Parent Differently: Raise Kids with Biblical Character That Changes Culture

by Kathy Koch

Most parents misguidedly prioritize behavior. The why and how to instill character . Behavior modification does not guarantee good character qualities. Character influences decisions. It’s evidenced in our speech, actions, and attitudes. It’s about who we are and what we do. The world competes for the hearts of our kids—and we see its negative impact in their pride, laziness, and entitlement. As Christians, however, we want to see the character of Jesus Christ in our children. Dads and moms, grandparents, and teachers all want to see their children grow in humility, gratitude, and respect—for others and themselves. We want our kids to be brave, compassionate, and joyful. We don’t want our kids to flounder through life. We want them to flourish and live into their God-given designs and callings. Dr. Kathy Koch helps us to that end by answering essential
Not only does character help us accomplish our goals, there are many other benefits of mature we will be blessed, stand out for Jesus, attract good friends, grow in wisdom, and live in freedom. Koch provides an invaluable resource for shepherding our children in godly character.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Family, Faith, Christian Living

192 pages, Paperback

Published November 7, 2023

About the author

DR. KATHY KOCH is the Founder and President of Celebrate Kids, Inc., a Christian ministry based in Fort Worth, Texas. She is an internationally celebrated speaker who has influenced thousands of parents, teachers, and children in over 25 countries through keynote messages, workshops, seminars, assemblies, and other events. She also blogs regularly at www.DrKathyKoch.com.
Dr. Kathy's newest book, coauthored with Jill Savage, No More Perfect Kids: Love Your Kids For Who They Are, helps parents understand why they must get to know their children to parent them wisely. How Am I Smart? A Parent's Guide to Multiple Intelligences helps parents understand their children's learning strengths. Finding Authentic Hope and Wholeness: 5 Questions That Will Change Your Life provides a solution-focused, enriching approach to real problems. Her book, Screens and Teens: Connecting with Our Kids in a Wireless World, will be published in March, 2015.Dr. Kathy earned a Ph.D. in reading and educational psychology from Purdue University. She was a tenured associate professor of education at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, a teacher of second graders, a middle school coach, and a school board member prior to becoming a full-time conference and keynote speaker in 1991.

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 135 of 2024

This was another good book by Kathy Koch. I’ve enjoyed several of her books & this was no exception. This one’s on the shorter side and, to me, is best read in conjunction with a couple of her other books. If you haven’t read Resilient Kids or 8 Great Smarts, I’d encourage you to read those first as she references them often. Even if you don’t, you’ll gain a lot of good nuggets of wisdom in here.

Format: paperback

[Shawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 rating

[Desiree Kuhns · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed listening to Kathy Koch speak, but her writing style did not connect with me.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible encouragement and gentle exhortation to get to the heart of parenting that makes an eternal impact on not only our children but also this generation; Dr. Kathy speaks so much life into hearing and seeing kids within today’s culture and family life. Not only does this book give insight into parenting, but it is also incredibly insightful for personal reflection and growth. Worth more than one read through, the wisdom found herein is timeless and impactful for generations.

[Janelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really appreciate the authors insights. I wish there was a bit more specifics in implementing these parenting guidelines but it is worth the read.

[Jamielynnmom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have had the privilege of reading and benefitting from several of Dr. Kathy Koch's previous books, including Start with the Heart, 5 to Thrive, 8 Great Smarts, and No More Perfect Kids, and like these, Parent Differently is a very grounded and insightful book that applies Biblical truth to practical parenting. One of the key notions that stood out to me is the idea that behavior and character stem from beliefs. "For your children to develop Biblical character, you need to pay attention to and address what they believe" (Koch). What a child believes about himself fuels his behavior and ownership of positive character traits just like our beliefs as parents fuel our own responses. I appreciate that she challenges parents to first consider our own beliefs about ourselves, God and His Word, and situations affecting us that may be underlying our own attitudes, responses, tones, and choices first, and then to pray about what beliefs our children have that trigger their responses, along with what we can do to influence, inspire, and encourage Biblical and positive beliefs to help foster strong character and intrinsic motivation and growth.

I also really appreciated Dr. Kathy's focus in Chapter 2 of developing "mature character to affect culture." She contends that "character is something we use, not something we have. Therefore children will take your instructions about character seriously when they see reasons to develop it." Our children need to recognize reasons for who they want to and will become. They need to recognize that "(c)hanging culture is about more than just what you can do. It's about who you are."

Dr. Kathy provides practical questions, suggestions, and springboards for parents to engage with their children to build and foster Biblical, world-impacting character and effectively shares both examples from the life of Christ and Biblical truths from throughout the Bible to give us a firm foundation and model from which to glean insight. I recommend it to any parent seeking to build a strong foundation of character growth, positive identity, and Christ-centered autonomy into their children.

[Elyse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 108 of 2024

I am a big fan of @KathyKoch and her work at Celebrate Kids. I have heard her many times on her own podcast and as a guest on Heidi St. John’s podcast, which is where I initially found her. This is my third book of hers, with both 8 Great Smarts and Resilient Kids earning four shining stars. She writes from a Biblical perspective on parenting but gives you solid, tangible and practical ways to execute. That is what I appreciate most about her – the information is easily digestible and when you finish the book, you feel as though you can accomplish these baby steps in your own life and family.

This book in particular was highly convicting. We are living in a world right now where the word of God is being hidden in the shadows and the pervasive culture of doing whatever feels good is permeating everything. @KathyKoch does a great job of helping you understand your role as a parent when it comes to teaching our kids the Biblical characters that have the power to change their lives, your families and our world. I walked away with a variety of things I want into implement in our day to day lives and ways I want to change conversations and my own example so that I can instill true Godly character into my child.

I appreciate @KathyKoch so much and the wisdom she shares with parents. I will continue to inhale all of her content as it pushes me as a parent and stretches me in my responsibility of raising up kids in this generation.

Rating – four stars
Format – paperback

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kathy Koch lived up to her usual insightful and motivating self in this book. Lots of ideas about teaching and developing character, both individually and collectively as a family. Not a topic I had given a lot of thought to before and I appreciated getting the thought process started on how I might like to see this in myself, my kids, and our family.

Unlike the other Koch books I have read, the editing of this book was uneven. Transitions were missing, and each chapter was loaded with lots of "think about it" moments or questions to be answered. The book would probably have packed more punch with only a handful of questions along the way (or at the end of the chapter) that actually allowed one to process the info more fully than dozens of questions scattered throughout the chapter AND questions at the end. That said, I still appreciate the content and still do have lots to think about on it.

The connection between character and changing culture was also somewhat unclear. But I didn't care because I was more interested in character development for its own sake and for my kids' personal and spiritual lives than for its ability to transform society.

[Sarah Poling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Kathy is able to write a book that teaches, empowers, convicts, and encourages her readers! This book is a guideline for thinking and planning how to empower the thinking, behavior, and beliefs needed to become a person known for being of excellent character and support that in your children. This book tells the truth. Helps prepare you to think about your destiny, and is faith based and biblically informed.

Don’t read this if you want to continue living the way your nature and instinct encourages it will make you feel guilty. But if you want to learn, reflect, and be intentional in your choices so that your character is marked and noted by others to be replicated, and you want to help your children be marked with character.
This book is for you!

Thankful to be provided a copy of the book to review. I will be buying copies to give out! It’s excellent!

[Emily Wurmnest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Kathy Koch has done it again! In the time in our world where kids are constantly bombarded by worldly culture, cultivating biblical character can be challenging. In Parenting Differently, Dr. Kathy unpacks the importance of cultivating biblical character, while giving parents the tools to lay the foundation for solid character based on biblical Truth. What an encouraging book for all parents who want to become equipped to raise our children to be world changers for Jesus. It all starts at home! Thank you Dr. Kathy for giving us yet again another set of tools in our parenting tool belt!

[Julia Jaeger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Kathy's books are filled with so much wisdom on the inner workings of the human mind and how God created us! I have read many of her books and apply her teachings in my own parenting journey with my teens and young adults. I have been following her for almost a decade, and wish I would have found her sooner. God has equipped us to be the parents to our children and this book is a great tool to help!
Quote from the book "Children's character will shape them when they are taught how to be who they can be....they will want to be who they are made to be."

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love anything Dr. Kathy Koch has to say. She has such great insight into children and strategies that work in helping them grow. Not only did she give strategies to use to help children learn and develop Biblical character, but she also gave lots of scriptural context. Also, I liked that she had an appendix at the end that covered the character traits that can be related. When in the moment dealing with kids' behavior and character, it's not always easy to think of what traits your kids could replace their current behavior/trait with. It'd a great quick reference to go back to when needed.

[Ashlee Mattingly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Kathy helps us arm our children (and ourselves) to battle the ways of the world in a faith based and very spiritual way. She helps us to understand the key characteristics and how to add them into our daily lives with fresh thinking. I can not say enough about how this book will look at how we "teach" character.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think if you have never read anything on character development and how to teach these important lessons to children then this is a great place to start. The information is precise and not overwhelming. Lots of great gems.

If you are looking for more detail and more depth then this is not the book for you.

I always appreciate the authors insight and look forward to reading her other books.

[Becky Fleming · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book! If you have any children in your life, yours or otherwise, you need to read this book! Dr. Kathy Koch can be trusted to give you solid Biblical counsel that is sound and practical! This is one that will be gifting as often as I can!

(I did receive a copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review and all opinions are mine alone. )

[Seth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend

I’d recommend this book to anyone who has influence over young children. Dr. Kathy gives great secular insight with a biblical lens on how parents can raise their children in a way that can change the culture… spoiler alert: it starts with the parents modeling that behavior and expectation.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of ideas of what character traits to teach and why it’s vital to kids’ well being. As always, Dr. Kathy is extremely encouraging and points to our need to rely on Christ and His strength as we parent our children.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am having a difficult time writing this review. The book contains great information and thought provoking questions on raising children with biblical character.
I believe it to be the writing style, but I personally had to push through to finish it.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book with practical advice. I can't wait to read more by Kathy Koch.

[Kelsey Vieth · Rating 3 out of 5]

The content was great, but I found the writing style difficult to follow. I felt that some ideas and explanations were not fully developed, and there were too many references to her other works.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was raised with the idea that character is “caught, not taught”. Even though modeling is VERY important, Dr. Koch gives us practical ways to teach children the habits of good character, so they can make better choices for a better life! “Parent Differently” is not just about parenting, but helped me to realize I have choices to make about who I will be in this new stage of life called “retirement”. Our character truly determines our destiny, and we can rewrite that script until the day we die. I’m thankful for this timely, significant book for parents, and to help me personally choose better responses.

[Lauren Terwilliger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a great reminder for me (and an excellent first place to start for new parents) on how to parent differently - focusing on building godly, Biblical character in your kids as opposed to behavior modification by worldly standards. I highly recommend this to parents with kids ages 2-3 years and up as a first step tool in your parenting toolkit as you build your children up in the knowledge and fear of the Lord.