Book Review: Motivate Your Child by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN

 

Having a motivated child is probably every parent's wish. How to achieve that goal is a whole different matter. Recently I had the opportunity to review Motivate Your Child: A Christian Parent's Guide to Raising Kids Who Do What They Need to Do Without Being Told by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN, founders of the National Center for Biblical Parenting.

Motivate Your Child is a practical book that is filled with ideas and examples to help parents equip their children to have internal motivation for life. The book is divided into two parts.  The first part deals with moral development in children. It covers such topics as:

• Internal vs. External Motivation
• What is the Conscience?
• Helping kids choose to do what's right
• Learning to value integrity
• Compassion
• Consequences
• And more

The second part deals with the spiritual development in children. It covers such topics as:

• Family Time
• Relationships are foundational
• Practicing your faith
• Using scripture creatively and connecting them to the Bible
• Children and the Holy Spirit
• And more

One of the main premises of this book is teaching your child to be aware of their conscience and how it helps them learn to do what is right, deal with wrongs, be honest, and care about others. Of course, the conscience is so much more powerful with the power of the Holy Spirit, and the authors don't disappoint in showing how to implement the Bible and teaching your child how to have a relationship with God.

Throughout the book there are many practical suggestions and examples for parents to use with kids. But don't worry, there is also thought provoking questions and advice for the parents themselves.
I found myself shaking my head in agreement many times and jotting down a note here and there to implement with my kids. Such as:

When we rationalize a child's bad attitude, we miss opportunity to teach honor. p. 93

One of my favorite suggestions was the use of a Weekly Family time where you take the time to develop godly character in your kids. I know for a fact that this is hard to do. I found it reassuring that they encourage over and over to keep working for this goal no matter how times you drop the ball.

I think one reason this book resonated so much with me is that I was blessed to raised this way and I was strengthened in my resolve to pass this on to my kids. Some days I have my doubts if I am really getting through and I found this statement encouraging:

You're only influencing your children for God's purposes. It's God who ultimately changes your children's hearts. (p.195)

Motivating Your Child can be a "motivating" book for any parent and I highly encourage you to check it out. If you order your book TODAY (January 31) you can email your receipt to gift@biblicalparenting.org and you can receive The Bonus Parenting Strategy Pack which includes: • Toolbox of Consequences Video and Study Guide • Kids and Conscience Video and Study Guide • Children’s Activity Lessons for Conscience Development • Child Teaching Points • Make Devotions Fun MP3 • How to Develop Gracious Speech MP3nce Development • Children’s Activity Lessons on Correction • Strong Willed ($150 value).

Motivating Your Child is available through the National Center for Biblical Parenting, Amazon, Christianbook.com and many more retailers.

NCBP Blog: www.biblicalparenting.info
NCBP FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/National-Center-for-Biblical-Parenting/116883041645

 

Book Review: Parenting Unchained by Dr. James D. Dempsey

I enjoy being a parent, but as any parent can attest it is not an easy job and much of the information that is written for parents is based on false ideas. I recently had the opportunity to review Parenting Unchained: Overcoming the Ten Deceptions That Shackle Christian Parents by Dr. James D. Dempsey from D6Culture.

In the beginning of Parenting Unchained Dr. Dempsey points out that Satan desires to trap parents in lies that make us focus on the wrong things in parenting. As he presents the Ten Deceptions he also shares Ten Truths that can make parenting enjoyable. 

The Ten Deceptions include:

1. It's All About Your Kids; Your Character Doesn't Matter
2. You're Capable; You Can Do This
3. God Only Cares About Rules
4. You can Be A Parent Without Investing Much Time
5. Teaching the Right Information is Enough
6. Why and How You Discipline Don't Matter--Just Make Them Obey
7. You Don't Need to Talk About Your Faith
8. Children Should Choose Their Life Course (You Don't Need to Help Them)
9. It's All About Consistency (You Don't Need to Adapt)
10. Life Should Be Easy

Throughout this book Dr. Dempsey shares truth that counteract these lies. Using the Bible as a model he works through each lie and show through scripture how God modeled parenting skills through different stories and people of the Bible. He also show how help your child find their purpose in life and shares some final steps to help you launch your children into their futures and help lay a foundation of truth for the next generation. At the end of each Deception is a Home Activity that shows you how to implement the Truths to help you become a better parent.

I found Parenting Unchained affirming book to the parenting that we have implemented into our home that I think we have found by trial and error. I really enjoyed how he showed the correlation between how God modeled parenting with the nation of Israel and with his disciples.

Another point I really found valuable was his emphasis on guiding children as they get older. Though I wouldn't implement everything suggested there were many valuable tips especially when it came to modeling your faith and making sure that you are modeling what you teach and passing it on.

Dr. Dempsey shares with an open heart as he encourages parents to break free from the lies that Satan would have parents believe. Parenting Unchained would be an asset to any parent's library and especially helpful for the parent who is at a loss and looking for Biblical answers.

Parenting Unchained: Overcoming the Ten Deceptions That Shackle Christian Parents is available in paperback for 14.95.

Right now you can get the Kindle Edition for .99 through Friday, December 12.