EMAIL 1
Copy/ Paste this email into a browser and send it to parents.
Subject Line: It’s About the Relationships
Dear Parents,
As we all think about our lives, there is no doubt that one thing sits at the center of all we do. It’s not always about what we do, but it always revolves around the people we do it with and the relationships we have. How we interact with the people around us at work, school, church, and certainly at home often dictates how things go.
But if we’re honest, relationships can be hard. There can be tension, conflict, and struggle. All of us hope and pray for healthy relationships, especially with the people we love the most. Building and sustaining healthy relationships takes effort and energy. This month, we hope to give you the encouragement and tools you need to make the key relationships in your life as strong as they can be. Our Parenting Class has some great thoughts about this topic, so check it out.
We’ve also provided you with an exercise you can do with your family called Real Talk: Building Stronger Relationships at Home. Check it out and set aside some time to go through it with your kids.
To watch this month’s video or download the Toolbox Resource, click on the links below.
[ INSERT LINK TO ONLINE PARENTING CLASSÂ VIDEO ]
[ INSERT LINK TO TOOLBOX RESOURCE ]
Cheering you on!
[INSERT LEADER’S SIGNATURE HERE]
EMAIL 2
Copy/ Paste this email into a browser and send it to parents.
Subject Line: Building Relational Connections
Dear Parents,
Let’s face it: relationships are at the heart of all our lives. Whether it’s the bonds we share at home, at work, or within our communities, our connections shape and influence so much of what we do. They give us joy, comfort, and purpose, but they can also challenge us in unexpected ways.
Relationships aren’t always easy. They require patience, understanding, and intentional effort. As parents, one of the greatest gifts we can give to our children is the ability to build and sustain meaningful relationships, especially within our own families.
This month, we’re diving into the topic of building stronger, healthier connections. Through our Parenting Class, we’ll explore practical tools and encouragement to help you deepen the relationships that matter most and help your kids do the same. We also have an article for you to check out entitled Helping Your Kids Build Healthy Friendships. It gives a different perspective on this important conversation.
Whether you’re navigating a tough season or simply looking to strengthen your family’s bond, we’re here to support you every step of the way. Click the links below to get the resources.
[ INSERT LINK TO M2P PARENTING ARTICLE ]
[ INSERT LINK TO M2P ONLINE PARENTING CLASS VIDEO ]
[ INSERT LINK TO TOOLBOX RESOURCE ]
Thanks for all you do!
[INSERT LEADER’S SIGNATURE HERE]
M2P KIDS February Parent Video Script
I recently heard a story of a family dinner. It was around New Years, and the parents were facilitating a conversation about looking back at the last year and ahead to the new one. In the conversation, the dad asked kids what they wanted to be different for 2025, and one teenage son said something like this: “I’m hoping that this year I’ll be able to find my people.”
When I first heard that story, my heart sank a little; My guess is that this teenage boy had probably been struggling with his friendships for a while, maybe years. He expressed one of the most basic needs that we all have as humans, and that’s the need for connection and community.
Over the past number of years, the team at the Fuller Youth Institute have been doing research on the next generation, hoping to produce resources for parents and leaders to better understand and lead kids and teenagers into an authentic faith. Part of what Fuller has been saying is that adolescents are thinking about a lot of things, but much of it revolves around identity, belonging, and purpose. Now, we could talk about all three of these for a long time, but for the purpose of this conversation, we’re going to focus on belonging. You see, that’s what the teenage son I was talking about a few moments ago was expressing … his need for belonging. He wants to find what some people call his “tribe” … his people.
As parents, we want for our kids to find their people. Now, we hope that WE … their family … are their first people, but we all need to recognize that they need their peers. They need good friends and healthy relationships in order to have the fulfilling life that God wants them to have. My wife and I have watched our two kids, who are now young adults, go through seasons where they’ve had really good people and seasons when the people they had maybe weren’t the best for them. I believe that in order to learn how to belong, our kids need to learn how to build healthy relationships … how to find the right people.
When kids are younger, friendships form the building blocks for developing so many things that they will need: friendships help with social skills, emotional intelligence, and confidence. As parents, you play a key role in helping your children learn how to navigate early relationships, laying the groundwork for healthy connections in the years to come.
Here are a few practical ways you can help your young children build and nurture healthy relationships:
First, teach kindness and empathy. Children often model the behaviors they see at home, so encourage kindness by highlighting moments when your child shows empathy, such as sharing a toy or comforting a friend. You can also find and read stories that emphasize friendship and talk about how characters care for one another. Teach them stories from the Bible where people love and care for one another because of their faith in God. Proverbs 17:17 reminds us that “A friend loves at all times,” so remind your kids that part of building healthy relationships is truly caring for others.
Next, create opportunities for connection. Children often make friends and build relationships through shared activities. Look for opportunities for your child to be in environments where they can meet other kids and learn how to build relationships – places like church, sports teams, or playdates with other families. The more practice your kids can have at building relationships, the better they’ll get at building relationships. We already live in a world where we are more and more isolated, so help your kids learn how to connect.
Model healthy relationships. Children are always watching how you interact with others. Show them what a strong friendship looks like through your own relationships. Share with your child how you appreciate a friend’s support or how you’ve worked through disagreements. These examples demonstrate what it means to care for and respect others. And remember, the ability to form healthy friendships often starts with having a secure foundation at home. By showing love, affirming their worth, and creating a sense of safety, your child gains the confidence to step into the world and build meaningful connections.
Finally, pray for their relationships. Pray with and for your child as they grow in their ability to make friends. Ask God to bring people into their life who will uplift and encourage them. Pray for wisdom as a parent to guide them in navigating relationships and for discernment in choosing kind and thoughtful friends. Proverbs 13:20 reminds us: “He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.” Even for younger children, this principle rings true. Help them understand that good friends should bring out the best in them and encourage them to make choices that honor God.
By nurturing these principles early on, you can help your child grow into someone who builds and maintains healthy, God-honoring relationships. Remember, it’s not just about finding friends but learning how to be a good friend. As your child grows, the seeds you plant now will blossom into a lifetime of meaningful, healthy connections that will hopefully fuel them along the way.