Tag Archives: parent resources

Children’s Corner — What Am I Feeling?

15 May

It’s show-and-tell day at school, and Sam and his friends are feeling lots of emotions. He wonders why he feels flippy in his tummy. And why is Alex stomping his feet? And does Hudson usually have such a big grin?

After several unchecked feelings threaten to ruin the big day, Sam and his friends start to learn how to give each emotion a name and ask God to help them remember that “a feeling is just a feeling—it’s not in charge of you.” In a world where kids are dealing with everything from sibling rivalry to bullying, divorce to tragedy, What Am I Feeling? offers a biblically grounded way for children to verbalize their feelings, develop empathy and self-control, and understand their wonderful God-given emotions.

BONUS! Also includes a pull-out feelings chart for your wall! 

 

Josh Straub (PhD) serves as Marriage and Family Strategist for LifeWay Christian Resources. Together, Josh and Christi (MA, MBA) also co-founded Famous at Home, an organization equipping leaders and their spouses in emotional intelligence and family wellness. They are Fellows of the Townsend Institute for Leadership and Counseling and host a weekly In This Together podcast and lead TwentyTwoSix Parenting. Josh and Christi have two fun and feisty kids, Landon and Kennedy.

My Impressions:

Feelings are confusing things, especially for kids. What Am I Feeling? by husband and wife Josh and Christi Straub is an easy way for parents and kids to start the discussion about their feelings. The book takes Sam, a fun-loving kid, through a school day which starts out with him feeling flippy in the tummy. He encounters his friends and the gamut of their feelings — happy, angry, sad, and jealous. Each child’s body language, actions, and words are described in relation to their feelings.  I loved the wise advice both Sam’s father and his teacher give. The kids are told to name their feeling and give it over to God. I also liked the fact shared that feelings do not have to control us. A cute book, this one is especially useful in teaching about the power of God and prayer in everyday situations. There is even a pull-out chart with illustrations of some feelings kids (and their parents) encounter in themselves and others. What Am I Feeling? is a good conversation starter and resource for parents. It helps put words to those elusive feelings.

Recommended.

Audience: kids ages 5-9 and their parents.

To purchase, click HERE.

(Thanks to B&H Publishing for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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Children’s Corner: God Made All of Me

30 Sep

God-made-me_frontcover“God made every part of you!”

It’s easy to convey the message to children that their bodies—or particular parts of their bodies—are shameful. This misconception fuels confusion, embarrassment, and secrecy, and often prevents children from recognizing or reporting sexual abuse.

God Made All of Me is a simply-told, beautifully-illustrated story to help families talk about these sensitive issues with two- to eight-year-old children. Because the private parts of our bodies are private, the home is the ideal environment where a child should learn about his or her body and how it should be treated by others.

God Made All of Me starts from the fundamental truth that God created everything and applies that truth—the doctrine of creation—to kids and their bodies. It equips parents to talk with both boys and girls about their bodies and to help them understand the difference between the appropriate and inappropriate touch of others. God Made All of Me allows families to build a first line of defense against sexual abuse in the safety of their own homes.

God Made All of Me is the first children’s book written by Rid of My Disgrace authors Justin and Lindsey Holcomb. Parents of young children themselves, the Holcombs regularly counsel victims of sexual abuse and are profoundly aware of the dangers kids face. Their simple and relatable story, designed to help children protect their bodies, will be an important resource for every family with young children.

JLHolcomb-327Justin Holcomb, PhD, is an Episcopal priest and professor of theology and Christian thought at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Reformed Theological Seminary. He is the author of “On the Grace of God,” “Know the Heretics,” and “Know the Creeds and Councils,” as well as the coauthor of “Is It My Fault?” and “Rid of My Disgrace.” He also serves on the boards for REST (Real Escape from the Sex Trade) and GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in Christian Environments).

Lindsey Holcomb, MPH, counsels victims of sexual assault and domestic violence and is the cofounder of REST (Real Escape from the Sex Trade). Lindsey has provided crisis intervention to victims of sexual assault and domestic violence and conducted a variety of training seminars to service providers. She is also the coauthor of “Is It My Fault?” and “Rid of My Disgrace.”

To learn more, please visit their website — godmadeallofme.com.

My Impressions:

What an excellent book for parents to use to teach their children about personal safety. God Made All of Me emphasizes that God made us — all of us — and it was good! It goes on to help children understand good versus bad touching, secrets versus surprises and the child’s power to say NO. The book also helps parents to broach the subject of sexuality — something that may be uncomfortable for them to express. Handled in such a natural manner, children will feel empowered, not scared to speak up. The emphasis of the book is on safety and security for the child. It also contains a parent’s section detailing ways to protect a child from sexual abuse. I was impressed with the insertion of God’s word throughout the book — a good reminder for both parents and children. A final reminder comes from Psalm 28:7 — The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.

I whole heartily recommend God Made All of Me. The bold illustrations will appeal to children, the message is straightforward and backed by Biblical principles and it gives parents an easy way to talk to their kids without embarrassment. And what could be more important than protecting our kids, especially in an increasingly scary world. God Made All of Me is perfect for the home or church library.

Highly Recommended.

Audience: for child and parent joint reading.

To purchase this book, click HERE.

(Thanks to LitFuse for a review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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