For February, our virtue is The Bold Adventurer with the tag line, “Go Courageously.” During the first week, we are asking the boys to memorize Joshua 1:9, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” What a promise from the God of the universe that he will be with us wherever we go. When we realize how much our heavenly father loves us, we are free to take risks and step out of our comfort zone, to overcome fears. “We go courageously because we’re loved securely.”

All Pro Dad lists seven ways that we as parents can teach our children to be courageous and become bold adventurers.

1. Show Them What Bravery Looks Like
   Allow them to witness you stepping out of your comfort zones.

2. Challenge and Praise
   We naturally want to protect our children at all times. However, we also must challenge them constantly to try new things and to do things they may fear.

3. Invoke Culture and Heritage
   Teaching children their history and where they came from gives them the base they require to display courage.

4. Point Out Real Life Models

5. Encourage Them to Reach Out
   Encourage them to befriend the child on the outside looking in.

6. Build Confidence and Conviction
   Build and nourish confidence within your children. Help them know their core identity is not in their performance, what others say about them, or the sum of their possessions. Their identity should be found in the fact that they were crafted with love by the hands of the Creator.

7. Role Play
   Get creative. Come up with different scenarios involving potential acts of bravery and courage.

Another great resource to help parents teach their children courage and bravery is

https://www.freerangekids.com/.

As always, thank you for allowing us to partner with you in helping your sons grow in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.

Mark

Mark Fruitt

Mark Fruitt serves as Elementary Principal and Director of the Building Boys, Making Men program at Presbyterian Day School (PDS), an independent school serving boys in grades PK-6 in Memphis.

Born and raised in Memphis, Fruitt earned his undergraduate and master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Memphis. Before coming to PDS in 2004, he served as a teacher, head varsity boys basketball coach, assistant varsity football coach and Dean of Students at First Assembly Christian School. Also during this time, he served as director of the family life center at First Assembly of God Church.

Over the years Mark’s professional development has included Project Zero at Harvard, Leading Today’s Changing Middle School, the National Association of Independent School Conference, and many others. He has also attended numerous coaching clinics, including: Alabama, Penn State, Nebraska, and Indiana to name a few.

Mark was awarded the Most Valuable Teacher Award while teaching at First Assembly and earned coach of the year honors in 2000. Mark enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf, and reading. Mark is married to Amy and they have one daughter. They are members of Hope Presbyterian.