Using Car Time to Grow Together

Do you feel like a taxi driver? If you have kids, the answer is likely “Yes!”
Kim Anderson writes for the Modern-Day Joseph parenting blog

Getting my daughters to their activities takes lots of time each week, from guitar lessons to volleyball practice to church. The list goes on.

Instead of letting time in the car just slip by, I’ve been thinking of ways to intentionally use these moments to grow together relationally and spiritually.

Talk

Show interest in your child’s life by talking. Take advantage of the captive audience in your backseat. Try to limit talking on your cell phone and engage with your child.

Ask open-ended questions that require more than just a yes or no answer.

Consider a few of these:

  • What is your favorite time of day? Why?
  • If you sat down next to Jesus on a bus, what would you talk about?
  • If you had one day to live over again, what day would you pick? Why?
  • What would you do with $1,000? A million?
  • What is the best and worst thing about your school? Your church?
  • What is your favorite Bible verse?
  • Would you rather lead or follow? Why?
  • What’s been the highlight and lowlight of your day (or week)?
  • What would be your favorite thing to do on an unexpected day off from school?
  • Who is your favorite person in the Bible?
  • Would you rather have many friends or one good friend?
  • What do you think heaven is like?
  • What are three things you’re thankful for right now?

Listen

Talking is an important aspect of building a deeper relationship with my children. But it’s also vital to listen and let them talk. I also can control and influence who and what we listen to.

In the car, I choose to listen to:

  • My children: Often after picking up one of my daughters from an activity, she is eager to tell me every detail. This time is priceless to just listen and let her share. I learn so much!
  • Their friends: Some days I also drive other girls home. That’s also an amazing time to listen. I have a front-row seat—literally—to hear what is happening at school, in pop culture and with other friends. It’s a gold mine of information that can lead to further conversations with my daughters.
  • Worship music: playing a worship CD or turning on Christian radio helps all of us focus our minds on Christ. Car time can be used to worship the only One worthy of our praise. If your kids are in Awana, visit the Awana Store for kids’ praise CDs.

How do you use car time to spiritually train your children?

This entry was posted on Friday, January 28th, 2011 at 4:22 am and is filed under Family time, Parenting. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

2 Responses to “Using Car Time to Grow Together”

  1. Tweets that mention Raising a Modern-Day Joseph -- Topsy.com Says:

    January 28th, 2011 at 4:57 pm

    [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Awana and AwanaInternational, Awana Cubbies. Awana Cubbies said: RT @ModernDayJoseph: Blog: How do you use car time with your kids? http://mdj.awana.org/using-car-time-to-grow-together [...]

  2. Virginia Says:

    March 3rd, 2011 at 7:06 pm

    My children and I pray on the way to school each day. I give them each an opportunity to pray themselves and then I ask them each if they have a prayer request they would like me to pray for before it’s my turn to pray.

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About the Authors
Jeff Smith
Jeff Smith is editorial manager of Awana. He and his wife have two children. Jeff has written three curriculum books for Awana.
Kim Anderson
Kim Anderson is a Web copywriter for Awana. She and her husband have daughters in sixth and ninth grade. Kim is a former youth ministry leader at her church who has co-written six books on youth ministry.
Linda Massey Weddle
Linda Weddle is senior U.S. program designer at Awana. She grew up in Awana, her children took part in Awana, and now her grandchildren all are in Awana. Linda is author of How to Raise a Modern-Day Joseph.