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Do You Mind If Your Kids Don't
205 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 12, 2020
Three stars is generous, but he used too much Scripture to drop him to two. Yeah, I didn't like it much. Here's why.
First, it is a rather simplistic book and I don't like simplistic books. I read the entire thing in a little over an hour. There is very little original content/thinking, and even less in-depth, thoughtful discussion. Second, I disagree with Mr. Rice rather substantially on three or four things he maintains rather strenuously. For example, he maintains that properly raised children always turn out right. I disagree. He maintains that a man should remain under his parents authority until he gets married. I disagree. He maintains that understanding why you should obey is not very important. I disagree. Etc. Third, when he makes these chapter lengthy pronouncements he rarely, if ever, examines the other side of the discussion. It is more like he simply asserts his position and expects us all to fall in line.
It isn't a terrible book. It would probably be just fine for the parents of young children, especially if they continue to supplement it with better books as their children age. I do appreciate very much that he tied each chapter tightly to a specific Bible passage even if I disagreed with his interpretation and application. But it is, at best, a weak book, and I do not recommend it.
First, it is a rather simplistic book and I don't like simplistic books. I read the entire thing in a little over an hour. There is very little original content/thinking, and even less in-depth, thoughtful discussion. Second, I disagree with Mr. Rice rather substantially on three or four things he maintains rather strenuously. For example, he maintains that properly raised children always turn out right. I disagree. He maintains that a man should remain under his parents authority until he gets married. I disagree. He maintains that understanding why you should obey is not very important. I disagree. Etc. Third, when he makes these chapter lengthy pronouncements he rarely, if ever, examines the other side of the discussion. It is more like he simply asserts his position and expects us all to fall in line.
It isn't a terrible book. It would probably be just fine for the parents of young children, especially if they continue to supplement it with better books as their children age. I do appreciate very much that he tied each chapter tightly to a specific Bible passage even if I disagreed with his interpretation and application. But it is, at best, a weak book, and I do not recommend it.
October 3, 2013
This is the second parenting book I've read, and I gave the first book a tough review. In retrospect I think these two books need to be read together, even though by different authors and from different points of view.
My main criticism with the first book, Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp, was his lack of focus in teaching children to be obedient first and then understand later. This book does a good job making that point and has many practical examples of why that is important. However, this book lacks depth in how to effectively communicate with children, which the Tedd Tripp did a good job covering.
So, both good books, and when read together they give a good overview of training up Children in the Lord. However, one thing I think they lack is how to teach parents to be good parents. It is one thing to say "instruct a child in the way they should go" and another to know how to do that. My personal belief is that there are a lot of dumb parents out there that are not paying attention to their children. Most of us remember when we "pulled the wool over our parent's eyes" at times as children. If we could do it, then so can and will our children.
Parents need to be consistent and pay attention to what their children say and do. It takes wisdom to be a parent, which these books do not talk much about. The simple request of "can I go to so and so's house?" can have lots of meanings. Is the child getting out of work, is the child wanting to be around good friends or bad friends, is the child witnessing, is the child rebelling, etc... Parents need to wise up and pay attention to children and then pray to the Lord for guidance on how to lovely raise their children in the Lord. Sometimes "No" does not mean that what the child wants to do is bad, but that it is not wise for that child to be doing. Knowing when to say "No" and "Yes" is very important in raising children, and probably one of the most difficult things to know.
As I said in my review of the Tedd Tripp book it is difficult to not review a parenting book without throwing in one's own beliefs on parenting. I think prayer for wisdom, reading books, and talking with friends and church leadership are the best approaches to raising children. Whether you agree or disagree with everything a book says, you will likely walk away with a tidbit or two of wisdom that can help you. That is my goal is reading these books and I am glad I have. Now on to the next book...
My main criticism with the first book, Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp, was his lack of focus in teaching children to be obedient first and then understand later. This book does a good job making that point and has many practical examples of why that is important. However, this book lacks depth in how to effectively communicate with children, which the Tedd Tripp did a good job covering.
So, both good books, and when read together they give a good overview of training up Children in the Lord. However, one thing I think they lack is how to teach parents to be good parents. It is one thing to say "instruct a child in the way they should go" and another to know how to do that. My personal belief is that there are a lot of dumb parents out there that are not paying attention to their children. Most of us remember when we "pulled the wool over our parent's eyes" at times as children. If we could do it, then so can and will our children.
Parents need to be consistent and pay attention to what their children say and do. It takes wisdom to be a parent, which these books do not talk much about. The simple request of "can I go to so and so's house?" can have lots of meanings. Is the child getting out of work, is the child wanting to be around good friends or bad friends, is the child witnessing, is the child rebelling, etc... Parents need to wise up and pay attention to children and then pray to the Lord for guidance on how to lovely raise their children in the Lord. Sometimes "No" does not mean that what the child wants to do is bad, but that it is not wise for that child to be doing. Knowing when to say "No" and "Yes" is very important in raising children, and probably one of the most difficult things to know.
As I said in my review of the Tedd Tripp book it is difficult to not review a parenting book without throwing in one's own beliefs on parenting. I think prayer for wisdom, reading books, and talking with friends and church leadership are the best approaches to raising children. Whether you agree or disagree with everything a book says, you will likely walk away with a tidbit or two of wisdom that can help you. That is my goal is reading these books and I am glad I have. Now on to the next book...
December 4, 2024
A good book that has Biblical advice for how to raise children in a way that follows Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. I would like to see some more examples of applying the Biblical principles of obedience, humility, willingness, etc., in the life of a family, but overall a very succinct and relevant book for Christian families to get a foundation in Biblical parenting.
March 11, 2022
It has some good points, but I have tried to read it three separate times and always wind up putting it down.
January 31, 2017
Is a very Biblically based approach to child training. Knowing the author helps understand the way he writes. :)
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews