We break the full course into 2 parts –
a) GKGW I & IIA – covers session 1 to 13 over 12 weeks (January to April)
b) GKGW IIB – covers session 14 to 17 over 4 weeks. Pre-requisite – You must complete GKGW I & IIA. (July to August)
MODULE 1 Foundations (Compulsory)
Session 1: How to Raise a Moral Child
Participants learn why we need to give our children a moral or practical reason why when we give them a directive.
Session 2: Right Beginnings
The importance of the husband-wife relationship is emphasised, as children need a secure atmosphere to grow up in. If you are a single parent, Gary & Anne Marie deal sensitively with the special issues that confront you.
Session 3: Touchpoints of Love
‘The Five Love Languages’ by Dr Gary Chapman are the key to this session. Do you know how to say, “I Love You” to your spouse and your children in their love language?
Session 4: The Father’s Mandate.
Fathers are shown what their God given role is in the family. Eight non-negotiable imperatives for the father are identified.
Session 5: Your Child’s Conscience
How much do you understand about the conscience and how it works? Class members do a test to determine the state of their own conscience.
MODULE 2 Character Development
Session 6: Respect for Authority and Parents
A very practical lesson that covers such matters as honouring parents, respect for those who have authority, such as police, teachers etc.
Session 7: Respect for Age
Training children to honour and respect age is training them to honour God.
Whatever happened to Mr & Mrs? Teaching your children the “interrupt rule”.
Session 8: Respect for Peers, Property, and Nature
How to teach children to respect the dominion of others. The emphasis is not on the object but on showing respect for the person who owns the object.
MODULE 3 Discipline
Session 9: Principles of Obedience
When you give your child a command, do they respond with “yes Mum or yes Dad”? First time obedience is achievable. What is it like in your family?
Session 10: Discipline with Encouragement
Encouragement is a very important part of discipline. You will learn the difference between a reward and a bribe.
Session 11: Discipline with Correction
Learn the difference between “childishness” and “foolishness”. Also, under-punishing sets too low a value on the sin but over-punishing exasperates the child.
Session 12: Consequences and Punishment
Many parents fall into the cultural use of spanking instead of the biblical application. A child is robbed of dignity when parents use intimidation, threats, yelling, and other unbiblical forms of correction rather than biblical chastisement.
Session 13: Repentance, Forgiveness, and Restoration.
Unfortunately, people often confuse regret with repentance. You cannot repent without regret, but you can regret without repentance.
Session 14: Discipline Issues (Part One)
We can allow our children too many choices that are not age appropriate. The result is that a child becomes “wise in their own eyes”.
Session 15: Discipline Issues (Part two)
We look at whining, lying, cheating, stealing, temper tantrums, micro-vs-macro rebellion, power struggles etc.
Session 16: The Appeal Process
Col 3:21 says ‘Fathers, do not exasperate your children.’ This lesson shows you how you can fulfil this scriptural injunction.
Session 17: Building a Healthy Family
What will your family identity be in another three, five, or ten years? Have you cultivated a team spirit in your home? Have you instilled a God-honoring value system into your children’s lives? Who else is raising our children? Family structures promote or hinder healthy parent-child relationships, as well as sibling-sibling relationships.