but God’s design for how children learn hasn’t changed. They are curious, capable, and created to grow. When we nurture their smarts, encourage their questions, and connect learning to life, we prepare them for more than a grade; we prepare them for a calling.

Research highlighted in the Celebrate Kids podcast shows that kids observe their parents’ behaviors and absorb them like wet cement takes impressions. The way you communicate with your spouse, resolve disagreements, or show empathy at the dinner table leaves a lasting impression. In other words, the family is the classroom for social skills.

esponsibility is not a burden, it’s the path to confidence, resilience, and true leadership. By rejecting labels and instead affirming identity, we can raise young men and women who don’t shrink back from challenges but step forward to lead, serve, and flourish.

Flourishing isn’t about doing more, it’s about living whole. Our kids don’t need to be flawless; they need to be free. Free to rest, free to grow, free to trust that God’s presence, not their productivity, is what secures their worth.

Almost half of young adults would rather trust a TikTok influencer than a doctor. Why? Because they’ve learned that credible knowledge is personal, quick, and relatable. But it can also be misleading and dangerous.