Sharing God's Big Love with Little Lives Paperback – June 13, 2017

I loved this book! I liked how Jean crafted a book geared towards encouraging parents to start teaching our children about Christ right when they are smaller. I liked how she included her own personal story throughout the book and the parenting lessons she learned along the way. I loved how she included studies from George Barna showing how important it is to start working on their character and Christ principles. I didn’t realize how a child character was form by age 6. I also didn’t know that most people get saved before age 8. These polls were a little outdated since it was from 2004 and I’m curious to hear what it is now. This is my first time in hearing about Miss PattyCake and it was interesting to see how she wrote praise songs. She dresses up like the character and travels around the world engaging children and teaching them who Jesus is and how much He loves us. I loved the story about she went into full time doing this and how she was led by God to leave Women of Faith and their worship team. A major part of the book is the importance of praising Jesus. I loved how she shared how praising God will change our atmosphere, home, and our lives. One of most eye-opening statement shared was of a church sign that she saw while she was traveling. It basically stated, “whoever wants the next generation will get them.” This is a powerful statement that we can change the lives of our children and affect future generations for the better if we start raising our children with the message of the Gospel. The audiobook was wonderful to listen to and I loved her passion when she was reading out loud God’s word. I liked how she included tons of scriptures and I believe this book will assist readers into teaching the ways of Christ to every child we are bless to come in contact with.

Jean Thomason has written the most beautiful and Scripturally-based book on how to accomplish spiritual formation in children. It's based on the acronym PRAISE! (P-Placed and Privileged to Parent; R-Rare Window of Opportunity; A-All-Access Pass to God; I-Infancy; S-Seven Ways to Practice Praise; E-Enthusiastic Enjoyment; !-Imperative with Exclamation Point). And the result, Sharing God's Big Love with Little Lives: A Can-Do Guide for Parents and Caregivers is a joyful, encouraging read for parents while also instructing them on the significant responsibility for training their children in the ways of faith.Jean includes so many Bible verses in each chapter. The verses underline what God and Jesus considered important (children!) as they share the ways faith can be taught even to the littlest of children. In addition, she shares quotes from sources as diverse as Plato, to George Barna, to Elisa Morgan, as well as medical and psychological research. Each of these reminds parents of how receptive little hearts are to faith even as their brains are growing at an astronomical speed; and how quickly they can begin to apprehend the big ideas about God, His love, and the world.Sharing God's Big Love with Little Lives: A Can-Do Guide for Parents and Caregivers is written with Jean's trademark joy and delight. But even as there are moments of laughter, I was reminded of the incredible gift of parenthood, and the significant undertaking it is. This is the perfect book for new parents or grandparents, for those in children's ministry, for teachers of little ones. It will delight and encourage readers, even as it strengthens them to faithfully love and teach their children about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and other matters of faith.I received a copy of this book from the author. All of these thoughts and opinions are my own honest ones.

I truly LOVED this book! My boys are now 20, 18 and 17 and I truly wish I had this resource when they were little. Jean Thomason has always had a "heart" for Children and reached out to Children as the Character "Miss Patty Cake". My boys did watch Miss Patty Cake and they enjoyed the show, although when a Parent and/or Grandparent is the source of teaching God's LOVE it really makes a difference in a child's life.I LOVE how Jean Thomason really reaches to the Adults in this book and encourages them through Scripture, Funny Stories and using the acronym PRAISE!P – We are Placed and Privileged to Parent.R – We have a Rare window of opportunity.A – Through prayer, we have an All-Access pass to God’s riches.I – The Infancy of our kids calls us to start early.S – Seven ways to practice praise.E – Approach the kids under our care with Enthusiastic Enjoyment!! – Accept the Imperative of the exclamation mark and Do It!The book is available in Audio Form and Jean Thomason is such an energetic Narrator and really makes the book come alive and encouraging. I HIGHLY recommend this to New Parents and Grandparents and those with Young Children! GREAT BOOK!

Try to read this book without smiling, I dare you! My two youngest (much younger than me) siblings loved Miss Patty Cake when they were toddlers and in preschool. I share her enthusiasm for singing all day every day! If you know who Miss Pattycake is, you can hear her voice while you read. But even if you don't, this book will feel like a warm hug during a hard season of parenting, with encouraging words and funny stories to warm your soul. This book helps me feel like, you know what, I'm doing ok and God is with me through it all! I recommend it for parents, caregivers and children's ministry workers. Thank you, Jean Thomason, for this lovely book.

Training children in the way they should go is one of the most crucial pieces of their home education. Because faith is a journey for everyone (including grownups), sometimes it can be difficult to know what to say or how to present certain topics in a way that is relevant and age-appropriate. Sharing God’s Big Love with Little Lives by Jean Thomason provides guidance and tips for encouraging children to grow in their faith that are easy to implement into everyday life.With smooth narration that is pleasant and engaging to listen to, this audiobook is a spiritual toolkit every Christian caregiver can benefit from!