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Creative, Confident Children
Creative, Confident Children
- GenresParenting
Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
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September 11, 2018
This is one of the best Christian parenting books I've read, not sure why it's not more popular. If you are a Christian parent serious about raising kids who have the "confidence and character to support a lifetime of creative service", I highly recommend this book for the wealth of truths and principles that are an extremely useful reference for parents. Dr. Hancock is a well-read scholar and a veteran mom, the discussions are from a Christian worldview but are not dogmatic or shallow like many books, and always grounded in realism; she converses with scientific findings of the day but also critically thinks through them.
Dr. Hancock emphasizes on 3 main traits to develop in children, and discusses the whys and hows to do them:
1. Confidence - raising kids who can "look life in the eye rather than running from it"; factors include fostering self-acceptance, helping them cope with fear, building a sense of competence, and laying a strong faith foundation to trust the Lord with their lives - that is the ultimate confidence to be had.
2. Character - raising kids who are not just confident, but having the character to do things well. This is done through discipline and self-discipline which are discussed at length. How to introduce the centrality of Scripture into family life in shaping character, how to handle TV and technology, and how to introduce topics of sexuality are all related to building a strong character for the future, all these are discussed as well. "Your family has so much fun. You're always doing something. All we ever do is sit around and watch TV" - this is one of my favourite quotes!
3. Creativity - just as our Creator creates something from nothing, how to help kids fulfill their creative potential? This chapter offers tons of tips, from playing, creative use of words, drawings, crafts, as well as developing their minds through good books and thinking for themselves.
My only suggestion for improvement is that the chapter on TV seems quite dated, nonetheless I find the principles she laid out still very much apply to any new technologies today.
Dr. Hancock emphasizes on 3 main traits to develop in children, and discusses the whys and hows to do them:
1. Confidence - raising kids who can "look life in the eye rather than running from it"; factors include fostering self-acceptance, helping them cope with fear, building a sense of competence, and laying a strong faith foundation to trust the Lord with their lives - that is the ultimate confidence to be had.
2. Character - raising kids who are not just confident, but having the character to do things well. This is done through discipline and self-discipline which are discussed at length. How to introduce the centrality of Scripture into family life in shaping character, how to handle TV and technology, and how to introduce topics of sexuality are all related to building a strong character for the future, all these are discussed as well. "Your family has so much fun. You're always doing something. All we ever do is sit around and watch TV" - this is one of my favourite quotes!
3. Creativity - just as our Creator creates something from nothing, how to help kids fulfill their creative potential? This chapter offers tons of tips, from playing, creative use of words, drawings, crafts, as well as developing their minds through good books and thinking for themselves.
My only suggestion for improvement is that the chapter on TV seems quite dated, nonetheless I find the principles she laid out still very much apply to any new technologies today.
Displaying 1 of 1 review