But in the game of Chutes and Ladders, the goal is to climb the Ladders to claim your treasure, all at the same time avoiding the Chutes where you slide back down and have to repeat some steps to hopefully land on a ladder to get the chance to climb and claim the treasure again.

Chutes and Ladders are all too familiar to us parents. Right?!?

At one point, we are flying high, understanding exactly what we are doing. Yet sooner, rather than later, we find ourselves lost, not knowing what to say or do.

Is that not the walk of an everyday parent?

Oh my!!!

However, you don’t have to feel defeated and lost. You can claim the treasure; it’s just how you serve the treasure you’re looking for.

The K.I.S.S. ~ Serve the treasure you’re looking for!

The “treasure” are the traits you want your children to learn while under your care and supervision; they’re the key values and morals to becoming who God designed you to be. So how can parents serve the treasure (meaning the trait) to “trick” the child of what awaits?

To serve the treasure, you first need to identify the key values and morals that lead to becoming the person God designed you to be. Once you’ve done that, it’s time to find ways to intentionally implement these traits into your child’s life.

1. Model the behavior yourself – Children learn best by example, so make sure you are modeling the traits you want your child to learn. If you want your child to be kind, make a point to show kindness to others on a daily basis. Your child does what he/she sees.

2. Reinforce the positive – Reinforce good behavior every chance you get. When your child shows kindness or empathy, acknowledge it and let them know you’re proud of them.

3. Make it a daily habit – Consistency is key. Make a point to teach and reinforce good character traits on a daily basis. Over time, this will become a habit for your child.

4. Use stories and visuals – Use stories, books, and visual aids to help your child understand the importance of the traits you are trying to instill. For example, if you’re teaching your child about honesty, read a story about a character who learns the value of telling the truth. Then, what you are instilling in them isn’t just coming from you. It’s coming from another source that backs up what you have been modeling for them.

5. Create opportunities to practice – Give your child opportunities to practice the traits you are trying to teach. For example, if you’re teaching patience, give your child a puzzle to work on that will require patience and perseverance to complete.

Your children will only rise to the level at which you invite them to excel.

If your ceiling and floor are equal, your child is not going to have as great of a chance to soar. But if you set your floor and raise your ceiling, then your child will rise up to what they know is possible, even when it’s impossible.

Serving the treasure (the traits you want your child to learn) is all about intentional parenting.

You can effectively teach your child the values and morals they need to become the person God designed them to be.

“Be present. Be incredible. Be YOU!!!“