Thomas Nelson recently sent us two books to review for our readers: Raising Your Kids to Love the Lord and Building Family Ties with Faith, Love & Laughter, both by Dave Stone.  Stone is the senior pastor of Southeast Christian Church, a megachurch with three campuses in Louisville, Kentucky; but his passion is his family and showing families how the best evangelism starts at home.

I wasn’t sure what to think of these small, glossy books and even put off reading them for fear they would be pat answer gift books. I was very wrong.

I read most of the way through Raising Your Kids to Love the Lord in an hour or two, but each page was full of Truth and knowledge from a family who has raised three kids. Stone obviously values and praises his wife, Beth’s, work in their family and her ability to see situations in a spiritual light.

Stone urges families to be intentional from infancy, relying heavily on prayer and teaching the Word. He has a chapter for mothers and one for fathers in Raising Your Kids to Love the Lord. He also speaks heavily of discipline – not spanking, but teaching children obedience so they will be trained to say YES the first time to the Holy Spirit. I certainly was refreshed in my determination to be consistent in disciplining our 3-year-old.

Building Family Ties speaks to family time and family mission. Stone promotes creating a family mission statement, eating together, and creating technology-free family time.

While I don’t think these are "gift books" persay, they are easy-to-read manifestos in raising a family and would make excellent gifts for new parents or those who are struggling. (Aren’t we all?) I give the Faithful Families series a big thumbs up!

Do you have a favorite parenting book to recommend or give to friends?

In the April 2012 issue, Dr. Linda Mintle wrote an article entitled "Play Time: Communicating with Your Autistic Child." Here are some other resources Dr. Mintle suggests to learn more about communication.

Jumpstarting Communication Skills in Children with Autism: A Parents’ Guide to Applied Verbal Behavior by Mary Jane Weiss, Ph.D, BCBA-D and Valbona Demiri, Ph.D, BCBA-D (Woodbine House, 2011)

This book offers a mixture of technical information and creative strategies dealing with speech and language issues in children with autism, including many case examples that make it easier to apply the concepts presented.

Here’s a short excerpt showing how the book uses examples.

But there are … strategies you can use during the course of daily life to make it easier for your child to understand what you are saying and to help strengthen her listening skills. They include:

• Make your directions or commands as simple and clear as possible. Use as few words as possible and do not string two or more instructions together. It may also be helpful not to use many pronouns at first. For example, say, “Follow Dad” instead of “Follow me.” 
• Try to highlight the most important information you need your child to attend to in your words. For example, you might speak a single word louder than the rest: “Give mommy the PINK cup.” 
• In your daily routine, try to incorporate the same kinds of prompts that are used in ABA teaching. For example, if you ask your child to pass her brother a napkin at the table, you might move the napkins close to her while moving other things on the table farther away. This is known as a positional prompt.

A Picture’s Worth: PECS and Other Visual Communication Strategies in Autism  by Andy Bondy, Ph.D and Lori Frost, M.S., CCC-SLP (Woodbine House, 2011)

 This second edition offers introductory lessons to the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), making it easy for parents and therapists to get started with this low-tech strategy to help young children develop effective communication skills. 

How to Talk to an Autistic Kid by Daniel Stefanski (Free Spirit Publishing, 2011)

Daniel is 14, and he is autistic. His book explains that many kids with autism have a hard time with social situations, including communication. His personal voice offers classmates, siblings, teachers, and family members great insight into how to reach out to kids with autism. 

Do you know of any other great resources for communicating with a nonverbal child?  

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At last! A Bible Study resource that shows how Christ fits into the entire gospel story, pre-creation to eternity. And where each one of us fits into it, too.

This brand-new Christ-centered resource follows a chronological timeline of the Bible. Using this approach, children connect biblical events to God’s ultimate plan of redemption through Christ. His plan then . . . His plan for them today.

Picture Bible study resource meets kid-friendly theater. Picture powerful Bible events that come to life through video-enhanced story telling. Picture the flexibility to use with large or small groups. Picture easy teaching partnerships with parents. Picture kids understanding the gospel like never before.

The entire gospel story like kids have never seen it before! The Gospel Project for Kids follows a three-year chronological timeline of Bible events. Each week, these stories come to life through video, music, activities, and more as kids connect biblical events to God’s ultimate plan of redemption through Christ. The result is life changing!

Coming Fall 2012.

Join the Project

Sign-up for the pilot program and get a sneak peek at the first month. We would love to hear what you think! Visit gospelproject.com for more information.

The Specifics:

• Preschool (3s–Kindergarten)
• Younger Kids (Grades 1–3)
• Older Kids (Grades 1–6)

• Three-year, chronological scope & sequence
• Available in digital (and customizable) or print format
• Parent resources
• Second-hour worship resources
• Small group/Large group/Small group format
• Q&A format with a Christ connection each session
• One Key Passage per unit of study
• Translation neutral

Each lesson includes:

1. Videos that bring Bible stories to life
2. Discussion starter vides for Younger Kids and Older Kids
3. Coloring pages for Preschool and Younger Kids
4. Fun-filled activity sheets
5. Hands-on Activities
6. Low-prep lesson plans

ParentLife is always excited about new resources that teach the gospel to our kids. Would your church use something like this?

In honor of National Cereal Day (today, March 7), I thought we’d share some fun facts about cereal.

• Of the more than 294 million people in the US, 49% start their day with a bowl of cereal.
• The word cereal comes from Cerealia, the name of ancient Roman ceremonies that honored Ceres, the goddess of grain.
• The average American eats 160 bowls of cereal each year.
• One bushel of wheat will make 53 boxes of cereal.
• 85% of all protein consumed throughout the world is provided by grains such as wheat, corn, rice, millet, rye, and barley  – those that are often found in cereal.
• Breakfast cereal is the 3rd most popular item sold in grocery stores, after carbonated beverages and milk.
• U.S. and Israeli researchers have just found strong evidence that humans refined wheat and barley into cereal 23,000 years ago. If true, the discovery suggests humans were processing grains long before hunter-gather societies developed agriculture.
• Astronauts from Apollo 11 boosted their brainpower while in space with a cereal breakfast. The cereal was mixed with fruit and pressed into cubes since the lack of gravity kept the astronauts from pouring it into a bowl with milk.
• The USDA recommends 6 to 11 servings of grains in a daily diet and a bowl of cereal is a source of grains.

I confess that I am not much of a cereal eater, unless you count oatmeal. One hundred and sixty bowls a year? I maybe eat 20 a year. Maybe.

Are you a big cereal eater? Comment here with your favorite kind of cereal and I’ll give you an extra entry in our March giveaway!

Photo used with permission of Flickr Creative Commons. Click on photo for source.

Frequent ParentLife writer Andrew Greer released the album Angel Band: The Hymn Sessions on January 31. On the album, he comes together with other vocalists to reinterpret classic hymns. The hymns have a folksy feel.

Greer wanted to represent the communal nature of hymns by joining forces with other artists. I love this video that shows them in the studio!

We congratulate Andrew on his album and hope you’ll take the time to check it out! It’s available for purchase on Amazon, iTunes, and Andrew-Greer.com. You can also purchase tracks, charts, and stems for each hymn on LifeWay Worship, if you want to incorporate these tunes into your church service.

Do you love hymns, redone or just belted out in the original tune? We are big fans of Alan Jackson’s hymn album around here, and listen to and sing hymns all the time at our house.

Every month we have a long list of products we want to share with you, but only a few can fit in the printed magazine. That’s why it’s so great we have this online space! Here are a few things we couldn’t squeeze into the magazine this month.

Guavamitts (guavakids)
These baby mittens have two types of closures for a perfect fit that grows with your baby. They are stylish and functional, engaging baby’s senses with high-contrast graphics. To boot, they are made of a planet-friendly bamboo/organic cotton blend. Find them for $12.00 a pair at www.guavakids.com.

The BabbaBurpie (BabbaCo®)

Optimize space in the diaper bag with the BabbaBurpie. If this oversized terry cloth burp cloth gets soiled, just flip it inside out for a fresh, clean surface! Check it out at www.babbaco.com. Stylish designs retail for $22.50 each.

Contigo® Kids Trekker Cup with AUTOSEAL® Technology

Kids who have outgrown sippy cups are ready for this spill-proof mug. Push the button to release the seal, and let go to close. Holds up to 14 fluid ounces. $5.99. Visit www.gocontigo.com. {You can see a more detailed review at the wonderful site I Can Teach My Child.}

I think those mittens would make an awesome baby shower gift! And I’ve been wanting a Contigo cup for my daughter for awhile, too. Any products out there you love and want to share with us?

In the February issue, Dr. Marianne Neifert discusses "The Use and Misuse of Rewards" (pp. 38-39). Here are a few products you might consider as you think about behavior and how you will use rewards.

Make behavior modification fun with The Ticket Store Game®. Available in both online and board game versions, the game lets parents assign tasks to children. Children who respond favorably earn tickets that accumulate and may be exchanged for tangible rewards “bought” online or home-based rewards generated by parents. Visit www.ticketstoregame.com for online pricing plans or to order the board game for $24.95.

Here’s an app version of the tried-and-true reward system used by parents and teachers for years: drop a marble into the jar each time a child demonstrates appropriate or requested behavior. When the jar is full, the child receives a predetermined reward. The Marble Jar app is appropropriate for kids ages 2-12 and is available for download to iPhone or iPad for $2.99. Try it to motivate your child to brush her teeth, get dressed, finish her dinner, or any other task that usually involves constant reminders.

Help your child make good choices and build good habits with the Portable Parenting App. Program up to four children and receive daily, weekly, and monthly reports on behavior. The app includes features for monitoring time out, providing “star stash” rewards, and a separate feature for keeping track of a child’s money. Available for iPhone and iPad, and coming soon for Android.

Do you use any tools for a rewards system?

Every month we have a long list of products we want to share with you, but only a few can fit in the printed magazine. That’s why it’s so great we have this online space! Here are a few things we couldn’t squeeze into the magazine this month.

Voyage with the Vikings by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker: Action is the name of the game when cousins Patrick and Beth meet real Vikings from the year 1000. The Imagination Station series highlights Christian values in a series of eight books for children ages 7 and up. Retails for $4.99.

A Mother’s Guide to Praying for Your Children by Quin Sherrer: Learn to pray powerfully and effectively for your children. Retails for $12.99.

Exact Change, by Continuum Games: Begin to teach children ages 6 and up the value of a dollar with the Exact Change game. Learn how the game is played at www.continuumgames.com. Retails for $9.99.

Today I Ate a Rainbow!: This kit contains a chart, book, colorful magnets, and other goodies that can help kids want to eat a rainbow of healthy food every day. Check it out at todayiatearainbow.com. Retails for $25.

Do you have any favorite products you love to share with others? Right now my little ones are loving the VTech Sit to Stand Alphabet Train!

 I realize that perhaps saying "Christian Christmas" is an oxymoron, but in our society … it’s sort of necessary. My aunt has often said that there is "snowman and shopping" Christmas and "Jesus Christmas." 

I enjoy finding Christmas albums, then, that truly do focus me on the Christ of Christmas. 

One that was released this year is Christmas by Jadon Lavik. I’ve enjoyed Lavik’s hymn arrangements in the past, and his youthful voice brings light to classics like "Silent Night" and beauty to the original "Hallelujah the Lord Has Come." The album is very mellow and would make excellent background music for opening gifts Sunday morning.

My personal favorite Christmas album is Nativity Story: Sacred Songs. While I don’t hold any special affinity for the movie, these songs are truly inspired. "The Virgin’s Lullaby," featuring Todd Smith from Selah, Point of Grace, Natalie Grant, and other Christian artists, so gloriously reflects the story of Jesus’ birth from the viewpoints of the major players. "Labor of Love" by Andrew Peterson affects me like no other Christmas song, as a mother. These songs speak truth and the album is filled with beauty.

And honestly, I just don’t think Amy Grant’s Home for Christmas can be beaten. Grant’s Christmas albums are classic for a reason. "The Night Before Christmas" definitely ranks in my top 3 favorite Christmas songs ever. And who can forget "Breath of Heaven" and "Grown-Up Christmas List"? 

What’s your favorite Christ-centered Christmas album?