Two extremes in child training are prevalent in our day. Permissiveness is the first. The modern idea was made popular by Dr. Spock, who taught that discipline hindered the child’s evolution. The other extreme is to spank the child for everything. Neither of these extremes is consistent with Scripture.
No Greater Joy, the ministry of Michael and Debi Pearl, began with the publication of their book To Train Up a Child back in 1994. Now, fifteen years later, the book has proven to be a best seller with over 650,000 in print. The premise of the book is to teach parents how to train up their children rather than discipline them up.
Beyond theoretical platitudes, the book is filled with illustrations from real families, including their own, and laced with plenty of humor. The Pearls used this method in raising their own five children. The teaching continues to be applies in the training of their 14+ grandchildren.
In the words of the Pearls themselves, one major goal of the books is, “no more raised voices, no contention, no bad attitudes, fewer spankings, a cheerful atmosphere in the home, and total obedience from your children”. Remember, this ‘too good to be true’ goal has been achieved by thousands of satisfied readers. As a matter of fact, questions and testimonies from readers brought about the magazine No Greater Joy. These articles are compiled into three volumes called No Greater Joy volumes one through three.
This is not a book of secret formulas never before unveiled. Their answer: “These truths are not new, deep insights from the professional world of research, but rather, the same principles the Amish use to train their stubborn mules, the same technique God uses to train His children. These principles are profoundly simple and extremely obvious. After examining them with us, you will say, ‘I knew that all along. Where have I been? It’s so obvious.’”
The emphasis of the book is found in the title, i.e. training. It contains principles to train a child before discipline is needed and to maintain an appropriate fellowship with our children, not a buddy nor a tyrant relationship.
Again, from the Pearls: “The stress will be gone and your obedient children will praise you and bring joy and peace into your home. Thousands have testified to the amazing results of these profoundly simple techniques”
Some of the chapter titles include, Parental Anger, Selective Submission, Safety Training, Potty Training, Emotional Control, Self-Indulgence, Bullies, and The Rod. You get even more if you purchase it now for recently To Train Up a Child was updated and expanded, yet remains reasonably priced.
Parents don’t have time for a hit and miss approach to child rearing. We want to use techniques that apply Biblical principles to real life situations, in short, things that are guaranteed to work. In a mere 122 pages, To Train Up a Child gives you that very thing. If you are a frustrated parent, or know someone who is and is open to fresh ideas, this six dollars might well be a life-changing investment.