How do you raise amazing children? How do you teach them to be kind and honest, insightful and inquisitive, athletic and curious, loving and thoughtful? How do you give your child the courage to be a good sport, a good sibling, a good friend, a good person? When Tom Sturges became a father, he wanted to be the greatest father who ever walked the earth. “I wanted to be so much more than a casual observer of my son’s life as it went by me.” So Sturges asked a lot of questions. He picked up ideas, advice, and tips from parents, grandparents, even rock stars and sports legends–anyone who had unique insights to share. The result is this practical, inspiring “rule book” for raising healthy, happy, safe, cherished children. Philosophical, sensible, and empowering, these 76 ideas subscribe to a simple premise: It is impossible to respect a child too much, but it is worth the effort to try. The rules are organized into seven fields, arranged by subject, and will help parents, mentors, coaches, and anyone who has children, to deal with an array of situations in a kind, respectful, and encouraging way. • EVERYDAY: Let your children feel welcome and loved from the first moment he or she walks into a room. “Smile When You See Him” (rule #4) and leave no doubt that, at that moment, your child is the most important person in your world. • COMMUNICATING: Since yelling parents intimidate, and a calm tone inspires, “When You Get Upset, Whisper” (rule #22) –and make sure your message is heard. • MANNERS MATTERS: Follow “The Bill Walton Rule,” (rule #34) and if you can’t be on time, be early. • NO LOST CHILDREN: When a family or group travels together, obey “The Caboose Rule” (rule #43) by assigning an adult or older child to keep up the rear–and ensure that no little ones lag behind. • DISCIPLINES AND PUNISHMENTS: “The 10-Second Rule” (rule #49) prescribes the minimum amount of time you should wait before thinking about punishing your child for that D in English. • PAIN HAPPENS, NOW WHAT?: After your child experiences a little cut, bump, or scrape, say “Squeeze My Hand as Much as It Hurts” (rule #62); it is remarkable how their being able to “show” you will help to ease his or her pain. • PLAY SPORTS, PERIOD: When your children accomplish something great in their sports, using “The ESPN Rule,” (rule #67) tell the story in intimate detail and fill them with the belief that they can do it again and again.

What does it take to raise great kids? If you've read any books on parenting, conflicting opinions have probably left you feeling confused. Get tough! Show acceptance. Lay down the rules. Lighten up, already! There's got to be a balance--and there is. Joining their expertise with the wisdom of MOPS International (Mothers of Preschoolers), Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend help you provide both the care and acceptance that make grace real to your child, and the firmness and discipline that give direction. Avoiding the twin extremes of permissiveness and over-control, Drs. Cloud and Townsend show how you can help your child cultivate six necessary character traits: attachment, responsibility, reality, competence, morality, and worship/spiritual life. At last, here is an effective middle ground for raising up children who will handle life with maturity and wisdom. Raising Great Kids will help you equip your son or daughter to accept life's responsibilities, grow from its challenges, and freely and fully explore all that it has to offer.

I have been in the insurance business for more than forty years with the same company, Bankers Life, and what I love most about it is it’s serving people’s needs. I have been the children pastor, along with my wife Gail Smith, at New Horizon Church International for more than thirty years, and what I love most about it is it’s serving people’s needs. My wife and I have four beautiful daughters, five grandsons, and two granddaughters, and what I like most about them is leaving a legacy of serving. I love watching them help each other along the way. We are blessed to be servants of God.

The best time to learn a second language is as a child. During childhood, the brain is more receptive to language learning than at any other time in life. Aware that a second language can enrich their child's understanding of other cultures and bring future job opportunities in a world drawn ever closer by globalization, many parents today are motivated to raise their children bilingual. This book helps parents in both monolingual and multilingual families determine and achieve their bilingual goals for their child, whether those goals are understanding others, the ability to speak a second language, reading and/or writing in two languages, or some combination of all of these. The authors explain how the brain learns more than one language, explode common myths, address frequently asked questions, and reveal an array of resources available to families. Packed with insightful anecdotes and powerful strategies, this is a one-of-a-kind guidebook for those seeking to provide their children with a uniquely valuable experience.

Raising Amazing combines years of research with personal stories and step-by-step, practical advice to equip you to raise kids of godly character and deep faith who love their parents and remain close to their siblings for a lifetime. Parents love to imagine their children growing up to be exceptional adults. But for many, raising exceptional adults seems a daunting task. Perhaps you're a new parent and don't know where to start, or maybe you're a parent of teens and feel like you've made a mess of it all. Or perhaps you're somewhere in between and just don't think you're good at the whole parenting thing. Wherever you are in your parenting journey, there's hope for you. As a mom of four boys, Monica Swanson--also the author of Boy Mom and host of the popular Boy Mom podcast--knows firsthand the challenges and struggles of parenting and the kind of help that parents in the trenches are looking for. In Raising Amazing, Monica gives you the tools and techniques you need to: Raise countercultural kids in the midst of a crazy world Train your children in the biblical character qualities you value most Find ways to help your kids navigate technology, sports, and dating Introduce your children to a vibrant life of faith that will draw them closer to God Cultivate strong sibling bonds and mend those that may already be struggling Develop healthy relationships with your children that will lead to friendship for a lifetime Encourage dads with a "note to dads" at the end of each chapter written by Monica's husband This isn't just a book; it's a fresh perspective on parenting that may just change the trajectory of your family forever.

Bilingualism in the world is the norm, rather than the exception. Unlike in other countries where bilingualism often survives over numerous generations, in the United States, it generally takes two or three generations for a minority language to be lost. In a country where the very definition of ""American"" embodies the intersection of different languages, cultures, and ethnicities, the assimilation process into American culture often takes place at the expense of minority languages and cultur ...