Their Name Is Today: Reclaiming Childhood in a Hostile World Book Review By Johann Arnold + Giveaway 11/6 US/CAN

ABOUT THE BOOK:

There's hope for childhood. Despite a perfect storm of hostile forces that are robbing children of a healthy childhood, courageous parents and teachers who know what's best for children are turning the tide. Johann Christoph Arnold, whose books on education, parenting, and relationships have helped more than a million readers through life's challenges, draws on the stories and voices of parents and educators on the ground, and a wealth of personal experience. He surveys the drastic changes in the lives of children, but also the groundswell of grassroots advocacy and action that he believes will lead to the triumph of common sense and time-tested wisdom. Arnold takes on technology, standardized testing, overstimulation, academic pressure, marketing to children, over-diagnosis and much more, calling on everyone who loves children to combat these threats to childhood and find creative ways to help children flourish. Every parent, teacher, and childcare provider has the power to make a difference, by giving children time to play, access to nature, and personal attention, and most of all, by defending their right to remain children.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

People have come to expect sound advice from Johann Christoph Arnold, an award-winning author with over a million copies of his books in print in more than 20 languages. A noted speaker and writer on marriage, parenting, and end-of-life issues, Arnold is a senior pastor of the Bruderhof, a movement of Christian communities. With his wife, Verena, he has counseled thousands of individuals and families over the last forty years. His books include Why Forgive?, Rich in Years, Seeking Peace, Cries from the Heart, Be Not Afraid, and Why Children Matter. Arnold's message has been shaped by encounters with great peacemakers such as Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Teresa, César Chavez, and John Paul II. Together with paralyzed police officer Steven McDonald, Arnold started the Breaking the Cycle program, working with students at hundreds of public high schools to promote reconciliation through forgiveness. This work has also brought him to conflict zones from Northern Ireland to Rwanda to the Middle East. Closer to home, he serves as chaplain for the local sheriff's department. Born in Britain in 1940 to German refugees, Arnold spent his boyhood years in South America, where his parents found asylum during the war; he immigrated to the United States in 1955. He and his wife have eight children, 42 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. They live in upstate New York. To learn more visit www.richinyears.com 

MY REVIEW:


This book is an eye-opener for me. I've always known at the back of my mind the huge difference on how we were brought up and how me and hubby are bringing up our daughters.

20+ years ago, when we were children, technology wasn't that advanced compared to today. I grew up in the Philippines and during summer, I remember we always stayed at our grandparents' house in the province. We would spend our day playing with toy clay pots and pans, bike around our grandparents' driveway or catch fish in their fish pond, this is popular in provinces. We didn't have video games or handheld consoles available today to young children. We would play pretend or run around and play "chinese garter", a popular game in the Philippines. The closest thing we had in our grandparents' house compared to today's technology was a television and we would rather play outside than watch it.

Fast forward 20+ years, I now have 2 daughters of my own and being 3 and 6, they can already use the laptop and tablets without difficulty. If I don't interfere with their gadget use, they would stay glued to the laptop and the tablet the whole day. Some days, specially when I'm busy, I would oversee their gadget use and I am guilty of that. Most days, I would limit their tablet and laptop use and bring them to the playground to play. We would go biking and pier fishing once in a while and their joy and satisfaction in catching a fish cannot be compared to while they're in front of the tablet or laptop.

As I read the book, I saw some points to why the world has changed drastically and children have been more inclined to using their gadgets instead of going out and play. One of the things I read in the book is that kids playing outside is not that safe anymore specially when they are not watched over by their parents or guardian. I do agree with this because I read and watch a lot of news about missing children as well as adults. This is one of the reasons to why I prefer my daughters inside the house. If me or my hubby can't go with them to the playground, then they stay inside our home.

There are a lot more things I wanted to share about my experiences as a child and as a parent that I've related to the book but I wouldn't finish my review. :)

This book has taught me new things as well as reaffirm me on what I have to do to raise my daughters the same way my mom raised us. It's a great must-read for new and old parents.

You can purchase the book: Their Name Is Today on Amazon.

Who wants to win a copy of the book?! You can win a copy of the book by entering on the rafflecopter form below. Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

 Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

DISCLAIMER: 1 Winner will receive a copy of the Their Name Is Today: Reclaiming Childhood in a Hostile World Book by Johann Arnold. My giveaway would start October 25, 2014 at 12:00 AM PST and will end November 6, 2014 at 12:00 AM PST. This will be open to US and CAN residents only. The prize cannot be shipped to a P.O. box address. Winners will be notified by email and will have 24 hours to respond before a new winner is selected. I am not responsible for prize fulfillment. My role is to give the sponsor the information of the winner and they will directly ship the prize to the winner. I have received a product/s mentioned above to in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are honest and my own and are not influenced in any way. No other form of compensation was received. I do not share or sell information and all information shared with me will solely be used for prize shipment. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC 16 CFR Part 255.