From
time to time, various Christian Brethren Assemblies have had or are running the
'Growing Kids God's Way' parenting course or one of the other parenting
courses from Growing Families Australia. These programs for parents are
highly recommended for ALL parents and children's ministries personnel
(including school education workers) and have had a terrific response when
local churches have provided these courses for their members and for the wider
community in their area.
Please
feel free to talk to one of your church elders or pastor,
or the person heading up the family programs, if you need help in your
parenting and they will be able to assist you and link you up to others that
may be able to help and share advise. If you are new to this huge task called
'parenting', or feel a bit overwhelmed, we recommend getting hold of one of the
excellent "On Becoming..." series paperback books shown below. They have lots
of good old-fashioned advise that is age appropriate for whatever stage you are
at with your family. These are available at christian bookstores, some secular
bookshops, or through the Growing Families
Australia office.
QUICK PARENTING TIPS from
Gary and
Anne Marie Ezzo
at the Growing Families International
website:
Infant
Toddler
Preschooler
Pre-Adolescence
Adolescence/Teenager
Try
one of these
million-seller
'On Becoming...'
series paperbacks
that are loaded
with practical
application to
assist you in the
huge and
privileged task
of parenting your
child, no matter
where you are in
the process.
On
Becoming BIRTHWISE
(Pre-Birth to Birth)
Medical research
continually develops better ways to manage labour and delivery for healthy
outcomes. With all of the choices, theories, and plethora of ideas available
today, it’s a challenge for expectant parents to know where to turn for wise
counsel. Where will you turn for help? On Becoming Birthwise has reliable
answers for you. As an outgrowth of a childbirth course created in 1989 by a
group of health-care providers knowledgeable and skilled in labour and
delivery, (and now with over seventy years of collective hospital and clinical
experience behind them), this resource is a must-read for every expectant
parent. Our authors explore the medical options available from high-tech
intervention to natural childbirth. You will grow in your understanding and
appreciation of the physical and emotional transitions taking place during
pregnancy and at each stage of labour. Similar to the other seven books in our
series, On Becoming Birthwise is informative, practical, and easily understood.
Perhaps most importantly, this book is written from the hearts of moms who are
also medical professionals. We are pleased to add this book to our parenting
series. We have read many glowing post-delivery reports, we have listened to
mums and dads speak with confidence and satisfaction of their birthing
experience, and we know this resource will serve to encourage you through the
miraculous process of bringing forth a new life.
On
Becoming BABYWISE
(From Birth to Eight
Months)
The infant management concepts
presented in this book have found favour with over two million parents and
twice as many contented babies. On Becoming Babywise brings hope to the tired
and bewildered parents looking for an alternative to sleepless nights and fussy
babies.
The
Babywise Parent Directed Feeding concept has enough structure to bring security
and order to your baby's world, yet enough flexibility to give mum freedom to
respond to any need at any time. It teaches parents how to lovingly guide their
baby's day rather than be guided or enslaved to the infant's unknown needs. The
information contained within On Becoming Babywise is loaded with success.
Comprehensive breast-feeding follow-up surveys spanning three countries prove
this method. The average breast-fed PDF baby sleeps continuously through the
night, seven to eight hours between weeks seven and nine. Healthy sleep in
infants is analogous to
healthy
growth and development. Find out for yourself why a world of parents and
paediatricians utilise the concepts detailed here. CHINESE version
available.
See also the support DVD for On
Becoming Babywise Book 1 -
Babywise Bliss here.
On
Becoming BABYWISE II - The NEXT STEP
(From
Five Months to Fifteen Months)
It's reality-check time! You are at
least five months into your tour of parenting duty by now. The complexity of
child-training has begun to come into focus. Feeding time, wake time and sleep
time provide wonderful opportunities for training and Babywise Book II will
guide you all the way, from the high chair to playpen, from the living room to
the back yard, the practical side of introducing solids food, managing
mealtimes, nap transitions, travelling with your infant, setting reasonable
limits while encouraging healthy exploration, and much more. Learn how to teach
your child to use sign language for basic needs, a tool proven to help
stimulate cognitive growth and advance communication. CHINESE version
available.
On
Becoming PRE-TODDLERWISE
(Parenting the 12-18 Month Olds)
The period between twelve and
eighteen months places a child on a one-way bridge. Infancy is a thing of the
past and toddlerhood is straight ahead. A baby still? Not really, but neither
is he a toddler and that is the key to understanding this phase of growth. Take
a couple of photos because the child leaving infancy will not resemble the
child entering toddlerhood six months down the road. This is a time of
metamorphosis when his potential for learning seems limitless, his budding
curiosity unquenchable and his energy level never seems to diminish. Whether
you're ready or not your pretoddler's natural inclination and challenge of "I
do myself" will become increasingly apparent. Try taking something away and a
scream of protest is likely. Remove your him from a dangerous object and his
curiosity lures him right back. A favourite food suddenly becomes
no-so-favourite and in a few months "No!" becomes the default word whether the
child understands the question or not. How will you meet the unfolding growth
challenges in the weeks and months ahead? From America's best selling authors,
On Becoming Pre-Toddlerwise give trustworthy advice you can count on.
On
Becoming TODDLERWISE
(Parenting the Second Year)
There is no
greater fulfilment a parent can receive than the upturned face of a toddler,
eyes speaking wonders and a face of confidence in discovering a brand new world
with Mum and Dad. In just over a year, the helpless infant emerges as a little
moving, talking, walking, exploratory person marked by keen senses, clear
memory, quick perceptions and unlimited energy. He emerges into a period of
life know affectionately as the Toddler Years. How ready are you for this new
experience? The toddler years are the learning fields and you need a trust
worthy guide to take you through the unfolding maze of your child’s developing
world. On Becoming Toddlerwise is a tool chest of workable strategies and ideas
that multiplies your child’s learning opportunities in a loving and nurturing
way. This resource is as practical as it is informative. With over two million
homes to their credit, trusted parenting authors Gary Ezzo and Robert Bucknam
bring their collective wisdom, experience, and insights to bear on this
critical phase of growth and development. From first steps to potty training
made easy and everything in between, it is all here for you.
On
Becoming PRESCHOOLWISE
(Parenting the Preschool Child)
Optimising Educational Outcomes
- What The Preschoolers Need To Learn
Who can understand the mind of a
preschooler? You can! Know that above all else, a preschooler is a learner. His
amazing powers of reasoning and discrimination are awakened through a world of
play and imagination. Through home relationships, he learns about love, trust,
comfort, and security; through friends he learns to measure himself against a
world of peers; and through unconditional love, a child establishes his own
unique selfhood. The growth period between ages three and five years is all
about learning, and On Becoming Preschoolwise is all about helping parents
create the right opportunities and best environment to optimize their child’s
learning potential. Now influencing over two million homes worldwide, trusted
parenting authors Gary Ezzo and Dr. Robert Bucknam once again bring their
collective wisdom, experience, and insight to bear on this critical phase of
preschool training. From teaching about the importance of play to learning how
to prepare a preschooler for the first day of school, from organizing your
child’s week to understanding childhood fears and calming parental anxiety,
sound advice and practical application await the reader. You will find this
resource as practical as it is informative, curative as much as it is
encouraging.
On
Becoming CHILDWISE
(From Three to Seven
Years)
As a child moves beyond the toddler
years, new challenges arise for parents. Be prepared for this exciting stage
with fifteen "On Becoming Childwise" principles for training children in happy
and responsible living. Nurture your child's uniqueness while setting loving
boundaries on his/her world, and sow the seed for a rich harvest in the teen
years ahead.
See
also On Becoming
Childwise, The Series
parenting curriculum for Home,
School & Community.
On
Becoming PRETEENWISE
(From Eight to Twelve Years)
Discover active listening and
personal influence work better than parental dictates. Pre-Teenwise offers
clear strategies for parenting pre-adolescent children, including insulating
them from harmful peer pressure, encouraging harmony at home, and building
future friendships with grown children.
On
Becoming TEENWISE
(Through the Teen Years)
Take these parenting experts'
family "reality test" and find out where your developing youth's priorities now
focus. Learn to say "I love you" in the language your teen speaks. This final
book in the series helps parents learn how to move past current struggles and
start over with credibility, prevent teenage rebellion in the future, and
determine how to build lasting parent-teen friendships, starting today.
See
also the On
Becoming Teenwise Program
parenting curriculum for Home,
School & Community.
|
 Preparation
For
Parenting
Along the
Infant Way
(Birth to Six Months of Age)
Preparation For
Parenting (PFP) is authored by
Gary and Anne Marie Ezzo.
If you are expecting a baby or you have an infant, then this series
will help you and your family get off on the right foot. Topics
include: Establishing a biblical mindset for parenting. What causes
an infant to become insecure? Understanding your infant's biological
clock. The when, how and why of breast and bottle feeding. Why is
routine part of God's universal order? What is Parent-Directed
Feeding? The role of Dad in infant parenting. Why babies can sleep
through the night in eight weeks. Understanding your baby's cry. The
infant management concepts presented in this series have found
favour with over two million parents and twice as many contented
babies. |
 Preparation
for the
Toddler Years
Along the Toddler Way
(From Six Months to Three Years of Age)
Preparation For The
Toddler Years (PTY) is authored by Gary and Anne
Marie Ezzo. Builds on Preparation for Parenting and assists in
establishing right learning patterns by the development of three
life skills: sitting, focusing and concentrating. Topics include:
How to rightly deal with common mealtime problems. How to avoid
development deprivation. The importance of structure and free
playtime. The basics of biblical discipline, setting boundaries.
Five principles of instruction. How to teach your baby basic sign
language. This series teaches the practical side of introducing
solid foods, managing mealtimes, nap transitions, travelling with
your infant, setting reasonable limits while encouraging healthy
exploration. |
 Growing
Kids
God's Way
Along the Virtuous Way
(Three Years
of Age to
Pre-teens)
Growing Kids God's
Way (GKGW) is a comprehensive values-based parenting curriculum.
In the title the authors, Gary and Anne
Marie Ezzo, place their emphasis on God's Way meaning the way of
the Lord. We serve an ethical God. Moral rightness flows from His
being. His moral law is a reflection of His holy character (Psalm
19:7). More than that, He has shown man what is good and what is
required of him (Micah 6:8). GKGW can help any parent reach the
heart of children with virtues and values that flow from the
character of God and do it without stressing the child or the
parents. Utilised by more than 8,000 churches and schools worldwide
and serving over a million households, there is a reason why the
GKGW curriculum is so popular: it's practical and the applications
work. |
|
 Preparation
for Adolescence
Along the Middle Years Way
(Eight to Twelve
Years of Age)
Preparation
for Adolescence (PFA) is authored by Gary and Anne
Marie Ezzo.
You can safely guide your child into the teen years without
rebellion or hassles. You will experience unity, love and joy.
Topics include: How to raise God honouring, morally responsive
children. Raising children who can resist peer pressure. Lead by
your influence, instead of authority. Teach children "empathy" for
others. How to teach your child the value of hard work. How to be a
good listener. Rightly meeting the small challenges of the middle
years significantly reduces the likelihood of big challenges in the
teen years. In other words, the groundwork you lay during your
child's middle years will forever impact your relationship even long
after he or she is grown.
|
 Reaching
the Heart of Your Teen
Along the Adolescent Way
(From Twelve Years of Age Upwards)
Reaching the Heart of
Your Teen (RHYT) is authored by Gary and Anne
Marie Ezzo.
Offers hope to families challenged by the pressure of living with an
adolescent, with practical steps to maintain family harmony and love
that will last a lifetime. Why do teenagers rebel?
Is it due to hormones, a suppressed primal desire to stake out their
own domain, or a natural and predictable process of growth? To what
extent do parents encourage or discourage the storm and stress of
adolescence? Whether you worry about your teen and dating or your
teen and drugs, the principles of RHYT are appropriate and
applicable for both extremes and everyone in between. They do work!
|
 Reflections
of Moral Innocence
Along the Innocent Way
(From Three Years of Age Upwards)
Reflections of Moral
Innocence (ROMI) defines the parameters of morality & protecting
the moral innocence of your children. God's purpose for sex &
marital intimacy. Body parts and what to call them. When the big
questions come from little people. What is the pro-active indirect
method of sex education. Marriage bed defilers... and much more.
Along the
Innocent Way is a study in the basics of human sexuality, especially
the developing sexuality of our children. The
Ezzos
believe it is right to let children be children as long as they can,
and believe it is wrong to rush children into adulthood through the
medium of premature sexual knowledge. There is no faster way to rob
a child of the innocence of childhood than inappropriate sex
education. Children only get one childhood. What are you doing to
protect it? |
|
 BIBLICAL
PARENTING PRINCIPLES FOR THE CLASSROOM
Establishing
Congruency Between Home and School
(School staff
development curriculum)
Biblical
Parenting Principles for the Classroom (BPPC) is a professional
development kit for school teachers and staff for establishing
congruency between home and school in the training of children. This
Australian program is aimed at school staff development, to
compliment what the parents of their students are learning and
implementing from the Growing Families core parenting programs. It
was derived from Growing Kids God's Way material being used in
Biblical parenting programs across Australia and since then the
material has been presented in a number of school situations with
great success. Learn how you and your church might use this series
to reach your neighbours, schools, and communities through the
medium of parenting. This very practical vehicle will help you take
the biblical worldview into the public sector-including public
schools. The program is taught in a language that the average parent
can understand.
|
 ON
BECOMING CHILDWISE, THE SERIES
Curriculum for
the Home, Classroom & Community
(For Parents of children aged 15 months through Primary School)
On Becoming
Childwise, The Series is a 10 session video based program for
all diligent parents, providing clear strategies for parenting that
have proven successful and effective worldwide, for more than four
million households. It provides parents a clear pathway to
influencing and raising emotionally balanced, intellectually
assertive, and morally sensible children. It’s an essential guide
for the adventurous primary school years. Learn how you and your
church might use this series to reach your neighbours, schools, and
communities through the medium of parenting. This very practical
vehicle will help you take the biblical worldview into the public
sector-including public schools, boys and girls clubs, community
centres, or any setting where young parents live, work, and play.
The series is taught in a language that the average parent can
understand and presented in a format that will keep them coming back
week after week. |
 ON
BECOMING TEENWISE PROGRAM
Building a
Relationship that Lasts a Lifetime
(A program for Parents of Teens and Pre-teens)
On
Becoming Teenwise looks at the many factors that make living
with a teenager a delight, or a constant struggle and
disappointment. It brings hope to families challenged by the
pressure of living with a teen. Practical steps are offered to
rebuild and maintain family harmony and a loving relationship that
can last a lifetime. This parenting program is based on one book of
the series of world best-selling paperbacks, “On Becoming Teenwise”.
On Becoming Teenwise is a 12 session parent-teen education program
designed primarily for parents of teens and pre-teens. This is not a
video-based program as all sessions of On Becoming Teenwise have
been designed to be presented in person.
Learn how you and your church might use this series to reach your
neighbours, schools, and communities through the medium of
parenting. This very practical vehicle will help you take the
biblical worldview into the public sector-including public schools,
boys and girls clubs, community centres, or any setting where young
parents live, work, and play. |
