Mark Matlock and Christopher Lyon
Zondervan, 2012, 368 pp., $12.99
Mark Matlock and Christopher Lyon have gathered an expert team of contributors to assemble this fantastically diverse reference resource for parents. Ideas for Parents: A Collection of Tips, Insights, and Activities for Real-World Parenting is separated into three broad categories: Relationships and Feelings, Daily Life, and Spiritual Shepherding. Each of those larger categories is divided into five sections, and each of those sections offers readers several types of informative and equipping content. There are Q&As with parenting experts, short articles, family activities, conversation starters, and practical parenting ideas.
The topics covered in this resource range from touchy subjects such as Anger and Rebellion, Sex and Self-Control all the way to practical matters such as Money and School. It also addresses more spiritual subjects such as Ongoing Discipleship and Praying for and with your Kids.
The authors have a done an admirable job of compiling a significant amount of information about a suitable variety of topics to create a resource that will be useful without being intimidatingly esoteric or enormous.
If you are looking for a good book to keep on hold for the parents in your ministry to peruse as they deal with a specific strife or stage of life, this would be a useful asset in your office, library or the parents’ resource section at your church.
