The Quick Guide to Discipline for Children's Ministry: 101 Good Ideas for Bad Behavior Paperback – Illustrated, December 2, 2009

For anyone who may read this review, so that you will know where I am coming from: I am a Children's intern at a Nazarene church, I am studying to become a Children's pastor, and I am pregnant with my first child.I gave this book five out of five stars because it is full of useful information, even though I found it a bit misleading. The book addresses seventy-three different issues by giving one hundred and one different scenarios, so each issue gets at least one scenario. Then it specifically addresses those scenarios, sometimes giving the probable reason behind why the scenario occurred and then lists what to do and what not to do in similar situations. Also, the issues are all listed in alphabetical order, so it is easy to find each section.When I first got the book I had been under the impression that it would give one hundred and one different ways to handle misbehavior, so I was a bit put off when I realized that the book wasn't going to be quite like that. However, now that I have read it, I'm glad that it addressed so many issues because, even though I haven't had to deal with most of the issues, it is very possible that I will have to deal with each of the issues at some point in my ministry.A lot of the action steps were fairly similar and very useful, but there were two sections in particular that contradicted each other. One of the sections talks about taking two minute breaks when kids are starting to squirm so that they can get their wiggles out and refocus. However, there is another section that talks about how some kids start squirming because they are tired and how it will only make things worse if they are instructive to have a time of being active to get their wiggles out. So, between the two sections, I don't know if it would be good or bad to take periodic breaks for kids to be active during the lesson. I suppose this could be figured out through trial and error with different groups of children.Besides being a great book for those who are going to be working in churches with children, it would also be a good book for those working outside of churches; such as, daycare providers, elementary teachers, and new moms. Because those people are also working with children on a regular basis and will need to know how to deal with different issues that may arise at some point. There were definitely some things that I am anticipating dealing with as a mother that this book addressed, and I really feel better knowing the methods that it gives to deal with those issues.Overall, this is a fantastic book, especially for those just beginning children's ministry and those who don't know how to deal with certain issues that are covered in this book. I would definitely recommend it to every Children's pastor, Sunday school teacher, volunteer, daycare provider, elementary teacher, and new mom.

The Quick Guide to Discipline for Children's Ministry is a great resource for volunteers, children's pastors and really anyone who works with kids. The book is formatted in such a way that it is easy to find any situation that you might encounter, even some you would have never thought of. I think that best part of this book is that fact that it doesn't just tell you the does and don'ts it gives you some explanation as to why the behavior is happening. I wish I had the ability to have this book embedded in my brain to be able to pull up as recourse on the dot but unfortunately that's not possible. As a children's pastor it is amazing to think of all these issues and the fact that most of them happen on a normal Sunday and Wednesday night. It also amazes me as to how many of the don'ts mentioned in this book seem to be a normal practice in churches. It also amazes me that some of the don'ts made it into this book. It would seem that some are pretty extreme however I understand some of the extremes mentions, some have happened to me when I was a kid. The only thing that I wish the book would have is less specific questions. Some of them are so specific to situations that it's a little hard to generalize them. This doesn't mean that it's not possible but it does make it a little harder to use some of the preschool issues and apply to older kids. This isn't to say that it can't be used throughout the ages it is just a little harder to assess some of the examples given in the situations we find. All in all The Quick Guide to Discipline of Children's Ministry is a great resource and is one that every children's, and even youth, pastor should have in their libraries.

Interesting, good layout of the book... alot of is common sense and some irrelevant, but still I can find some great points that help... I only read some of it, fun book.

Used for young parents

Have not had to use it yet. Looking through it I am sure it will become useful.

covers lots of issues but the print is VERY small!!!

As a children's pastor for 15 years, I consider this book to be one of the more useful and practical around. I give this book to every new staff person I hire.

Nothing really new in the book

Quick and easy to look up misbehavior and get instant ideas of how to handle the situation!