As we begin each new year, we are excited to share our top ten parenting tips. This list highlights the best practices and addresses some trends we have observed over the past year. Some of these tips may be familiar to you, while others might be new.  Be sure to click on the highlighted link if you wish to “dig a little deeper. Regardless, we hope this list serves as thoughtful encouragement to you as you kick off 2026!

10) Be Present: Relational bonding – In the busyness of everyday life, it’s easy to become task-focused and miss opportunities for connection. Intentional fun, like a regular Family Fun Night, creates space for laughter, presence, and shared memories that deepen your relationship. While research shows quality time supports healthy development, its most significant impact is building trust and emotional safety. When children experience joy with their parents, they feel valued, known, and eager to be together. We need to enjoy our time with our children, and they need to enjoy their time with us!

9) Say what you mean, mean what you say – Instructions that are vague or phrased as questions can sound optional to children. While parents often do this to sound gentle, clear and calm communication is actually more loving. When expectations are direct and consistent, children feel safer because boundaries are predictable. Clear words reduce confusion and help your child know exactly what is expected.

8) Give your child the freedom to fail – In our view, children don’t fail—they learn. Mistakes and missed expectations are essential teaching moments that build resilience and wisdom. While it’s hard to watch our children struggle, a loving and supportive home gives them the safety they need to grow. Giving them freedom to grow and learn is one of the greatest gifts we can offer.

7) Parent during a time of non-conflict (TONIC) – Trying to parent when our boys were going nuts in a restaurant never worked!  Nor did it work in the middle of the grocery store.  Yes, we did have to deal with the immediate problem properly, but the actual parenting (heart/character training) happened when there was no conflict triggering their or our amygdala. Parenting during a  time of non-conflict (TONIC) creates a calm environment for your children to hear and understand the lessons and appropriate behavior you are trying to teach them.

6) Role playing – One of the most effective tools we used during TONIC parenting was role playing.  Children are tangible, experiential learners, and role playing allows them to practice skills rather than just hear about them. It’s also a fun way to teach many things we, as parents, may think are intuitive, but are not.  How to properly greet guests coming to our house and how to advocate for yourself with a teacher are just some of the situations we role played with our boys.

5) Mealtime as a family – Research from Stanford shows that family mealtime is critical to a healthy family environment.  It is a vehicle that creates a place of belonging and connection.  Do you need to have every meal together? No, but the idea is to be characterized by sharing meals together as a family.  For us, that might mean only sharing a couple of meals one week but several more the next week.

4) Marriage is the priority – Before we had our boys, we were a family – just the two of us.  It is so easy to become child-centered in this day and age, but  your marriage needs to be a top priority.  That doesn’t mean we diminish the importance of our children or our parenting.  Rather the marriage priority enhances both.  

3) CouchTime – CouchTime helped us get on the same page as parents so we weren’t overcompensating for each other. That unity brought consistency into our home—and the results were noticeable. Our boys began sleeping through the night in their own beds, and their behavior improved as well. When parents are aligned, children feel more secure and supported. Need help getting started? Check out our “CouchTime Conversations Cards!”

2) Speak Life – Words and the virtues they convey matter. How we speak shapes the attitudes, emotions, and neurological responses of our children, spouses, and everyone around us. Speaking words of life isn’t always easy—it requires consistent practice and intention—but it cultivates an environment of trust, encouragement, and emotional safety. Over time, this practice strengthens relationships, supports healthy behavior, and models respect and love. The way we speak can transform not only our parenting but also our marriage and the overall life of our family.

1) Keep learning – Parenting is a lifelong process, and how you guide a 3-year-old is very different from how you parent a 10-year-old or a teenager. That’s why investing in ongoing learning—through classes or mentoring—is so important. One class won’t give you all the answers, and the way you receive and apply information changes as your children grow, as your marriage evolves, and as you grow as a parent. With each step, the effort you put into understanding and applying what you learn compounds over time. We saw the payoff not just in smoother teen years, but in the deep relationships we built with our boys—so much so that they actually thanked us for our intentional parenting when they saw peers struggling. Investing in your family is never wasted; it shapes their lives and strengthens your bonds for years to come.

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As the new year begins, consider taking intentional steps to grow your family relationships. Whether it’s a parenting class, a marriage retreat, or joining a small group, these experiences equip you with tools, insights, and encouragement that last far beyond a single session. Our online classes are held in the evening and are open to anyone, anywhere—last year, parents joined us from New York to Los Angeles, and even from Asia, Europe, and Africa! Starting the year with intentional investment in your marriage and parenting sets the tone for deeper connection, stronger bonds, and a thriving family life throughout 2026.

Early-bird discounts are still available—reserve your spot before classes fill!
Click on the links for additional online class information and registration:

Parenting from The Tree of Life (5 yrs–Teens) – The main comprehensive parenting course
Tuesdays, January 20, 2026 – 10 sessions
6:30-7:30pm PT, 7:30-8:30pm MT, 8:30-9:30pm CT, 9:30-10:30 ET
More info & registration: https://events.humanitix.com/pftol-jan2026

Parenting Toddlerhood Transitions (18 mos–5 yrs) – Foundational tools for the early years
Thursdays, January 29, 2026 – 5 sessions
6:30-7:30pm PT, 7:30-8:30pm MT, 8:30-9:30pm CT, 9:30-10:30 ET
More info & registration: https://events.humanitix.com/toddler-0126

Parenting the Middle Years (7 yrs–Teens) – Builds on PFTOL, preparing parents for the teen years
Wednesdays, February 11, 2026 – 5 sessions
6:00-7:00pm PT, 7:00-8:00pm MT, 8:00-9:00pm CT, 9:00-10:00 ET
More info & registration: https://events.humanitix.com/midyrs-0226

Marriage Support Available Year-Round 

Strengthen your relationship with our online SYMBIS marriage assessment and check-up, available anytime: https://onefamilyhwl.org/product/symbis/

 

Blessings to you and your family in 2026!