|
|
|
| HOME | ABOUT US | PARENTING ARTICLES | RESOURCES | LESSON SUPPORT | MINISTRIES | TESTIMONIALS | EVENTS | NEWS | CONTACTS | |
|
RESOURCES - ON BECOMING CHILDWISE, THE SERIES |
A Letter to Pastors (and other church leaders) - about On Becoming Childwise, The Series
Free printable version of this article here in
or
format.
Go to the On Becoming Childwise Program page here
Introducing...
ON BECOMING CHILDWISE
...The Series
It is with great joy that we present to you the parent education program, On Becoming Childwise, which we believe will have an even greater impact on our society than our ever expanding present parenting programs. This new series was launched in Australia in February 2003, by the authors Gary and Anne Marie Ezzo. Facilitator training has now commenced, and materials are available through the Growing Families Australia (GFA) National Office.
RATIONALE
The family in our society (and in most societies worldwide) is in crisis. Parents need help and many are searching for answers. We believe that the Bible contains God’s mind on this and, indeed, all issues of life. We also know that the church generally is seen by society as archaic and irrelevant, and therefore it’s message of the truth of the scriptures is falling on ears that cannot hear it. To present an overtly biblical parenting course to the community at large would in many cases fail. This would have the effect of further reinforcing the stereotypical idea that the presenters and the presentation are irrelevant and religious, because of the already established mindset prevalent in the community.
To this end, On Becoming Childwise, The Series, is structured to be non-religious, non threatening and “politically correct” (e.g. it entirely avoids the smacking issue) enough to be acceptable to the community at large. Whilst it is based on principles found in the Bible and represents the Christian mind on these issues, it is not a biblical parenting class. On Becoming Childwise, The Series must be seen by the church as a tool to minister to their community and not a substitute for biblical parenting. The program seeks to bring God’s love, care and instruction to a hurting world.
Wise church leaderships will see the enormous opportunities presented here to be proactive and relevant to their communities. Here is a tool with which the church can reach out to its local community.
GFA OBJECTIVES for ON BECOMING CHILDWISE, THE SERIES
1. To provide the church with a tool with which it can minister and reach out to their community.
2. To provide a tool which may be used to educate and nurture parents to be better parents and therefore avoid some of the problems that are plaguing our society.
3. To open up a pathway from On Becoming Childwise, The Series, to Along the Virtuous Way (GKGW) and other comprehensive biblical parenting training and instruction.
This innovative series has emerged from the strong foundation laid through the parent/discipleship programs which have been operating in Australia for over 10 years now, bringing confidence and competence in parenting to thousands of parents, both inside and outside the church. These courses are:
Along the Infant Way (formerly called Preparation for Parenting)
Along the Toddler Way (formerly called Preparation for the Toddler Years)
Along the Virtuous Way (formerly called Growing Kids God’s Way)
Along the Middle Years Way (formerly called Preparation for Adolescence)
Along the Adolescent Way (formerly called Reaching the Heart of Your Teen)
Along the Innocent Way (formerly called Reflections of Moral Innocence)
These programs have reached all parts of Australia through the model and example of families spreading throughout the community, thus fulfilling our motto:
Reaching our Nation, One Family at a Time
Growing Families programs are facilitated by volunteer parents who have been trained by our committees in each state. They are blessed, and then share the blessing. The programs are conducted under the direction of the local church or Christian school, who are responsible for the way the materials are used. The de-biblicised version of the Along the Infant Way (PFP), called “On Becoming Babywise,” about nurturing babies, has been a top selling paperback worldwide for some years.
The “On Becoming...” paperback series by Gary Ezzo and Robert Bucknam MD, are:
On Becoming Birthwise
On Becoming Babywise
On Becoming Babywise 2
On Becoming Toddlerwise
On Becoming Preschoolwise
On Becoming Childwise
On Becoming Preteen Wise
On Becoming Teen Wise
It has been because of the success of these paperback versions that the video series “On Becoming Childwise, The Series” has been developed. It is very specifically a tool for “reaching our nation, one family at a time” with the parenting foundations based on the Word of God.
ON BECOMING CHILDWISE, THE SERIES INTRODUCTION
You became a parent overnight... but it takes much longer to become child-wise. The On Becoming Childwise, The Series Educational Curriculum provides parents and teachers a clear pathway to influencing and raising emotionally balanced, intellectually assertive, and morally sensible children. It’s the essential guidebook for the adventurous primary grade school years. Seasoned authors, Gary and Anne Marie Ezzo, provide clear strategies for parenting that have proven successful and effective worldwide for more than two million households and four million children. Translated into more than thirteen languages, the Ezzo's curriculum transcends cultural, political and religious lines around the world and in the classroom.
ABOUT THE EZZOS
Gary Ezzo M.A. is a graduate of Biola University School of Theology. Anne Marie Ezzo is a registered nurse and child-birth instructor. Together they have authored twelve books on childrearing and seven video series. Gary and Anne Marie have six grandchildren and reside in Mt Pleasant, South Carolina.
SUBJECTS
How to Raise a Responsible Child
Keep First Things First – laying the right foundation
How to Love Your Child
How to be a Trustworthy Father
How to Raise a Moral Child
How to Raise a Virtuous Child
How to Rightly Correct Your Child – The 5 laws of correction
Red Cup/Blue Cup – The place of choice
And much more…
FORMAT
The On Becoming Childwise, The Series course is a 10 part video and workbook presentation designed to be delivered in a small group context by trained facilitators. Besides the video presentation, there will be discussion, homework and practical application for the home. The facilitators are volunteer parents and child educators.
MATERIALS
Video sets, participants workbooks, audio CD’s and accompanying support material are available from the distribution centre of Growing Families Australia, Go to the On Becoming Childwise Program page to view all current On Becoming Childwise resources. Each video set will be licensed to the training body who authorize trained facilitators to use their materials.
COST
Go to the On Becoming Childwise Program page to see current resources and pricing.
FACILITATOR TRAINING
Each State has a Representative and Committee who are responsible for the facilitator training. This will be carried out where and when required. It consists of 5 sessions covered in a 5 ½ hr time slot.
· Session One - Vision and Purpose
· Session Two - Video review and practical use of the material
· Session Three - Licensing and Facilitator criteria
· Session Four - Using On Becoming Childwise for Evangelism
· Session Five - Strategic Planning
CONCLUSION
We are the “Salt of the Earth” and the “Light of the World” – by our lives people will “see our good deeds and glorify our Father in Heaven”. Matthew ch. 5 v 13-16. We believe Parenting is a Kingdom issue. We are not just parenting to have “good kids,” but for the extension of the Kingdom of God on earth.
Bill & Joan
Bill and Joan Grosser
National Directors
Growing Families Australia
Further reading: Why Start a Parenting Ministry in Your Church?
Go to the On Becoming Childwise Program page
DISCLAIMER: Growing Families and the 'On Becoming Childwise' curriculum is not associated with 'Child Wise Limited'.
| Home | About Us | Contact Us | Resources | Orders |
