Pearables' books on responsibility for boys

I have three boys; just turned 6yo and two just turned 4yos. We’re on lesson 8 or 9 in the first book. I would not say “wow! this is over the top great!” but I do like it. It is simple and to the point, which I find is sometimes better for my kiddos than the long drawn out explanations I give them  I think the mistake I have made before in looking at “character building” books is expecting the book to contain some sort of pixie dust that magically transforms my children’s’ character (not consciously of course, but I think subconsciously) – rather than, taking it for what it’s worth, planting those little nuggets in their mind and letting them ruminate on them and letting the Holy Spirit do His work in His time on their character. But I digress, back to the Pearables book….Basically you have the main character Ben and each lesson focuses on a responsible thing Ben does and gives some practical examples of how to develop that quality in a way that relates to a young boy. In the first few lessons it focuses on things like organizing your toys and clothes and keeping them put up each day, having a morning routine of brushing your teeth, etc. and making your bed. It goes on to more relational concepts like being responsible in how you treat girls, your parents, your friends, etc. My boys have been able to relate to Ben and when they are doing one of these things will comment that they are being like Ben. My 4yos have been making up their beds (which is funny b/c they are still in cribs) and get very excited about it. Since it is a 1 lesson/week thing (the rest of the week you are supposed to keep up with the task for the week), we also are using A Child’s Book of Character (the Corriel book) along with it – also short and to the point. That book has 4 stories/lesson, so it works out great for us – we read Ben on Monday and then do whatever character trait the other book focuses on each of the other 4 days of the week. This has been a good rhythm for us for now. Hope some of that helps – if you have more specific ?s about the book, let me know and I can try to answer you better.

I don’t think it is that babyish, and my kids don’t seem to think so at all, they actually like it and find it engaging, probably b/c it asks ?s in the story and they like chiming in. My 6yo doesn’t seem to think it is babyish and he is highly against things babyish as he likes to distinguish himself from his younger two brothers. He looks forward to it. I think also because the book presents these topics (and I try to emphasize) that these things are what “big boys” (to my younger two) and “mature young men” (to my oldest) do. I think the tasks they give are age appropriate so that younger children can accomplish them, and that sense of accomplishment towards maturity in a way they can see helps them feel older. But I all think it just depends on the child, we have a friend whose son is three weeks older than my oldest and finds some things babyish that my oldest son doesn’t – and I think it is partly because that child has an older brother whereas my son IS the older brother. Again, I am sure it depends on the child, but I don’t think most 7yos would find it babyish. 

Here is an example from today’s lesson on Responsibility and Your Parents: “You are so very lucky! You have your parents helping you to grow into a responsible young man! Sadly there are many young lads who do not have someone helping them grow into young men of God. They are left to themselves as they try to find out what it means to be a man. Televsion will not tell them how to be a Godly man. Music on the radio will not tell them the correct way to be a GOdly man. Do you know what will tell you how to be a Godly man? Yes, the Bible! Your parents are reading the Bible and are trying to teach you what it says to do to live a life that will glorify God. We talked a while ago about obeying and honoring your mom and dad. Do you obey your parents? Some of the time? All of the time? When your parents give you insturction, are they doing it because they don’t like you? No! They are taking the time to tell you things so that you will be safe. God does this too. When He tells us to obey certain commands or rules in His Word, the Bible, He tells us these things so that we will remain safe. Ben learned this the hard way….” It goes on to give an example of Ben’s dad telling him not to ride his skateboard into the street, he disobeyed when no one was looking, fell and the skateboard got ran over and torn up. The lesson has the task of discussing with your parents what it means to honor them. It asks to look up honor in the dictionary and read Exodus 20:12 (telling the parents to remind them about the promise attached to this commandment) and Ephesians 6:1. Then challenges the child to try to honor your parents each day. 

Glancing at next week which is on friendship, it gives an acronym for friendship with each letter in the word standing for something that friends do to/for each other. 

Maybe that gives you a better taste for how it reads/is structured. 

Lesley