By: Tedd Tripp Publisher: Shepherd Press Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: Shepherd Press Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 211 Publication Date: 1995
Product Description: Written for parents with children of any age, this insightful book provides perspectives and procedures for shepherding your child's heart into the paths of life. Shepherding a Child's Heart gives fresh biblical approaches to child rearing.
Somewhat Useful Like any other child rearing book written by fallible humans, there were some useful things I learned from this book and other things I disagree with. No matter what his credentials, what worked so wonderfully with his children may not work for mine. He is not me and his children are wired differently than mine. On a positive note, I did really feel that Mr. Tripp is right on saying that parents need to get to the 'heart' of the matter and address the motive underlying behaviors. I agree that while a child may look well behaved on the outside, they may be seething with other issues on the inside. I also did agree with his emphasis on maintaining communication and really listening to kids. I also was convicted of not disciplining in anger or impulse, which I think happens more than most of us would like. However, his absolutism with corporal punishment was a bit troubling. I am not anti spanking necessarily but I truly believe that different children respond to it in different ways. My son, who is of a more laid back temperament, has been swatted on the bottom on a couple of occasions and quickly shaped up and got the idea and we haven't had to do it since. My daughter, who is highly sensitive and high strung, flies into an unbelievable rage and five star meltdown when we tried the same method on her. Spanking escalates and intensifies what was initially a minor childish disobediance and the whole resultant aftermath is scary and frightening for all of us! We have changed discipline tactics with her because I don't believe we are helping her any and are building resentment when what I want to do is to tie the heart strings instead of blow them apart! Also, Mr. Tripp is a pastor with a strong arsenal of scripture to use for rebuking, encouraging etc. with his children. I am afraid that I am a new Christian without a strong knowledge of the Bible. I felt overwhelmed and inadequate on how I would ever be able to shepherd anyone without first researching what scriptures to use! This made is impractical and disheartening for me to see how to actually apply the addressing of the heart issues.-------
10 years later Someone gave us this book about 10 years ago when our son was having some major behavior problems. After reading this book I came to realize that the problems were heart problems and needed to be dealt with. This book was a tool used to help change our lives as a family. We started to see a dramatic change in our son after several months, and things have been much better since then. My son is now 16. My son loves the Lord and has a desire to serve Him. His heart is yealded to God, which gives me much peace knowing that he is now much more accountable to God than to me. I highly recommend this book to all parents. It takes time and consistency, but it is worth the results!
Once opposed, now understand - GREAT BOOK To sum it up, the book changed our hearts and our home. Most people who wrote bad reviews probably never put the book into action and judged quickly which I respect. It's not about the spanking, it's about SHEPHERDING A CHILD'S heart to be obedient with amazing methodology and theology. And with that comes submission and a child understanding what is morally wrong/disobedient. We once thought spanking was also evil, but as I said, our heart changed when we read the book and practiced this biblical method of disciplining and saw FRUITS. We now have 2 amazing children whose hearts have changed. I would NOT recommend the book for parents with children older than 5-7. This is a book that needs to be implemented EARLY on or I think a child would not respond well to all of a sudden getting spanked. They would be confused after years of other parenting methods. I don't know. Just my opinion - I could be wrong. We were blessed to get the book just in time!
Spanking an eight-month old? The author advocates spanking babies as young as eight months old. I defy anyone to find a Bibilical justification for that. An eight-month-old baby, needless to say for most of us but apparently necessary to say for those of the author's ilk, is not even close to the age of reason. It is therefore child abuse, not discipline. And certainly not Godly discipline.
Don't buy this This book was highly recommended and so our christian Mom's group chose to read this. The basic idea could have been summed up in a simple brochure, the rest belonged in the garbage where our books ended up! Tim Kimmel's Grace Based Parenting is so much better, more loving, more practical. I hope others choose Tim Kimmel's book instead of Tedd Tripp's!
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Trevor
