Can you recommend a good Bible study for young parents

[LynchPin]

My wife and I are starting a new small group bible study for parents of toddlers. We are looking for bible study curriculum to use.

This is my philosophy: I genuinely believe that the most imporant thing to being a good parent is living out your faith every day. Kids learn from what they see their parents do much more so than what their parents say. Being a godly parent is really just an extension of being a godly person. Demonstrating honesty in our everyday lives is much more important than instructing kids to be honest. Demonstrating love every time we're with them is more important than telling them to love others. Obviously, we still need to verbalize the importance of character and values, but if we don't live out those values kids will blow it off as meaningless "church talk."

That said, what I would really like in a small group bible study is one that focuses less on parenting techniques and more on helping parents to develop their own character. Does anyone know of a bible study curriculum that takes this approach?

 

[LynchPin]

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[MERCY@GRACE]

Hi there I've read alot of childrens books for bible studies but to be honest have never come across on that solely deals w/ the parents attitudes etc. Most child rearing books include that portion anyway. I'm drawing a blank right now, but the maxwells have some good biblical basis for raising kids. Their name is tim and terry (i believe) maxwell. Along w/ dr dobson. I haven't read any in a while so it's not fresh right now.

 

[lucypevensie]

Shepherding a Child's Heart by Ted Tripp is a good book that really makes you think about how you as a parent live your life. It is geared toward rearing children (not specifically what you requested in your OP). BUT I can say that it is hard to follow the Biblical advice in the study without having your own life on the right track!!! There is a book and also a video series.

 

[katelyn]

How about The Power of a Praying Parent by Stormie Omartian? I haven't read that specific book by her yet, but I like how her books seem to focus more on what you can do within yourself and your relationship with God to change a person or relationship, rather than trying to push someone to be what you want them to be.

 

[BeanMak]

Maybe something by Dr. Tim Kimmel. I heard him speak on Moody radio one afternoon and I was REALLY iimpressed. He has a book- Grace-Based Parenting
Description: Many moms and dads today are diligently committed to their child-rearing responsibilities---but are anxious about how best to fulfill them. Advocating Grace-Based Parenting that reflects how God "raises" us, family expert Dr. Tim Kimmel offers a refreshing alternative to rigid, fear-based approaches. Discover how to create a nurturing home environment that produces spiritually strong children with calm, confident, purpose-filled hearts. 240 pages, hardcover, W.

 

[katelyn]

I have not read Grace-Based Parenting yet, but it's on my wish list! It looks like a really good book.

 

[LynchPin]

Thanks for the suggestions! I will look into them.

I found two other books that may be in line with what I'm looking for too.

- Raising Great Kids by Cloud & Townsend (the guys who wrote Boundaries).
- Faith-Shaped Kids by Steve and Valarie Bell

Now I've got a bit of reading to do.

- Paul

 

[Saint2be27]

I just found another....

How Would Jesus Raise a Child? by Teresa Whitehurst
Offers key principles drawn from Jesus’ words and actions as He interacted with others, including “the little children.” When put into action, these precepts create a radical new way to parent by focusing on your family’s spiritual and character development.

 

[Sofia E Ruiz]

Did you ever find a good bible study for parents of toddlers?

 

[JAM2b]

There are good Bible studies and there are good parenting books, but it is rare to find both in the same book.

As far as personal character building, any study that will guide a person through that will have a positive benefit in parenting. I have a lot of experience in childcare and preschool teaching and child development, along with working with adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities. I can tell you from first hand experience that no child training or discipline outweighs a parent's or family's example of how they live their life when it comes to shaping the character and behaviors of children. When we meet and get to know a child's parents, we can understand that child and their behaviors much better than we can when we just know the child alone.

Behaviors for an individual vary and come and go because no one is perfect or consistent all the time, but speaking overall:
A child with rude parents will be a rude child even if their parents try to teach them not to be.
A child with polite and respectful parents will be a polite and respectful child, regardless of the influence of others.

On a personal note, I can remember very little of what my parents and grandparents said to me. But I remember very clearly how they lived their lives, treated others, and especially how they treated me. What they did has had far more power in my life than anything they ever tried to teach me.