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Next Steps: Your Family Growth Plan

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Don't try to tackle everything at once. True growth happens one small habit at a time. Look over your assessment results, choose the one specific area that needs the most attention right now, and map out your immediate baby steps below.

If your child scored high in an area that worries you, take a deep breath. You cannot fix years of cultural conditioning or habit loops in a weekend. Pick one level, protect your connection with your child, and remember that consistency beats speed every single time.

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Click here to download and print a form to help you work through one specific area.

Next Steps Family Plan

A structured, intentional guide to transforming daily family rhythms across key areas of spiritual and character growth.

1
Anxiety & Mindset
1a. Anxiety: From Panic to Prayer
Scripture Focus: Philippians 4:6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Step Level Action Item Habit Trigger
Level 1
Family Action		 Start a regular prayer time together. Attach it to an existing habit (e.g., family meals or bedtime).
Level 2
Family Action		 Collect and pray over specific "prayer requests" for yourselves and others. Tie this directly to your Level 1 prayer routine.
1b. Mindset: Stopping Negative Thought Spirals
Scripture Focus: Philippians 4:8-9 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true..."
Level 1
Parent Prep
Identify the specific way your child tends to view things wrongly and choose one area to address. Then, reflect on how you struggle with that same issue and what strategies you use to redirect your thoughts. This will enable you to help your child!
Level 2
Family Action
Alongside your child, fill out the Philippians 4:8-9 mindset chart below. Post it on your refrigerator as a daily visual reminder of right things to think about.
Family Activity: Filling Your Mind with Good Things
Philippians 4:8 Concept Things You Love (Child's Examples) How We See This in Christ
True
Honorable
Just
Pure
Lovely
CommendableEx: Hard work in sports/schoolEx: Sacrificial obedience to His Father
Excellent
Worthy of Praise
2
Romance: From Modern Dating to Marriage Readiness
Scripture Focus: Ephesians 5 The mystery of marriage reflecting Christ and the Church.
God's Design for the Body
Level 1
Parent Prep
Check your own heart. Do you view puberty and marital sexuality as good things designed by God? Your attitude will directly dictate how comfortably you can lead your child.
Level 2
Parent Action
Aim to speak one true, positive affirmation about God's design for the body and relationships whenever natural opportunities arise (e.g., during bath time, doctor visits, or random conversations).
Examples for young children: "God chose you to be a boy/girl before He made you," or "You will grow up to be a beautiful woman/godly man one day."
Healthy Friendships with the Opposite Sex
Level 1
Parent Prep
Read Song of Solomon 2:7. Reflect on whether you are prematurely awakening romance by teasing your kids about dating or treating every peer of the opposite sex as a "potential partner."
Level 2
Parent Action
Vulnerability wins. Share stories from your own youth, starting with: "When I was growing up, I regret..."
View on Singleness
Level 1
Parent Prep
Read 1 Corinthians 7:32-35. Are you genuinely okay if your child remains single to focus entirely on the things of the Lord?
Level 2
Parent Action
Actively speak highly of godly singles you know. Invite them into your home for family meals or events to build real connections.
View on Gender
Level 1
Parent Prep
Evaluate your speech based on Ephesians 4:29. Do you build up the opposite sex, or do you make disparaging jokes or put-downs?
Level 2
Parent Action
Publicly praise men/boys for specific godly masculine traits, and women/girls for specific godly feminine traits.
Dating Plan
Level 1
Parent Prep
Sit down with your spouse and map out your specific family goals for dating.
Level 2
Family Action
Chat about media together. Discuss how romance and dating are portrayed in the books and movies your family watches.
3
Purpose: From Laziness to Responsibility
Work as Worship & Service
Level 1
Parent Prep
Read Colossians 3:23-24. Check your perspective: How do you view your own daily labor? How do you view your child's chores and schoolwork?
Level 2
Parent Action
Practice intentional encouragement. Praise them even if they do the job with a grumpy attitude.
Try saying: "Thank you for [this work]. It is such an important service to our family because [reason]."
Contributing to the Household
Level 1
Parent Prep
Audit your household chores and explicitly check off which ones your child is old enough to assist you with.
Level 2
Family Action
Don't just assign the choreā€”pick a regular time to complete the task side-by-side with your child.
Managing Time and Daily Routines
Level 1
Parent Prep
Look at your personal productivity systems. How do you actually manage your time and get things done?
Level 2
Family Action
Take your simplest organizational system (like a basic checklist or calendar) and teach it to your child by practicing it alongside them.
4
Technology: From Distracted by Screens to Connection
Purposeful Technology
Level 1
Parent Prep
Look in the mirror. When and why do you use screens? Ask your kids directly: "Do you think I'm on my phone too much? When do you wish I would put it away?"
Level 2
Family Action
Establish strict screen-free boundaries. Common wins include: during family meals, while in the car, or one hour before bedtime.
Analog Hobbies
Level 1
Family Action
Collaborate with your child on a physical list of things they love doing that don't require electricity. Post it somewhere highly visible.
Level 2
Family Action
Dedicate just 10 minutes a day to step outside and look at nature together.
Digital Fail-Safes
Level 1
Parent Prep
Audit your home's digital access points (including old, forgotten phones or smart TVs where children frequently stumble into graphic content).
Level 2
Parent Action
Secure active devices with parental control software and passwords. Move internet-facing devices (like desktop computers) into high-traffic public spaces like the living room.
Media Discernment & Connection
Level 1
Family Action
Watch a movie or video clip together.
Level 2
Family Action
Don't just turn the TV off; make it a habit to debrief and discuss the themes and morals of what you just watched.
Level 3
Family Action
Model real-life community. Stay a few minutes late after church or community events to show your child how to lean into and build deep, in-person relationships.
5
Family: From Rebellion to Lifelong Friendship
Family Bonding
Level 1
Family Action
Call a quick family meeting to openly discuss activities everyone genuinely enjoys doing together.
Level 2
Family Action
Put it on the calendar and actually go do one of those activities.
Calm & Dignified Communication
Scripture Focus: Proverbs 15:1 "A gentle answer turns away wrath..."
Level 1
Parent Prep
Evaluate your own speech first: When do you have the opportunity to replace harsh words with gentleness?
Addressing Disobedience & Dishonor
Level 1
Family Action
Read Ephesians 6:1-3 with your child. Define clear, predictable consequences for when they choose to argue or act dishonorably.
Level 2
Family Action
When a rule is broken, enforce the consequence calmly. Require an apology (coach them through what to say if they are stuck) and insist on a "redo" where they practice saying or doing it the right way.
Sibling Harmony
Level 1
Family Action
Read Ephesians 4:31-32. Sit down with one child and secretly plan a specific act of kindness they can surprise their sibling with.
Level 2
Family Action
Proactively train your children on how to properly apologize, seek forgiveness, and grant forgiveness to one another.
Parental Reconciliation
Level 1
Parent Prep
How comfortable are you swallowing your pride and apologizing to your child when you blow it?
Level 2
Family Action
Teach your child the immense value of making things right by coaching them through reconciliation and holding them accountable to it.
6
Faith: From Walking Away to Standing Firm
Multi-Generational Church Community
Level 1
Family Action
Plant your roots. Find a solid, Bible-believing local church and commit your family to being there consistently.
Level 2
Family Action
Identify the most accessible, godly Christians in your local church congregation. Brainstorm a simple way to develop a relationship with them (e.g., a Sunday lunch or park playdate).
Family Scripture Reading
Level 1
Family Action
Open the Gospel of Mark. Read exactly one story a day together, ask your child to retell it in their own words, and then share one interesting takeaway of your own.
Level 2
Family Action
Watch our ministry's free family training video on how to read the Bible together as a household.
Checking what is Shaping your child
Level 1
Parent Prep
Write out a literal list of who and what is currently molding your child's worldview (include favorite authors, YouTube channels, movies, shows and friends).
Level 2
Parent Prep
Create an intentional list of healthy, mature adults at church you want your children to know, and schedule a time to cross paths.
7
Character: Building Mental and Spiritual Toughness
Handling Disappointment Rightly
Level 1
Parent Prep
Identify your personal coping mechanisms when life doesn't go your way. What deep theological truths do you cling to when you are disappointed?
Level 2
Family Action
Intentionally pass one of those coping strategies and truths directly down to your child.
Building True Resilience
Scripture Focus: James 1:2-4 "Count it all joy..."
Level 1
Family Action
Spend a moment during evening prayers with your child reflecting specifically on the hard parts of the day. Thank God for them and pray that he would use them to make you steadfast.
Level 2
Family Action
Practice "in-the-moment" gratitude. When a trial hits, pray right then and thereā€”thanking God for the trial, asking for His strength, and requesting that He build steadfastness in your souls.