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Junior Highers

Jr. Highers already (think they) know everything; but you probably know that YOU don’t. We’ll help you bridge the gaps between you and your teenager.

5 & Under

Elementary

Junior High

High School

Articles

What’s going on in the brain of a middle schooler? Ask them, they’ll tell ya! This author did just that.

Here are some things that a middle schooler is thinking, and what she had to say may surprise you!

12 Affirmations to Speak Over Your Kids

5 & Under|Elementary|High School|Junior High

Encouragement|mentalhealth|values

What we say to our kids really matters. It is never too young to start introducing positive self-talk strategies. Read an article from Parent Cue that we love for 12 affirmations to speak over your kids!

The 5 Other Adults Your Child Needs in Their Lives

Elementary|High School|Junior High

The question most adults ask kids is “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I’ve always had an answer – well, two. My mom was a teacher, and her friends were teachers or nurses, and I looked up to them. These people were not just my role...

Parenting a Child With a Mental Health Challenge

High School|Junior High

hot topics|mentalhealth

Parenting is hard. Adding in a child with who is struggling with anxiety, depression or any other mental health challenge can make life feel unpredictable and scary.

But there is hope! Check out this article about parenting a child who is dealing with these challenges.

Making Marriage a Priority

5 & Under|Elementary|High School|Junior High

healthy parents

Have you ever heard the phrase ‘the best gift you can give your children is a healthy marriage’? I heard that a long time ago and it has really stuck with me along the way. Making marriage a priority is hard! 18 years after we said “I do”, we now...

6 Ways to Help Your Middle Schooler Develop Positive Body Image

Junior High

hot topics|values

Have you ever been in uncomfortable territory? A place that makes you feel a complete lack of ease? For me, as an introvert, this is usually parties of all kinds. Maybe you can relate: You get an invite to a gathering with people you like and when you show up...

Cues for Every Family Rhythm

5 & Under|Elementary|High School|Junior High

familytime

Routine is critical for me and my family. I’ve noticed that when we are out of routine (or out of rhythm) we all are crankier, more easily “set off”, and just downright unpleasant. But with the pace of life most families face (think work commitments, school commitments, sports schedules, time...

Pressures in Parenting

5 & Under|Elementary|High School|Junior High

healthy parents|spiritual parenting

No matter how many children you have, or their ages, I am sure you can relate that parenting is hard. The guilt, the schedules, the stress, the lack of sleep, the big emotions, the decisions…it can all leave us feeling this constant pressure. Not only do we have to keep...

Small Things Often

Elementary|High School|Junior High

communication|Encouragement

“Parenting is the hardest job in the world… and you don’t even know if you’re doing a good job until your kids are adults!” I don’t know about you, but that phrase really resonates with me! I have had many jobs throughout my life but parenting definitely takes the cake...

Cultivating Gratitude in Our Kids

5 & Under|Elementary|High School|Junior High

‘Tis the season for speaking gratitude yet being bombarded with ads begging us to spend more on things to make us happy. If this is the message being thrown at us from every corner, how much more confusing is it for our children to navigate gratitude? The Bible has hundreds...

Having Hard Conversations With Your Kids

Elementary|High School|Junior High

communication

Any parents of pre-teens out there? Oh man…the energy, the goofiness, the awkwardness…it’s all just off the charts with my daughter right now. There’s a lot to enjoy about that! It’s fun to watch my 5th grader grow into her personality – watching her sense of humor develop and seeing...

Watch Your Jr. Higher Grow!

Junior High

transitions

You’ve made it to middle school, now what? Read this article and watch your junior higher grow and flourish!

Book Recommendation for Kids Dealing With Anxiety

Elementary|High School|Junior High

books|mentalhealth

As parents, dealing with the difficult emotions of your kids can leave you feeling intimidated, powerless, and discouraged. It can feel scary when they are dealing with feelings of anxiety and despair . I’ve found this book which has helped me and given me hope in my parenting. The book...

Grit Over Grades?

High School|Junior High

school|values

Are you more interested in what your teenager is doing, or who they are becoming? If there’s one thing I see over and over again in Student Ministry, it’s that our Jr. High and High School students are facing more pressure than ever. There’s pressure to conform or fit in,...

Family Thanksgiving Ideas

5 & Under|Elementary|High School|Junior High

familytime|holidays

Thanksgiving is a chance for families to gather together and enjoy being with one another. But Thanksgiving can also be a meaningful time to reflect on our blessings and remember how God has been faithful in our lives. Many families have special Thanksgiving traditions they use to show gratitude. I...

Family Advent Calendar

5 & Under|Elementary|High School|Junior High

familytime|holidays|spiritual parenting

In the hustle and bustle of the season it can be easy to lose sight of why we are celebrating Christmas in the first place! One way to keep our hearts and minds set on the true meaning of Christmas is to do an advent reading calendar. We’ve got a...

What Should I Do if I Find Out My Child Is Watching Porn?

Elementary|High School|Junior High

hottopics|sexuality|technology

“My Child would never view porn!” Yeah, that is what I thought. However, statistics show that the average age of a child viewing pornography is 11 years old! I was terrified when I found out my son was one of those statistics. It can be shocking and even shameful to...

Technology with Teenagers

High School|Junior High

familytime|technology

Can anything good come from technology? Sometimes it can feel like (especially with teenagers) we are competing with technology rather than using it to our advantage as parents. This article from Parent Cue has GREAT ideas on how you can share some cool moments with your teenagers using social media,...

Staying Family Centered During Busy Seasons

5 & Under|Elementary|High School|Junior High

familytime

We live in a busy world. Check out this podcast to help you stay family focused during seasons where busyness seems to be running rampant! “None of us parents have our stuff together. While some days are better than others, on many days, most of us are just trying to...

Free Printable: The SEEN Book Tenants

5 & Under|Elementary|High School|Junior High

books|communication|mentalhealth

Sometimes when we are in the thick of it with our kids, it’s easy to forget that most of their emotional responses are cries for connection with us. When we feel tired, disconnected, or stressed by our own circumstances, we can miss out on those chances to connect with our...

Feelings Wheel

5 & Under|Elementary|High School|Junior High

communication|Encouragement|mentalhealth

Hey Parents! Have you ever experienced this before? Your child is upset, but no matter what you do and say you can’t figure out what is wrong? We want to share an awesome resource with you for helping your children develop a vocabulary for their emotions. When we show up...

Helping Your Kids and Teens Feel SEEN

5 & Under|Elementary|High School|Junior High

communication|mentalhealth

Recently we held an event called Parent Night Out. We heard from Will Hutcherson who is the author of the book “SEEN: Healing Anxiety and Despair in Kids and Teen Through the Power of Connection.” He talked about different tools of connection and the critical steps you can take to...

Talking to Your Kids About Tragedy

5 & Under|Elementary|High School|Junior High

communication|hot topics

Our hearts at Parkview are broken over the recent school shooting at Covenant School in Nashville, TN. We understand that when tragedies occur, it can be difficult to answer questions your kids may have. We found an article that may help you navigate through these incredibly difficult conversations. We are...

Helping Your Jr Higher Manage Money

Junior High

communication|hot topics

Talking to our kids about money can be hard. For many parents, you either don’t feel equipped to talk about financial responsibility because of your own mistakes or spending habits or you think the money conversation is best reserved for when your kid is older. But research shows the earlier...

Age Appropriate Chores

5 & Under|Elementary|High School|Junior High

familytime|hot topics

The new school year is a great time to reestablish routines around the home. One thing that can sometimes be hard to decide is what level of responsibility is appropriate for a child to have around the house. Chores are a great way to introduce your kids to responsibility, show...

Make the Most of Mornings

5 & Under|Elementary|High School|Junior High

Encouragement|familytime

Morning time can be quite the hustle! With getting everyone out of bed and ready, making breakfast and get everything ready for the day ahead to get everyone going, it can be hard to feel like you have the opportunity to connect with your child before sending them out the...

End the Night Right

Junior High

familytime|hottopics

Kids don’t always have the words to tell us about their day, but it doesn’t mean they don’t need to. End the Night Right is a tool designed to help create a bedtime habit where kids talk with their parents about their day and parents can point them to wisdom...

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The Ultimate Guide to Cell Phones

Online Programs are a great way to have quality family time and teach your kids about the incredible love of God – and it’s ready for you every Saturday!

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Keep your kids safe online

Internet accountability software allows transparency on all your devices, and helps you and your kids develop sexual integrity.

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Parkview Students is a youth ministry of Parkview Christian Church in the greater Chicagoland area. Your student is fully welcomed and wanted at Parkview! Faith meets fun and friendship here!

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