Methods of training children often fall in two extreme camps. The one extreme is permissiveness. A view made popular by Dr. Spock decades ago, this taught that children were evolving and discipline hinders their progress. The other extreme is to spank the child for everything. As stated, these are both extremes and are not consistent with Scripture.

Michael Pearl and Debi Pearl’s present ministry, No Greater Joy, began with the book, To Train Up a Child in 1994. Since then well over half a million copies have been printed of this best seller. The basic premise of the book is to teach parents how to reject discipline thinking and learn training thinking.

This is not a list of theoretical platitudes but sound advice, illustrated from real family situations and presented in a very readable format. The Pearls used this method in raising their own five children. The teaching continues to be applies in the training of their 14+ grandchildren.

In the words of the Pearls themselves, one major goal of the books is, “no more raised voices, no contention, no bad attitudes, fewer spankings, a cheerful atmosphere in the home, and total obedience from your children”. Remember, this ‘too good to be true’ goal has been achieved by thousands of satisfied readers. In fact, this led to the publication of No Greater Joy magazine containing answers to specific questions parents had in applying the principles. These articles have since been compiled into the three volumes of No Greater Joy books.

Don’t think the Pearls have come up with some hidden secret. In the Pearls’ own words, “These truths are not new, deep insights from the professional world of research, but rather, the same principles the Amish use to train their stubborn mules, the same technique God uses to train His children. These principles are profoundly simple and extremely obvious. After examining them with us, you will say, ‘I knew that all along. Where have I been? It’s so obvious.’”

The emphasis of To Train Up a Child is in the title word train. It contains principles to train a child before discipline is needed and to maintain an appropriate fellowship with our children, not a buddy nor a tyrant relationship.

The authors promise, “The stress will be gone and your obedient children will praise you and bring joy and peace into your home. Thousands have testified to the amazing results of these profoundly simple techniques”

Some of the chapter titles include, Parental Anger, Selective Submission, Safety Training, Potty Training, Emotional Control, Self-Indulgence, Bullies, and The Rod. A bonus is that the book has recently been updated and expanded, yet is still very reasonable.

Parents don’t have time for a hit and miss approach to child rearing. We want to use techniques that apply Biblical principles to real life situations, in short, things that are guaranteed to work. In a mere 122 pages, To Train Up A Child gives you that very thing. If you are a frustrated parent, or know someone who is and is open to fresh ideas, this six dollars might well be a life-changing investment.