How to raise a Modern Day Joesph

As parents, we strive to help our kids grow into their full potential.

We help them with their homework, enroll them in activities, and invest for their college education. But while we may plan for their success, we can overlook a vital part of their personal development: nurturing and encouraging a solid foundation of faith.

We can easily assume our children are growing spiritually in church youth groups and programs, but the Bible calls us to guide them in their relationship with Jesus.
The life of Joseph offers parents a biblical standard for building children of character. Drawing from his story, this book will help you do just that. Inside, you’ll find a unique guide for creating a personalized plan for your child’s spiritual growth, from preschool through high school. This practical guide will help your child:

· Respect the awesomeness of God
· Acquire wisdom from the Bible
· Understand God’s grace
· Gain a sense of destiny and purpose
· Develop a life-perspective based on God’s perfect plan

The result: Children and teenagers who know, love, and serve the Lord.

So invest in their spiritual development. And create a legacy of faith that will last a lifetime.

With her newest release, Awana author and staff member Linda Massey Weddle equips parents to build a foundation of faith for their children.

Author Bio: Linda Massey Weddle is a gifted teacher, speaker, and prolific writer. A children’s author and regular contributor to publications including Women’s Day and Christian Parenting Today, she has published twelve books and more than 2,500 articles, stories, devotionals, and radio scripts. Linda also develops Bible-based curriculum for young people and has been involved in children’s and youth ministry for the past forty years. She has two grown children and six grandchildren and resides in suburban Chicago.

You can find "How to raise a Modern Day Joesph" online at Amazon.com.

This review was provided from B&B Media. They have provided me with a bookto review and information to share with my readers. I was given the book for my personal opinion and option to share with my readers. I was not compensated for my time or written review.

Piano for Preschoolers

I took piano lessons for over 14 years, and I can honestly say that practicing wasn't something I looked forward to or enjoyed. When I first started out, there was so much to learn and so much that seemed so hard! It is a challenge to learn to read music, especially for the younger children. I was impressed when I took out the materials from Piano for Preschoolers (basic coarse). There is a song music book with 17 songs in it that accompanies a 17-track CD. Plus, there is a lesson book for the parent/teacher that has 19 lessons in it. To help preschoolers learn how to play, they use the two keyboard color strip guides. You just place the color guides onto your keys, and kids can learn from color rather than notes on a staff. What is nice about the color strips included in the kit, one fits a piano, and one fits a mini keyboard. That is a special bonus, because you can get your child practicing piano while on the road. They don't even know they are practicing that way!
Piano for Preschoolers costs $39.95 for the Basic Course, and I think this is a valuable price to get your preschooler interested in piano playing. The Basic coarse is designed for ages 3-8. Piano is a great instrument because it teaches math skills with counting. I really like the Piano for Preschoolers approach with teaching young ones, by color. Not only are they learning their colors, they are putting it to music. The kids get exposed to the keys, and can start to get comfortable where the notes are. There are a few lessons in the back of the book that actually teach the notes on the staff (spaces and lines) so that your child is ready to move on to reading piano music. I am excited to be doing this program with my child, and it is so much fun seeing him get excited about learning how to play piano!
Piano for preschoolers offer other products for purchase too, like songbooks, mini keyboards, and a few different gift packages.

New Growth Press: Book Reviews

New Growth Press has some really great resources for parents and kids. The resources come in mini booklets, so they are quick reads. You can just pick one up and read it while you are making dinner, or waiting for your child when you are picking them up from school.
This new series of booklets will equip pastors, counselors, and everyday Christians to provide encouragement and real life-giving answers for people dealing with serious problems. The faculty of CCEF (Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation), long recognized for their adherence to scripture and excellence in counseling technique, have authored this exciting collection of 21 new titles. The topics are divided into three categories: Parenting Resources, Marriage and Family Resources, and Resources for Personal Change.
Some of the booklets I got are:
How Do I Stop Losing It with My Kids?: Getting to the Heart of Your Discipline Problems
The kids are hungry, dinner is late, everyone’s tired and on edge, and then it happens—you lose control and blow up at them again. Is losing control with our children inevitable in our busy world? Or is there a better way?
Learn from William P. Smith a better way to relate to your children than with irritation, anger, and harsh words. Drawing on his counseling and parenting experiences, he explains why you lose control with your children and then offers strategies that will help you change the way you relate to your children when you are under pressure.
Angry Children: Understanding and Helping Your Child Regain Control
If you have an angry child, you are most likely worn out, confused, and looking for answers to questions like these:
“How can I restore sanity to this chaos?”
“How can I prevent these anger storms in my child?”
“Why does this rage seem to explode out of nowhere?”
Dr. Michael R. Emlet offers you needed help by explaining both the deeper heart issues and possible physical weaknesses that can fuel a child’s angry explosions. Then, using his experience as a doctor, counselor, and parent, he applies the truths of the Bible to your child’s struggles with anger and outlines practical strategies for helping your child learn self-control.

Peer Pressure: Recognizing the Warning Signs and Giving New Direction
Does your child do and say things just to be liked and accepted? Constantly talk about what others think and say? Go from one relational drama to the next? These are all warning signs that your child is feeling the weight of peer pressure.
Paul David Tripp explains the fears that underlie your teenager’s struggle with peer pressure, and then he offers specific things to do and not do that will encourage your child to live for God’s approval, instead of the acceptance of friends.

These are great booklets to help you on your journey in Marriage, Parenting and self-growth. You can see the full selection here, or purchase them for $3.99/piece.