Plants Grown Up

Good men don't just make themselves. Plants Grown Up takes that into account, and provides the kind of assistance many parents need to raise boys to be godly husbands and fathers. Not simply a character curriculum, author Pam Forster provides hundreds of activities and projects for sons to complete alone or with a parent that will guide them toward virtuous character and manly practical skills.

A number of godly character qualities serve as section headings along with a verse illustrating each one. Activities range from Bible studies and teaching honesty to managing money and fixing electrical problems. Topics usually unexplored are given specific attention here—like the role of men within the church community, the importance of doctrinal knowledge, and how mannerly conduct is evidence both of manliness and Christian virtue.

Activities are organized according to difficulty (beginner, intermediate, advanced) and if any relate to one or more school subjects those are listed at the end of the instructions for easy integration into the daily home school curriculum. The instructions are very important—Mrs. Forster notes that simply jumping into the middle of any project without thoroughly reading the instructions first will likely result only in frustration.

Charts and worksheets to aid study and gauge progress are all reproducible so you'll only need one text per family. Male-specific difficulties—self-control, keeping thoughts pure, controlling the appetite—have whole sections to themselves. If you want to raise godly, capable men but have no idea where to start, this is the book for you....as well as for those who simply need extra ideas or a little help in the often daunting task of steering boys to manhood.

Improvements to the 2nd edition include:

• Save time with easier-to-assign projects (now divided into beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels)
• Example lesson plans and step-by-step instructions simplify the process of choosing, planning, and assigning projects
• Memory verses are listed according to difficulty
• Easier-to-read, updated text and layout
• Lots more active projects for active little boys ages 4 through 7
• Addresses new issues like internet and computer usage
• Up-to-date recommendations for other character-building books and media
• Insights from 15 additional years of parenting experience

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.