5. Offer plenty of encouragement.
Regardless of what parents may think, they’re the main influence on their teenagers’ lives. Love them and help them win at parenting. As a parent, I’d love to hear my preteen’s youth pastor tell me, “Brandon, your son is really (fill in the blank with good news). And I can tell he learned that from you.” Let parents know specific areas where they’re succeeding, not just stuff you think they need to fix.
These ideas to empower and partner with parents aren’t exhaustive. They’re just all I know right now. Lead parents like this blog post is leading you. I’m emptying my cup. Now go empty yours.
Pro Tip: Don’t attempt this on your own! Which leaders or volunteers on your team can offer valuable insights to parents? Let them empty their cups, too, so others can benefit.
This article by Brandon Early was originally published on YouthMinistry.com, © Group Publishing, Inc.
