Charles Chen is a counselor for our youth. Recently, he conducted a survey with our youth. He also shared the survey result with me. I believe it provides some good insights for parenting. I wish I could have known this thirty years ago. Please allow me to share part of the survey with you today.
What children like to hear from their parents:

• I enjoy my parents encouraging me.  I also enjoy them saying encouraging words.
• Trust us to be responsible.
• You are doing good, I love you.
• Good job, very nice! 
• Say “I love you” everyday, not just when I get an “A”
• You’re a good son / daughter.
• I am proud of you.
• “You’re a good daughter & sister; we have always loved you & been proud of you”
• I want my parents to spend more time with me.  I wish we could always eat dinner together.
• They encourage and support me.
• They listen to my problems and pray for me.
• They always use what they learn at church to give me guidance.
• I just want one word of encouragement.
• I like it when my parents encourage me.
• Good job!
• Be proud of me and mean it.
• “I am proud of you…”
• I am proud of you; I love you.

陳鏡立弟兄是我們教會的一位青年導師. 他最近在我們的年青人中間做了一個調查. 他也與我分享了調查的結果。我相信這個調查的結果可以為父母親們提供一些很好的洞見。我但願 在三十年前就知道這個調查的結果.  請讓我現在來與你分享其中的一部分。

孩子們所喜歡聽到父母親講的話：
•我喜歡我的父母親鼓勵我，我也喜歡他們說鼓勵的話。
•相任我們是負責任的。
•你做得很好，我愛你！
•做得好，很不錯！
•每天都說“我愛你”，不只是當我拿到一個“甲”才這樣說。
•你是一個好孩子。
•我以你為榮。
•“你是一個好女兒和姐妹，我們一直都愛你和以你為榮” 。
•我希望我的父母親花更多的時間和我在一起。我希望我們能常常在一起吃晚飯。
•他們鼓勵和支持我。
•他們傾聽我的問題，並為我祈禱。
•他們能夠用他們在教會中所學到的東西來指導我。
•只要有一句鼓勵的話我就滿足了。
•我喜歡我的父母鼓勵我。
•做得好！
•真的以我為榮。
•“我以你為榮 ...”
•我以你為榮，我愛你。