Curriculum and resources for Parents and Parents-to-be

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    There are no such things as perfect parents, however, we all want to be the best, most effective, godly parents we possibly can.  Fortunately, there are many excellent resources available to help parents better understand how to raise the children God gave them to grow up to be people who love and serve God.  Consider making the following resources part of an intentional parenting class scope and sequence in your church and offer them every couple years.

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Raising Great Kids for Parents of Preschoolers Video Curriculum Authors - Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend Publisher - Zondervan

• Favorite Features -
• resource includes -
• leader's guide
• video
• participant's guide
• book
• six complete sessions -
• raising children of character
• ingredients for growth, grace, truth and time
• developing connectedness and responsibility
• developing reality and competence
• developing morality and spirituality
• when in doubt, connect
• each session includes -
• welcome
• prayer
• overview
• video segment
• discussion
• video segment
• application discussion
• sessions are designed to walk parents through participant's guide
• heavy emphasis on getting parents to evaluate what they are currently doing and to determine specific steps to apply what they are learning

    This is a truly tremendous resource for expecting and new parents as well as for those who have been parenting for years.  I really like the emphasis on how to help children learn to develop true character.  This is an extremely practical curriculum, that is easy to understand and easy to implement.  I can not encourage you strongly enough to make this resource a part of your church's scope and sequence for adults - show it to as many parents and parents to be as possible!  Tremendously well done Henry, John and Zondervan!

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Boundaries With Kids Video Curriculum Authors - Drs. Henry Cloud & John Townsend Publisher - Zondervan

• Favorite Features -
• 8 complete sessions
• available in video and dvd format
• complete resource includes -
• video/dvd sessions with Drs. Cloud and Townsend
• leader's guide
• participant's guide
• book
• sessions cover -
• Building Character in kids
• Kids need parents with boundaries
• laws of sowing/reaping and the law of responsibility
• laws of power and respect
• laws of motivation and evaluation
• laws of proactivity and envy
• laws of activity and exposure
• six steps to implementing boundaries with your kids
• participant's guide includes -
• overview
• video segment outline
• kid kare/talk - small group discussion questions
• prayer
• kid kare at home - questions/ideas to apply what you are learning
• suggested responses for kid kare/talk
• leader's guide includes -
• tips/directions for leaders
• key points
• synopsis
• session outline
• introduction/welcome
• questions for video segment/kid talk/kid kare
• wrap up
• space for planning notes
• complete text from participant's guide

    This is an excellent resource for parents to help them understand what boundaries are and how to use them effectively in raising their children.  Extremely well done Henry, John and Zondervan!

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Effective Parenting in a Defective World Author - Chip Ingram Publisher - Walk Thru the Bible

• Favorite Features -
• 9 sessions on DVD
• each session is extremely well done, with quality and presented in a way to keep parents engaged
• excellent learning opportunity for expectant and new parents as well as parents of children of any age
• filled with a wealth of information parents need to be able to raise their children to know how to live holy, godly lives
• clearly confronts the issue of a parent's responsibility and goal not to be that of making their children happy, but rather to raise their children to know how to suffer well, work hard and live a holy life
• leader's guide includes -
• info on how to lead their group effectively
• tips for working with a video curriculum successfully
• how to structure the class time
• purpose for each session
• goal for each session
• questions and answers from participant's guide
• discussion questions and suggested answers
• prayer suggestions
• course workbook includes -
• space to journal answers
• Scripture
• small group discussion questions
• assignment to implement what they are learning at home with their children - excellent!

    This is a class every expectant, new and "experienced" parent needs to take.  I really like the focus on teaching children to suffer well and especially on challenging parents to have the correct goal in raising their children - holy rather than happy children - as well as taking a good look at the things they allow to consume their and their children's time.  Tremendously well done Chip and Walk Thru the Bible!

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Blessing Your Children DVD Author Jack Hayford Produced by - Regal

• Favorite Features -
• three sessions led by Jack Hayford
• challenge to parents, teachers, grandparents and all who are involved with or who come in contact with, children
• looks at -
• how to embrace children and pass on a heritage of faith
• how to receive children as Jesus dies
• challenge to nurture, protect and bless children
• looks at the words to use to bless - encourages the use of Scripture
• looks at the need to use appropriate touch to show grace to children

    Easy to listen to and filled with a wealth of necessary direction on how to bless children.  Every parent should see this dvd.  Tremendously well done Jack and Regal!