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A review by gohawks
Raising Freethinkers: A Practical Guide for Parenting Beyond Belief by Dale McGowan, Amanda Metskas, Moleen Matsumura
5.0
Okay,so for some, five stars may be a bit much. But this book was perfect for me and my family. First of all, I am a very practical person. Now, I do hem and haw about problems, but I do best with a concrete solution for attacking things. This book has chapters of practical solutions, many of which I've already tried, for raising your children to think for themselves. This, of course, includes religion. Dale McGowan encourages us as parents to let children explore religion for themselves. He doesn't espouse trying to dissuade them if they are trying out Buddhism or Islam - as long as it is not harmful to themselves or others. Rather, he persuades us to ask the child what makes them attracted to those beliefs. This can encourage discussion about what you believe in as well.
My review makes it seem like the whole book is about religion. It is not. Though McGowan appears to be either Atheist or a Secular Humanist, this book can be read by all parents who desire to raise smart, out-of-the-box thinking children. There are sections on punishment, fostering a curious mind, and dealing with death. The book is an extension of McGowan's website which is now on hiatus as he writes his next book. It is packed with resources that are extremely helpful. Movies and books that can help supplement what you are trying to instill as well as age appropriate guides. My copy has already been attacked by a highlighter. For me, it has been one of the most helpful books on parenting so far. (Those sleep books were about as useful as a pile of dirt.)
My review makes it seem like the whole book is about religion. It is not. Though McGowan appears to be either Atheist or a Secular Humanist, this book can be read by all parents who desire to raise smart, out-of-the-box thinking children. There are sections on punishment, fostering a curious mind, and dealing with death. The book is an extension of McGowan's website which is now on hiatus as he writes his next book. It is packed with resources that are extremely helpful. Movies and books that can help supplement what you are trying to instill as well as age appropriate guides. My copy has already been attacked by a highlighter. For me, it has been one of the most helpful books on parenting so far. (Those sleep books were about as useful as a pile of dirt.)