Christian Parenting Today articles from November 2000

Christian Parenting Today archives from November 2000

The Chronicles of Narnia.
November 1, 2000... C.S. Lewis, illustrated by Pauline Baynes (Harper/ Zonderkidz) $7.95 each, $55.65 for the set In honor of the 50th anniversary of these classic books, HarperCollins/ Zonderkidz is releasing a special collector's edition complete with the...

Joseph: King of Dreams.(Review)
November 1, 2000... (DreamWorks) $24.99 If you liked Prince of Egypt, you'll want to check out DreamWorks' newest release: Joseph: King of Dreams. Even if you know the story of Joseph by heart, this video does a great job of helping you to see him as a...

Now We Are Six/When We Were Very Young & Child's Garden of Verses.(Review)
November 1, 2000... Now We Are Six/When We Were Very Young A. A. Milne (Penguin) $20 Child's Garden of Verses Robert Louis Stevenson, illustrated by Tasha Tudor (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers) $18 Poetry is often overlooked, but it...

Writers INC.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... Dave Kemper, Patrick Sebranek, and Verne Meyer (Houghton Muffin) $20 We all know American students are woefully lacking in writing skills. This thick handbook goes a long way to remedying that problem. It explains every conceivable kind of...

Adam and His Kin.(Review)
November 1, 2000... Dr. Ruth Beechick (Arrow Press) $9 Dr. Beechick does a masterful job of bringing Genesis alive by telling, in novel form, the story of the beginning of time. Kids as young as 11 can enjoy this "lost history" themselves, although parents...

The Road to El Dorado.(Review)
November 1, 2000... DreamWorks Studio (PG) This film breaks new ground in animation, but you may decide to keep your children from falling in. While movie-loving families can count on DreamWorks to keep raising animation's artistic standards, some may not be...

The Miracle Maker.(Review)
November 1, 2000... (Artisan Entertainment) $19.98 When this animated feature aired on network television last Easter, I skipped it, thinking it looked cheesy. What a mistake! If you did the same, this is your chance to watch one of the best "Jesus" movies...

Speaking of Boys.(Review)
November 1, 2000... Michael Thompson, Ph.D. (Ballantine Books) $14 This insightful Q&A resource helps parents target specific issues and offers real insight into how boys think and feel and how adults can bring out the best in boys. Written with authority,...

100 Ways to Teach Your Child About God.(Review)
November 1, 2000... Karyn Henley (Tyndale) $6.99 As a mom, I'm always looking for new ways to help my kids get to know God, but it's tough to find the rime, energy and creativity to keep them excited about their faith. This little book is the perfect...

My Christmas Epiphany.(Review)
November 1, 2000... Even in the routines of the holidays, Jesus reveals himself Lists are made. Presents are bought and now await the wrapping frenzy. Meal plans include "Eva's Mashed Potatoes" and "Ethan's Jello Salad." Christmas is coming. Driving to...

Big Numbers.(Review)
November 1, 2000... by Edward Packard, illustrated by Salvatore Murdocca (Millbrook Press) $14.95 Did you know that one million peas would cover your entire kitchen table? What about 10 billion peas? (They'd fill your whole house and yard!) Why should you...

God Is Like...(Review)
November 1, 2000... Julie Walters, illustrated by Thea Kliros (WaterBrook) $12.95 Nature provides endless lessons about God, especially for children who often need more concrete pictures to understand God's power and love. This beautiful book tells three...

Angel Wings series.(Review)
November 1, 2000... Mission: Teamwork (Tyndale) $12.99 When my kids are starting to repeat episodes of "Pokemon" from memory, it's nice to be able to pull out a video like this. This series teaches important biblical truths in a way that kids can really...

Big Thinkers Kindergarten.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... Putt-Putt Saves the Zoo (Humongous Entertainment) $9.99 Your kids will love helping a little car named Putt-Putt rescue the baby animals lost throughout the zoo. And parents will be amazed at the skills kids learn while playing. Phonics,...

"Generation O!".(Review)
November 1, 2000... (WB, 4:30 p.m. Friday) The WB Network is known for pumped-up, adrenaline-packed, powerhouse programming with Pokemon as the trophy-winner. While these action-adventure series hold some sense of good verses evil, the moral or message is...

On the Family Front.
November 1, 2000... Lonely or Loner? Q. I'm a single mother with a 13-year-old son. He likes to play piano, read his Bible, and watch television. The problem is, he has no friends. I've always made my home open to other kids; in fact, I even converted my...

The Little One's Bible.(Review)
November 1, 2000... by Eira Reeves (Barbaur) $9.99 If you're stumped for a simple way to introduce your young child to God, this little Bible could be just the ticket. Each page offers a short Scripture passage paraphrased in easy-to-understand language, a...

Where, Oh Where, Is Kipper's Bear?(Review)
November 1, 2000... by Mick Inkpen (Harcourt Brace & Company) $15.95 Your kids probably already know Kipper, the cute little dog from Nick, Jr. Now he's moved into books, videos and audio cassettes. Preschoolers and parents alike will love to read this pop-up book...

My Very First Devotional Bible.(Review)
November 1, 2000... by Catherine DeVries, illustrated by Leanne Mebust Luetkemeyer (Zanderkidz) $14.99 Any parent who has used a devotional Bible knows it can be a big help in applying Scripture to your life. Created just for kids, this Bible uses stories...

Gabriel, God and the Fuzzy Blanket.(Review)
November 1, 2000... by Annette Griessman, illustrated by David L. Erickson (Morehouse Publishing) $16.95 Every night when I tuck my son into bed, he asks the same thing: "Can you spread my blanket out, Mom?" And just as I've done every night for the past...

"Just" a Mom?(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... What I want to tell people when they ask me what I do The scene: My 34-year-old brother's wedding. Classmates and neighbors I haven't seen for years are enjoying the reception festivities. At a nearby table, I spot the boy who lived down...

Family Time with God.
November 1, 2000... November Wholly Holy "There is no one like you, O Lord" (1 Chronicles 17:20). WEEK 1: The Only One YOU'LL NEED: Two different kinds of leaves or flowers (fake flowers are fine) and four pieces of plain paper, some tape and...

Bond or Bust.(turning family travel into bonding time)
November 1, 2000... Long trips in the car are a great time for getting to know your kids better. Here's how On the road again. I can't wait to get on the road again." I'm humming this Willie Nelson song as I pack our family's suitcases for the four-hour drive...

Special Needs.(Illinois church reaches out to parents of disabled children)
November 1, 2000... How one church reached out to these struggling families Judy and Tim Barg, parents of five children under 11, have attended their church for the past nine years. When their son Timmy turned 3 years old, his behavior in church and Sunday...

Have Yourself a Very Simple Christmas.(holidays on a budget)
November 1, 2000... How to clear out the clutter and create a meaningful holiday One of our all-time best Christmases was the year we were broke. Really broke. We had just joined the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ, making the shift from "a real job" (as...

Give a Goat This Christmas.(unique ways to reach out)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... 9 unique ways your family can share God's love this season If your family is looking for meaningful ways to reach out to others this Christmas, try one of these ideas: 1. Get Their Goat Donate a goat to a family in India ($120) or a...

Searching for the heart of Christmas.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... Despite my best efforts, our kids were missing the point of the season. Could anything break through to them? The avalanche fell on our home at the end of September. Maybe I should have known was coming, but it really caught me off guard....

WORSHIP WIGGLE BUSTERS.(keeping kids from being restless in church)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... Combine a squirrely child with an early morning and an hour-plus service and it's no wonder a young child can have a hard time paying attention during church. You've probably tried distracting your child with toys, bribing him with snacks, even...

Fad Alert!(knowing which trends to keep children away from)
November 1, 2000... From Pokemon to Furbies, how do you know which trends are okay for your kids? a while ago my youngest son received a pack of Pokemon cards as a birthday party favor. During the ride home he proceeded to enlighten me as to their form,...

When She Won't Eat Meat.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... If it's tough to get your young teen to eat meat, don't worry. A well-balanced diet of dairy products, fruits, leafy greens and vegetables can supply all the nutritional values your growing child will need. If your child has also sworn off eggs...

Building a Heritage That Lasts.(passing on family faith)
November 1, 2000... Carla Barnhill John Trent and Kurt Bruner describe the tools you need to pass your faith on to your family For years, Focus on the Family has been committed to helping parents raise Christian children. And while Focus has produced all...

Quick Cleaning.(cleaning house is faster with everyone pitching in)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... I've discovered a way to get the house cleaned quickly, even with five children. Each person--parents, too--picks up ten items and puts them in their proper places. In our household, that means that 70 items are eliminted from the floor,...

Prayer Partners.(making prayer personal for children)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... To help make prayer more personal for our children, we play "Pick a Prayer." We cut squares of felt and write the names of people we want to pray for (family members, friends, church leaders, teachers, etc.) on them. All the squares are kept in...

Just My Size.(build a custom child-sized table and chair)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... My son loves to draw and color, but can't quite reach the kitchen table. I found an old, two-tiered endtable at a garage sale for $6 and my husband cut off the top section. This became Andrew's chair and the larger section became his table. We...

A Good Start.(building a collection of special ornaments for a child)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... Each year at Christmas, my husband and I buy a special, dated ornament for each of our twin girls. We put these ornaments away for safekeeping, enclosed with a recent photo. One day, when the girls get married or venture out on their own, we...

Is It Asthma?(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... If your child has a nagging cough that lingers or makes a high-pitched sound when he breathes, you should consider having him checked for asthma, according to Dr. Dan Seilheimer, chief of Texas Children's Asthma Center. "Persistent or...

Stop Gossip.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... Gossip is like eating the Turkish Delight candy in the Narnia books, one 10-year-old girl recently admitted to her mother. "I know it's bad but I can't stop myself." Nearly every school-aged child has been both the perpetrator and the...

Build a Better Body Image.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... Weight loss, once a loaded issue for adolescents, is now becoming a concern for children as early as 10 or 11, sometimes even younger. According to specialists in the field of eating disorders, 31 percent of 9-year-olds surveyed for one study...

10 Things to Know About the Chicken Pox Vaccine.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... 1. The vaccine, Varivax, was approved by the FDA in 1995. 2. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the vaccine is 85% effective in preventing all chicken pox cases. 3. Those who do contract chicken pox in spite of the vaccine...

No More Name Calling.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... For a young 6- or 7-year-old, name-calling is a common coping mechanism. Kids this age are learning how to get along with others. For a child who hasn't yet developed the tools she needs to cope with awkward or uncomfortable situations,...

If the Shoe Fits.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... Payless ShoeSource Children's feet play an important role in the proper alignment of the knees, hips and lower back, according to pediatrician Steven Parker, director of Behavioral and Developmental Pediatrics at Boston Medical Center and...

The Power of Play.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... Experts agree that unstructured play is vital to a child's optimum development. Play helps children develop imagination and creativity, practice problem solving and exercise their own strength and coordination. As your preschooler plays, she is...

Modern-Day Magi.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... In every season of life there is a time to give and a time to receive I could barely hear her voice over the phone, but I knew she was crying. Joan [*], are the holidays getting to you?" I asked. She meekly replied, "There's just not...

Babies and Books.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... Reading books to your baby is as vital to her development as a healthy diet and a good night's sleep. The American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends that during well-baby visits, pediatricians prescribe reading activities, with an emphasis...

Road Rules for Toddlers.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... My husband and I travel in the Christian music group "forever-after," and our 3-year-old always comes with us. Along the way, we've learned some clever strategies for keeping our child happy in the car: Plan ahead. When we have a long...

Extended Wear.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... To extend the life of our son's favorite blanket sleepers, we cut the feet off them when he outgrows the length. Then he wears the sleeper to bed with socks. He stays warm and we don't have to buy new sleepers.

LIFE IN OUR HOUSE.(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2000... Humor from Readers Home-Cooked Meal One night I pulled a pizza out of the freezer for dinner and asked, "Who wants frozen pizza for dinner tonight?" Jumping up and down, the children both shouted, "We do! We do!" Then, my 4-year-old...

How to Tell a Great Story.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... Everyone likes to hear a good story, but not everyone enjoys telling them. Why? Most people say, "I don't know what stories to tell" or "l'm terrible at storytelling." Fear not! Follow these steps and before you know it, you'll be spinning...

Bedtime Blessings.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... Tuck your kids in with a reminder of God's love Life can easily get stuck on fast-forward, particularly during the holiday season. To be honest, there are times when our family feels like an F-16 racing at Mach speed. But over the years,...

Devotions for Two.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... The Power of Love (The Book of Esther) At first glance, the story of Esther and Xerxes assaults our modern sensibilities. The king who banishes his first queen when she refuses to be ogled by his friends? And who then collects a harem...

"It Works For Us".(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... As the parents of two very active boys, ages 2 and 4, we know all about exhaustion. One of our best dates is brought to us by our church. They started a free "Date Night" for the parents of young children. The kids go to the church where they...

Yearly Reminders.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... I save my children's artwork throughout the year and make calendars with it. We cut out their favorite creations from the past year and glue them on the appropriate month (hearts for Valentine's Day, Pilgrims for Thanksgiving, etc.). Not only...

Fear Not.(Brief Article)(Editorial)
November 1, 2000... "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people." Not long ago, my daughter broke her arm. We were out for a walk when she ran out ahead of me and tripped, falling onto the concrete sidewalk on all fours....

Letters From Home.(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2000... mail that matters The Right Choice I really enjoyed "The School Choice" (September/October). I have two children, a 14-year-old daughter and an 11-year-old son. We sent them to a private school for six years and then homeschooled them...

Can You Help?(Brief Article)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2000... Real-life advice from readers "My son doesn't want me to date." Patti in Oregon wrote: "I'm the single mother of a 10-year-old son. I recently started dating and my son is having a very difficult time dealing with my new relationship....

Great Dates.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2000... Perfect Fit Of the whole year, the weeks surrounding Thanksgiving and Christmas are when spouses ignore each other the most, eat too much and exercise the least--all of which can leave you feeling stressed. But you can take good care of...