How To Have a H.E.A.R.T. For Your Kids - Apologia - TOS Review

How to Have a H.E.A.R.T. for Your Kids
Rachael Carman, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-935495-41-3

205 pages

$13

Geared to parents of all ages

Published by Apologia Press
A division of Apologia Educational Ministries, Inc.
1106 Meridian Plaza, Suite 220/340
Anderson, IN 46016
http://www.apologia.com/

It's that time again--TOS Homeschool Crew product reviews for 2011-2012 are in full swing. 

The first review I have the privilege of doing this year is for the Apologia book How to Have a H.E.A.R.T. For Your Kids by Rachael Carman. 

Let me start by saying this is a great book!  Rachael shares a lot of scripture and insight in the pages of this small but encouraging book.  Within the 205 pages this book you'll find an introduction, 5 chapters explaining the meaning of H.E.A.R.T. and an encouraging epilogue.  Some of the great stuff you'll find includes:

Introduction:  The Heart of the Matter  - This brief introduction gives the reader the meaning of the acronym H.E.A.R.T. and explains the author's entrance into the world of homeschooling.  
Chapter 1: H - Have a Heart for the Things of God - This chapter describes how to reach the hearts of your kids by having a heart for the things of God while showing examples of seeking, desiring, worshipping, and obeying God as parents.  This chapter is a great reminder that our kids see everything we do and learn from it.
Chapter 2: E - Enrich Your Marriage - This is a great chapter about how to enrich our marriages so that when our kids watch us they learn trust, sacrifice, loyalty, teamwork, forgiveness and more.  Our children can also learn things like perseverance, joy, diligence, kindness and more from watching how we relate to each other as a couple.  Having fun again, wives honoring their husbands through respect, trust, love and support, prayer and study together, and service to our spouse are a few of the key suggestions noted here.
Chapter 3: A - Accept Your Kids - In this chapter readers are asked to consider whether our children are accidents or blessings.  You'll probably read this and be left wondering if your child was born as an answer to prayer for something more than a normal life.  A cure for a dreaded disease, a missionary to share the gospel, something you don't even imagine yet.  This chapter reminds us that our kids are gifts for us put here for God's use.  Acceptance versus permissiveness is also discussed here.
Chapter 4: R - Release Them to God - This chapter is a reminder that "God has graciously loaned them (our kids) to you and me at this time and for His glory".  The author discusses the liberating aspect of this realization and encourages readers to trust God and train children with a strong emphasis on their relationship with God.  Developing a vision for God's plans for our kids and guarding that vision are also discussed.
Chapter 5: T - Teach Them the Truth - The last chapter of this book tackles the "most important thing to teach your children".  The reader, as a parent, is encouraged to make teaching kids the truth, the knowledge and understanding of God, first priority.  Six facts about the truth of God's Word are presented, and we are encouraged to "live out loud" what we read in this truth. 
Epilogue: Heartfelt Encouragement - Encouraging scripture verses and a discussion of "running with perseverance the race marked out for us" finish out this thoughtful book.

What I Thought:
I really enjoyed this book.  I think this would be a great read for all parents.  Rachael offers so much to think about with regard to our marriages, our lives as parents and what our children learn from us.  I like that she encourages us to think of our children as gifts from God for His purpose.  The ideas shared here would be great to read over and over again just to stay on track as a family.  Starting from an entry into homeschooling, without a heart for her children, and finishing with a challenge to reclaim our God-assigned place in raising our kids, Rachel describes the whole circle of her H.E.A.R.T. change with honesty and a healthy dose of related scripture.  Thumbs up to Rachel and Apologia for this wonderful book!

To see a sample chapter of How to Have a H.E.A.R.T. for Your Kids click here

To visit the order page on the Apologia site to get your own copy of this great book click here
To see more TOS Crew reviews of How to Have a H.E.A.R.T. for Your Kids click here

 


 

Disclaimer:  As a member of the TOS Homeschool Review Crew I recently received a free copy of  How to Have a H.E.A.R.T. for Your Kids to read in order to present an honest review on my blog.  I am not obliged to present a positive review.  All comments and opinions regarding the product are my own.  I have not and will not receive further compensation for this review.