By Karen Mahoney
A child’s first years are critical. Bonds with parents are established, major brain development occurs, and familial love and acceptance form how he views himself and others around him. Most professionals agree that the early years are foundational for success in life.
What has not always been given equal consideration is the importance of later childhood brain development. A child’s brain continues to develop throughout the teen years, and the manner in which parents respond during that time is crucial.
In Mary Lee Dey’s book Speak to Your Children: 79 Handy Conversations to Help You Raise Dynamic Catholic Leaders on Truth and Life Issues for a Better World, she addresses many of the issues parents face while raising children.
Dey, a Natural Family Planning instructor certified in Catholic Family Life, served as a crisis pregnancy director and as a counselor. The Nebraska resident and mother of four speaks on pro-life and family issues and has presented parent sessions with her books for the past 15 years. Through her research, she came to understand that many parents were not given the proper tools to help their children live moral, healthy, and successful lives.
To read the remainder of this article, visit clmagazine.org/post/review-speak-to-your-children.
To read similar and inspiring pro-life articles, visit the Celebrate Life Magazine website at clmagazine.org.
