What do you think?
Rate this book
Let Them Be Kids: Adventure, Boredom, Innocence, and Other Gifts Children Need
As every parent hopes to raise kids with good manners and values, Jessica Smartt’s practical guide fills the gaps of uncertainty and provides tips on how parents can equip their children in purity, faith, and creativity.
Former English teacher and homeschooling mother of three, Jessica Smartt felt the weight of helping prepare her kids for life, especially with all the outside pressures and influence of the world. She struggled with how she could raise her children with a sense of adventure, self-confidence, manners, faith, and the ability to utilize technology wisely.
Let Them Be Kids is Jessica’s offering of grace and confidence to moms, giving them practical ideas to meet these challenges. Her well-researched, tested methods, woven together with her personal stories and witty humor, deliver wisdom on the tough topics of life, such as
family time vs. outside activities,
being “cool” or not,
boredom,
technology usage
sexual purity, and
showing grace when kids disobey.
Part story and part guidebook, every chapter includes doable strategies and encouragement for the journey.
Let Them Be Kids helps moms feel confident and equipped with ways to provide a safe, healthy, Christ-centered childhood for their children. It leads them to conquer fear and find truth that transforms them and their families as it reminds them how to enjoy and cherish the special memory-making moments of building family values together.
Former English teacher and homeschooling mother of three, Jessica Smartt felt the weight of helping prepare her kids for life, especially with all the outside pressures and influence of the world. She struggled with how she could raise her children with a sense of adventure, self-confidence, manners, faith, and the ability to utilize technology wisely.
Let Them Be Kids is Jessica’s offering of grace and confidence to moms, giving them practical ideas to meet these challenges. Her well-researched, tested methods, woven together with her personal stories and witty humor, deliver wisdom on the tough topics of life, such as
family time vs. outside activities,
being “cool” or not,
boredom,
technology usage
sexual purity, and
showing grace when kids disobey.
Part story and part guidebook, every chapter includes doable strategies and encouragement for the journey.
Let Them Be Kids helps moms feel confident and equipped with ways to provide a safe, healthy, Christ-centered childhood for their children. It leads them to conquer fear and find truth that transforms them and their families as it reminds them how to enjoy and cherish the special memory-making moments of building family values together.
256 pages, Paperback
First published June 9, 2020
438 people are currently reading
11140 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Smartt
8 books76 followersJessica Smartt is a former English teacher turned homeschooling mama of three. A week after her first baby was born, she began her motherhood blog “Smartter” Each Day. Jessica and her husband live in beautiful North Carolina, where she loves hiking with kids (mostly), steaming coffee in the afternoon, family bike rides, and anything that’s ever been done to a potato.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 382 reviews
June 12, 2020
This is a pretty standard Christian parenting book. I was hoping for more focus on things in the title like adventure but it's the same thing we've all heard or said a million times as parents -- kids today use technology too much, don't have enough time being bored, need to be taught manners and a work ethic, grow up too fast, etc. It starts out with more focus on the fun stuff they need (adventure, newness, risks...) but quickly devolves to the standard "kids today..." kind of stuff they need (grit, boredom, faith, discipline, hearing no...).
The author has three young kids and speaks as an expert (I have 5 kids, two of whom are now adults, and even I know better than to ever think you can be an expert at parenting). I agree with her on some things but I am not nearly as strict (she forbids sleepovers at any age for any of her kids, for instance) and I do not agree with her in terms of politics, religion, gender roles, etc. She mostly avoids sharing her politics but they slip in.
This is the kind of book that parents who already feel this way will like reading. I'm not sure you'll really get anything helpful out of it, since it's mostly preaching what everybody already says already and is short on actual lists of ideas and concrete advice, other than lots of concrete, rather fatalistic advice on how to porn-proof your home. You can get a glimpse of the author's style with her article on how coronavirus was a blessing in disguise for children (it "saved childhood"?) here: https://community.today.com/parenting...
All in all, this is a book that folks who already agree with the author and parent like her are going to love. I found much that I agree with as a parent even if we do come from different perspectives and I think we're not actually that different as parents in a lot of ways, but there really wasn't anything new or helpful for me personally. There are short lists of recommended books, games and movies at the end, but they're standards like It's a Wonderful Life, Monopoly, Disney movies from the 50's and The Aristocats. There is also a list of questions to ask kids to start conversations (What is the purpose of sex and who should be allowed to have sex, how are boys and girls different, can money make you happy, what makes good hygiene...).
I read a digital ARC of this book for review.
The author has three young kids and speaks as an expert (I have 5 kids, two of whom are now adults, and even I know better than to ever think you can be an expert at parenting). I agree with her on some things but I am not nearly as strict (she forbids sleepovers at any age for any of her kids, for instance) and I do not agree with her in terms of politics, religion, gender roles, etc. She mostly avoids sharing her politics but they slip in.
This is the kind of book that parents who already feel this way will like reading. I'm not sure you'll really get anything helpful out of it, since it's mostly preaching what everybody already says already and is short on actual lists of ideas and concrete advice, other than lots of concrete, rather fatalistic advice on how to porn-proof your home. You can get a glimpse of the author's style with her article on how coronavirus was a blessing in disguise for children (it "saved childhood"?) here: https://community.today.com/parenting...
All in all, this is a book that folks who already agree with the author and parent like her are going to love. I found much that I agree with as a parent even if we do come from different perspectives and I think we're not actually that different as parents in a lot of ways, but there really wasn't anything new or helpful for me personally. There are short lists of recommended books, games and movies at the end, but they're standards like It's a Wonderful Life, Monopoly, Disney movies from the 50's and The Aristocats. There is also a list of questions to ask kids to start conversations (What is the purpose of sex and who should be allowed to have sex, how are boys and girls different, can money make you happy, what makes good hygiene...).
I read a digital ARC of this book for review.
May 19, 2021
I have never heard of Jessica Smartt (a Christian mommy-blogger) & was completely unaware that this book was, as a result, a book about parenting with Christian undertones. Had I known that prior to reading, I’m not 100% sure I would have even picked it up let alone DEVOURED it within hours.
The books premise is very simple - let our kids *be* kids. Let them explore, foster independence, use their imagination and discover themselves along the way. All things that in theory sound very simple, yet as a mom of 3 I find it to be more challenging than I’d like to admit.
Reading this book with Smartt’s narration was a breath of fresh air. I found myself agreeing with approximately 99.9% of everything she said, and her little comments on the sidelines was scarily accurate to what I was thinking as well. A lot of the book made you as a reader & parent reflect on your childhood. For me, this consisted of playing and making up SO MANY games with my siblings, long camping trips with aunts/uncles and cousins, sleepovers at grandparents houses, catching frogs with neighbors, road trips, movie and popcorn nights and so much more. I see what you did there, Mrs Smartt!!!!! My childhood was everything I want and more for my own kids & will only help in my determination to give them it.
My experience with Christian books and especially Christian-themed books on parenting does not have the best track record. These type of books have not become a go-to genre for me, mostly because the ones I have read were judgemental and the entire focus was on the God aspect vs the parenting aspect. I cannot reiterate this enough: this👏book👏was👏not👏like👏that👏. She has one chapter dedicated to the religious aspect of the book, but states right up front of you’re not comfortable with that to skip it. Her examples throughout make me feel so much more at ease with how I parent, and her reassurance that it’s not too late for certain things I’m unhappy with to change made me feel so motivated.
While I loved nearly every part of this book, I will say my absolute favorite part is her encouragement and acceptance to seek therapy if you need it. She acknowledges that hey, maybe not everything in life can be solved through the power of prayer (again, circling back to previous Christian books I’ve read) and you need outside help. THERE IS NO SHAME IN DOING WHAT YOU NEED TO DO FOR YOUR WELL-BEING. She talks about how her ENTIRE FAMILY goes to therapy (& her especially). You guys... seriously. I love that part so much.
If you are a parent, please read this book. It will make you want to throw away the iPads and TVs, buy camper and live off the grid with your kids all summer just playing in creeks and dirt and exploring nature. I cannot recommend this book enough & I guaran-freaking-tee I will be referring to this book for years to come
The books premise is very simple - let our kids *be* kids. Let them explore, foster independence, use their imagination and discover themselves along the way. All things that in theory sound very simple, yet as a mom of 3 I find it to be more challenging than I’d like to admit.
Reading this book with Smartt’s narration was a breath of fresh air. I found myself agreeing with approximately 99.9% of everything she said, and her little comments on the sidelines was scarily accurate to what I was thinking as well. A lot of the book made you as a reader & parent reflect on your childhood. For me, this consisted of playing and making up SO MANY games with my siblings, long camping trips with aunts/uncles and cousins, sleepovers at grandparents houses, catching frogs with neighbors, road trips, movie and popcorn nights and so much more. I see what you did there, Mrs Smartt!!!!! My childhood was everything I want and more for my own kids & will only help in my determination to give them it.
My experience with Christian books and especially Christian-themed books on parenting does not have the best track record. These type of books have not become a go-to genre for me, mostly because the ones I have read were judgemental and the entire focus was on the God aspect vs the parenting aspect. I cannot reiterate this enough: this👏book👏was👏not👏like👏that👏. She has one chapter dedicated to the religious aspect of the book, but states right up front of you’re not comfortable with that to skip it. Her examples throughout make me feel so much more at ease with how I parent, and her reassurance that it’s not too late for certain things I’m unhappy with to change made me feel so motivated.
While I loved nearly every part of this book, I will say my absolute favorite part is her encouragement and acceptance to seek therapy if you need it. She acknowledges that hey, maybe not everything in life can be solved through the power of prayer (again, circling back to previous Christian books I’ve read) and you need outside help. THERE IS NO SHAME IN DOING WHAT YOU NEED TO DO FOR YOUR WELL-BEING. She talks about how her ENTIRE FAMILY goes to therapy (& her especially). You guys... seriously. I love that part so much.
If you are a parent, please read this book. It will make you want to throw away the iPads and TVs, buy camper and live off the grid with your kids all summer just playing in creeks and dirt and exploring nature. I cannot recommend this book enough & I guaran-freaking-tee I will be referring to this book for years to come
June 21, 2022
I believe strongly in the author's thesis that adventure and boredom help develop children's creativity and make them overall happier and more well-balanced. I read this book on the recommendation of a friend as well as the word "Boredom", for which I've advocated for years as a vital part of my own parenting. That said, the author's suggestions were aimed squarely at upper-middle-class white, dual parent households, with a not-so-hidden beliefs that kids from other backgrounds need to be shown how to improve themselves.
In the passage which most frustrated me, Smartt describes working with underpriviledged youth as a summer campt counselor. She and the other counselors put together a hoedown for the kids to enjoy. Smartt writes:
Kids. Loved. It. There was not a person in the room who wasn't smiling. This was real fun, through and through. More fun than the fun they had been having, for sure.
So few kids enjoy real fun today. Sure, they know how to make fun of someone. They know how to scoff or mock. They know how to be sarcastic. Oh boy, do they know that! But to simply laugh... is one of the best gifts of life and is enjoyed so infrequently. It's good to begin introducing this kind of fun to our children now, so they don't have to wait until their teenage years to realize real joy is better than the illicit things they might get involved in.
Because, clearly, children from "other" backgrounds do not understand pure joy? Because families growing up facing adversity never laugh, unless it is to mock someone?
There is more. Like foregoing avocado toast will help millenials buy a house, Smartt explains that simply by scrimping and saving her family was able to purchase an RV to help give her children adventure. The author clearly has little understanding of the adversity many parents face raising children.
The book was not all bad. I took notes on her advice for teaching children to talk with adults from outside their family - mine are often shy and reluctant conversationalists and I thought her guidance here was really strong. However, I desperately wanted the author to give advice that was applicable to a range of parents raising children - children in cities rather than suburbs, children in single-parent households where they do not always have their mother or father present, children from disadvantaged backgrounds. There are ways, I feel, to introduce adventure and boredom to all children, but readers won't find those ways in this book.
In the passage which most frustrated me, Smartt describes working with underpriviledged youth as a summer campt counselor. She and the other counselors put together a hoedown for the kids to enjoy. Smartt writes:
Kids. Loved. It. There was not a person in the room who wasn't smiling. This was real fun, through and through. More fun than the fun they had been having, for sure.
So few kids enjoy real fun today. Sure, they know how to make fun of someone. They know how to scoff or mock. They know how to be sarcastic. Oh boy, do they know that! But to simply laugh... is one of the best gifts of life and is enjoyed so infrequently. It's good to begin introducing this kind of fun to our children now, so they don't have to wait until their teenage years to realize real joy is better than the illicit things they might get involved in.
Because, clearly, children from "other" backgrounds do not understand pure joy? Because families growing up facing adversity never laugh, unless it is to mock someone?
There is more. Like foregoing avocado toast will help millenials buy a house, Smartt explains that simply by scrimping and saving her family was able to purchase an RV to help give her children adventure. The author clearly has little understanding of the adversity many parents face raising children.
The book was not all bad. I took notes on her advice for teaching children to talk with adults from outside their family - mine are often shy and reluctant conversationalists and I thought her guidance here was really strong. However, I desperately wanted the author to give advice that was applicable to a range of parents raising children - children in cities rather than suburbs, children in single-parent households where they do not always have their mother or father present, children from disadvantaged backgrounds. There are ways, I feel, to introduce adventure and boredom to all children, but readers won't find those ways in this book.
January 30, 2021
I don’t like writing bad reviews, but I can’t get my feelings about this book out of my head. I got enough out of the author’s first book, Memory-Making Mom, to be interested to read this one. This one, I almost stopped reading multiple times but then figured I was partway through and wanted to be able to count it toward my yearly book count. That’s the only reason I finished.
The author is so incredibly judgmental of other parents, even when she readily admits that she is not “a psychologist or expert on the subject.” It sure takes a person who is absolutely certain they’re the greatest parent ever to write an non-expert yet authoritative parenting book when their oldest child is 10. Hard and fast rules on screens, sleepovers, abstinence-based sex ed, and a variety of other topics are definitely not the only acceptable ways to parent.
The point I really almost stopped reading was when she said she wasn’t sure whether to tell her kids Donald Trump was a good guy or a bad guy. This book was published in 2020. If you’re still not sure in 2020 whether Donald Trump is a bad guy or not, then I don’t take anything else you have to say seriously. And then there was the comment about gender norms being “scrambled eggs these days” ugh gross.
If you are a very very conservative Christian who wants to overlook modern child psychology and teach your children to be intolerant of those who are different from them, sure, read this book. Otherwise, avoid.
The author is so incredibly judgmental of other parents, even when she readily admits that she is not “a psychologist or expert on the subject.” It sure takes a person who is absolutely certain they’re the greatest parent ever to write an non-expert yet authoritative parenting book when their oldest child is 10. Hard and fast rules on screens, sleepovers, abstinence-based sex ed, and a variety of other topics are definitely not the only acceptable ways to parent.
The point I really almost stopped reading was when she said she wasn’t sure whether to tell her kids Donald Trump was a good guy or a bad guy. This book was published in 2020. If you’re still not sure in 2020 whether Donald Trump is a bad guy or not, then I don’t take anything else you have to say seriously. And then there was the comment about gender norms being “scrambled eggs these days” ugh gross.
If you are a very very conservative Christian who wants to overlook modern child psychology and teach your children to be intolerant of those who are different from them, sure, read this book. Otherwise, avoid.
June 12, 2020
Not a lot new here. Written by a young homeschooling "mommy blogger" about what parents should be doing nowadays and how much better it was when her generation was growing up. Faith based.
Thanks Net Galley for an advanced copy for an honest review.
Thanks Net Galley for an advanced copy for an honest review.
March 18, 2024
Must read. Confidence building for parents. Amazing insight on so many topics.
June 20, 2020
As a parent of young children, I really appreciated this book! I feel like we constantly battle how much screen time to allow the kids to have, verses un-structed play. Especially with having been quarantined. This book is enjoyable to read and easy to get through (a plus when one has young children!). I loved reading about the experienced that Jessica and her family do together. It made me think back to the memories I have as a child, and how the work (as a parent) to plan things like a camping trip are so worth it because of the memories made. This book will renew your desire to let your kids just be kids! I highly recommend it.
I received this book from Just Read. This is my honest review
I received this book from Just Read. This is my honest review
July 22, 2020
I loved this book! It was half reminder, half excellent new ideas to incorporate- but wholly encouraging for the type of mother I want to be and am in the process of becoming. What I really love about this author is that her books are humbly encouraging without coming off as judgemental, which is a hard balance to navigate in a mothering book. Excellent audiobook for all moms.
July 26, 2023
There were a few things I didn’t totally agree with, but overall it was such a good read. Definitely recommend to all parents!
December 7, 2020
What kind of parent are you?
I’m the kind that realizes I’m an imperfect person leading imperfect little people everyday. I’m the kind who feels like I try so hard and fail so hard and every time I feel like I have something to pat myself on the back about, I am quickly humbled 😆
That said, I’m no stranger to parenting books. But I do struggle to read them because they can feel like, well, a lot, sometimes. But this one (gifted by @tlcbooktours and @thomasnelson) is just right. So good. So simple and straightforward. Affirming. Encouraging. “Part story and part guidebook, every chapter includes doable strategies and encouragement for moms as they prepare their kids for life.”
I read this in small parts even though I never found it overwhelming. I feel like it’s full of practical ideas. With chapters like Why Childhood Matters, The Gift of Adventure, The Gift of Boredom, The Gift of Balance, The Gift of Manners and Kindness, I think every parent will appreciate this read. What a way to look at these things! They truly are gifts to our kids and I’m all about the idea of “let them be kids!”
I’m the kind that realizes I’m an imperfect person leading imperfect little people everyday. I’m the kind who feels like I try so hard and fail so hard and every time I feel like I have something to pat myself on the back about, I am quickly humbled 😆
That said, I’m no stranger to parenting books. But I do struggle to read them because they can feel like, well, a lot, sometimes. But this one (gifted by @tlcbooktours and @thomasnelson) is just right. So good. So simple and straightforward. Affirming. Encouraging. “Part story and part guidebook, every chapter includes doable strategies and encouragement for moms as they prepare their kids for life.”
I read this in small parts even though I never found it overwhelming. I feel like it’s full of practical ideas. With chapters like Why Childhood Matters, The Gift of Adventure, The Gift of Boredom, The Gift of Balance, The Gift of Manners and Kindness, I think every parent will appreciate this read. What a way to look at these things! They truly are gifts to our kids and I’m all about the idea of “let them be kids!”
January 20, 2022
I love this book. I am so glad I read it. This book is responsible for some of the recent intentional Nerf wars around my home, fort building, screen ditching, treasure map creating etc. It reminded me so much of what it means to be a child and how important play is, time in nature and parents who are present. There were some tough topics too but so good to read. I love that at the back of the book there are lists of ideas, like questions to ask your kids or books to read with them. Also, I loved her humor throughout the book. My mom heart needed to hear from someone who offers laughter and grace. Refreshing, reassuring, encouraging and Faith based!
May 31, 2024
“There has perhaps never been a greater need for the sense of identity that the family offers.”
I cannot wait to read this again
Chapter 3 brought me to tears.
I cannot wait to read this again
Chapter 3 brought me to tears.
February 14, 2021
Not anything too earth shattering here or brand new epiphanies, but solid reminders (that I frankly needed) throughout the book.
September 28, 2025
Excellent! Practical, inspiring, helpful!
July 12, 2021
I checked this book out from my library based solely on the cover and the idea of adding more adventure in my kids lives. It was a quick read and was organized well but this was a faith based opinion piece by a mom of 3 kids 10 and under. (I happen to also be a mom of 3 kids 10 and under). Besides being a middle school teacher at a private Christian school before having kids, she has no other credentials. There is nothing new here and I while I agreed with a lot like being adventurous, a combination of routine and spontaneity, being there for your kids even (and especially) as they get older, limiting screen time, making sure there is downtime and space for boredom; there was a lot I didn’t agree with like reward charts for EVERYTHING, abstinence only sex education, blind obedience to adults, and her underlying righteous opinion that her way (as a white affluent Christian) is the best/only way to be a good parent. I wouldn’t recommend.
January 19, 2021
I devoured this book because I think I was the intended target audience. LOVES: the chapters on risk/challenge, manners, & adventure. I loved her point that nature is healing. I loved the lists naming the best board games and movies for families to enjoy! The book is super practical. Another fav part: setting an example. If you want your kids to be readers, you should read, etc.
However... i feel like this book was written in an echo chamber. First, this book should have been a memoir because *almost* every point the author made was backed up by personal stories from her childhood OR stories about her friends. (Which, maybe that is part of this rise of mommy bloggers turned authors? The followers want THEIR stories?) i would have loved this book to have more research behind it-because her talking points/chapters were valid.
Second, because much of this book is based on her childhood/life, i think this book isn’t for EVERY family. It *seems* the author and her family are comfortable, upper/middle class, with a large family who all gets together so well, with children who don’t have major needs (apart from one child with a severe allergy). i can see this book falling flat for those families who struggle with money (you should bring your kids on adventures!! We bought an RV!!!!) Or for families who don’t have strong ties with extended family (kids shouldn’t hang out with school peers, they should hang out with uncles and cousins!!!) or for families taking care of kids from hard places (nature is healing, you guys).
In the authors defense, she never promised the book would be helpful for families who struggle with money, family ties, or parenting kids from hard places. But when you remove those groups from her readership, how many are left? I’m guessing not many. I cannot believe how much time and thought I’ve given to a good reads review. 😬
However... i feel like this book was written in an echo chamber. First, this book should have been a memoir because *almost* every point the author made was backed up by personal stories from her childhood OR stories about her friends. (Which, maybe that is part of this rise of mommy bloggers turned authors? The followers want THEIR stories?) i would have loved this book to have more research behind it-because her talking points/chapters were valid.
Second, because much of this book is based on her childhood/life, i think this book isn’t for EVERY family. It *seems* the author and her family are comfortable, upper/middle class, with a large family who all gets together so well, with children who don’t have major needs (apart from one child with a severe allergy). i can see this book falling flat for those families who struggle with money (you should bring your kids on adventures!! We bought an RV!!!!) Or for families who don’t have strong ties with extended family (kids shouldn’t hang out with school peers, they should hang out with uncles and cousins!!!) or for families taking care of kids from hard places (nature is healing, you guys).
In the authors defense, she never promised the book would be helpful for families who struggle with money, family ties, or parenting kids from hard places. But when you remove those groups from her readership, how many are left? I’m guessing not many. I cannot believe how much time and thought I’ve given to a good reads review. 😬
August 5, 2022
I enjoyed this book— and there aren’t many parenting related books that I truly enjoy. The author didn’t come across as knowing everything, and she didn’t try to be funny about everything, two things I appreciated. Two major things I took away from this book: letting them be bored is not ignoring them and hoping they find something to do; as the parent, I need to put time and effort into assuring they are getting the “adventure” and other things they need, while at the same time not over scheduling and over stimulating them — giving them the free time to be bored. The other thing I took away is confirmation of the dangers of technology and social media…the sad realities of kids being anxious, depressed, and exposed to things they shouldn’t be, reminded me of our priorities as parents — to guard our children and be the ones to start the conversation about difficult topics.
Read
December 8, 2022I’m trying to put into words how I feel about this book. There are so many good points & reminders & insights of how I want to raise our kids. Like the importance of traditions, how letting them roam the neighborhood is a must, how being bored is fine and often brings on creativity, the use of technology. I do think I’ll come back to a few of these chapters in the future to remind myself again. But it was just a little too Christian for me at times, using Christian verbiage or talking slightly negatively about families who skip church for kids sporting events (this drives me crazy!). And she quoted scripture when referring to her kids taking care of pets!?? It was just too much for me, but that’s just the stage I’m at. Basically, if you can put some of that aside, I love the core idea of this book. My husband and I are definitely talking through some of the topics and how to address with our kids. So it’s bringing out discussions, which is what I love from a book like this. So am I saying you should pick this up and read it…I’m not sure. 😄 I guess why not, read it, skip some chapters that seem extreme to you (as I did) but take notes along the way and use it as a discussion for your family.
June 25, 2025
I really enjoyed this book! It reinforced what I already think childhood should be like and gave me some additional ideas. It wasn’t mind-blowing, but I enjoyed reading it and would recommend to anyone looking into this topic .
September 5, 2025
This book is talking about how to help kids find adventure and fun in life. She talks about letting your kids have fun in nature on their own terms and to let them practice their problem solving on their own. We need to be flexible and let our kids change over time as they grow. We need to allow them to be bored at times so that they can learn creativity. Our worth as parents is not based on our children's achievements. They're allowed to win some and lose some. There are more important things in life than winning. We want to teach our kids character, not just winning. We also want to teach our kids valuable lessons like what sex is, what porn is, and how to protect yourselves from the consequences of these things.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2022
Definitely worth your time! I will be coming back to this one again and again.
October 5, 2024
Savored this book. Loved every moment I read it.
Cried. Laughed. Smiled my way through.
Beautiful and inspiring parents to the good life 😊
Couldn’t recommend this book more🤩👏🏻
Cried. Laughed. Smiled my way through.
Beautiful and inspiring parents to the good life 😊
Couldn’t recommend this book more🤩👏🏻
February 8, 2025
Probably my favorite parenting book I’ve ever read. Honest, practical, encouraging. Highly recommend for any and all parents, with kids of any age.
September 22, 2025
I agreed with things, I disagreed with other things. But I did take a lot from it (some of which stressed me out parent-wise 😅) and that’s why I picked the book up.
September 29, 2025
All great and lovely ideas, but would be better off as a lengthy blog post rather than a whole book.
January 27, 2021
I enjoyed the down to earth, sarcastic humor,real life way the author wrote this book. The last chapter on faith and passing it on was my favorite. I wish she had, had more about faith in her other chapters. The chapter on talking about the "birds and the bees" and pornography was informative and had some good resources. I'll probably revisit this book again in a year or two.
March 11, 2024
It’s amazing how many Christian mom books currently deal with exhorting moms to create space away from technology and scheduled programming (sports, arts, etc) and encourage play and family togetherness. I think we are seeing a reaction from a generation that was plugged in with all the activities but missed out on open space.
We all need time and fewer distractions in order to really grow, so this makes sense.
It is also interesting how many moms that claim this lifestyle are encouraged by their children who thank them for tech-less space and family focused activities. In the age of gentle parenting, I think it may be easy to forget the importance of our roles as authority figures in our children’s lives. God gave us purposeful leadership over our children and we have a responsibility to guide them.
We all need time and fewer distractions in order to really grow, so this makes sense.
It is also interesting how many moms that claim this lifestyle are encouraged by their children who thank them for tech-less space and family focused activities. In the age of gentle parenting, I think it may be easy to forget the importance of our roles as authority figures in our children’s lives. God gave us purposeful leadership over our children and we have a responsibility to guide them.
September 19, 2023
I listened to this as an audiobook. Loved it! Was challenged by a lot of it. And while I can apply the groundwork for some of the things discussed now- a lot of it is geared towards a little older than my kids but not too early to start thinking and learning!
July 30, 2020
I got this book as a GoodReads Giveaway. I am not exactly the demographic for this book. I’m 28, childless, not religious, and don’t live in the south.
That being said I still want to give this a fair review which is...it’s fine. It seems pretty run of the mill in terms of middle to upper class religious parenting. Some advice is general and some stretches into the VERY religious territory, which is fine if you’re into that. All I have to say about it is I am sooo happy my own parent was a nurse who had The Talk with me and used correct terms and explained everything clearly, appropriately, and God was not mentioned once.
Every once and a while I would think something was insightful, but it seemed like either advice that you’ve already heard a million times, or advice I would never take seriously. Except for sex before marriage, she never clearly lays out what she teaches her kids about her feeling on gender rolls, or homosexuality, or diveristy within the US, although some views are hinted at.
She doesn't dwell too long on diversity except for a few short sentences early on and towards the end of the book. Even then it is more on the lines of learning about other cultures in different countries, and less about the diversity in the United States and talking to your kids about racism and being an anti-racist.
One aspect I kind of agreed on, but in a less preachy way, is screen time. Smartt’s a late Gen-xer early Millennial so her views of technology is basically “I like it but it’s also terrible” and she tries to limit her kids interactions with it. I’ll probably do something similar with my own hypothetical future kids but with a little less fear about how tech affects you.
This is a long review but if you’re privileged and religious you’ll probably enjoy this. If you’re not you may find it grating or mildly interesting, like watching one of those reality shows about religious people.
That being said I still want to give this a fair review which is...it’s fine. It seems pretty run of the mill in terms of middle to upper class religious parenting. Some advice is general and some stretches into the VERY religious territory, which is fine if you’re into that. All I have to say about it is I am sooo happy my own parent was a nurse who had The Talk with me and used correct terms and explained everything clearly, appropriately, and God was not mentioned once.
Every once and a while I would think something was insightful, but it seemed like either advice that you’ve already heard a million times, or advice I would never take seriously. Except for sex before marriage, she never clearly lays out what she teaches her kids about her feeling on gender rolls, or homosexuality, or diveristy within the US, although some views are hinted at.
She doesn't dwell too long on diversity except for a few short sentences early on and towards the end of the book. Even then it is more on the lines of learning about other cultures in different countries, and less about the diversity in the United States and talking to your kids about racism and being an anti-racist.
One aspect I kind of agreed on, but in a less preachy way, is screen time. Smartt’s a late Gen-xer early Millennial so her views of technology is basically “I like it but it’s also terrible” and she tries to limit her kids interactions with it. I’ll probably do something similar with my own hypothetical future kids but with a little less fear about how tech affects you.
This is a long review but if you’re privileged and religious you’ll probably enjoy this. If you’re not you may find it grating or mildly interesting, like watching one of those reality shows about religious people.
January 2, 2021
This book served mainly as an affirmation of my style of parenting, which emphasizes giving kids space to have a childhood. It isn't the most revelatory book on this subject. Smartt is a fellow mom, not a researcher or sociologist so the advice is based more or less on her own childhood and her experiences as a mom. I do think there is plenty of data to support her conclusions, but she doesn't really offer much in the way of research or trends beyond her own anecdotal observations. I found myself nodding along with her decisions so I wasn't hard to convince. One of the gifts of 2020 was the ability to get my kids outdoors more, reading more, playing games together more, and free-range roaming the cul-de-sac we live on and the pond we live near. I was able to appreciate this book since I live a very similar life. I'm not sure her words would offer much to someone who isn't already living a pretty safe, comfortable, family-rich suburban life.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 382 reviews