Character Matters!: Raising Kids with Values That Last

by John Yates, Susan Alexander Yates

Strong, firm character does not develop automatically. This book helps families set and achieve the goals necessary for developing eight essential character integrity, faith, a teachable spirit, a servant's heart, self-discipline, joy, compassion, and courage.
The Yateses use stories and practical examples from their lives and the lives of their five children to show how character can be purposefully cultivated through the normal, daily events in life. With refreshing honesty, they share how parents and children can grow together in these qualities. Character Matters! includes focus questions and three appendices, including a leader's guide for group study.

Genres: Parenting

206 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2002

Reviews

[Erin Odom · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was hard for me to rate. The content is AMAZING, but the writing style feels forced & wordy at times. There was nothing earth shattering it in that I haven’t read in other Christian parenting books, but it was still really solid information. I read it over a period of months as part of a parent book club.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book on raising kids. I need to read this yearly!

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Yates have a lot of great insight about building character in children. They have experience with their own children and have a solid Bible-based background. I enjoyed the stories they shared to make the lessons real to their children and themselves. While this was an informative read, for some reason it took me months to complete. I just didn't have this fire that I do with other great parenting books. I haven't been able to put my finger on it, perhaps it is a little bit of a review from other books I have read, just put in a different format and with different stories - I'm not sure. But overall, I liked this book and glad it is in my personal collection.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as part of my moms group and thoroughly enjoyed reading and discussing the content. Though there is nothing groundbreaking, it is a great reminder of character traits that I would like to cultivate both in myself and my children. I can see myself rereading this one in the future.

[Kiki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read for professional development. Lots of good info!