Why I loved it

Let Them Be Kids is a guidebook on how to create space to allow your kids to experience the freedom of childhood. I love my kids.  I’m that mom that has always enjoyed shooting hoops in the driveway, playing endless rounds of UNO, and doing belly flops into the pool.  My kids always joke the it’s because I’m actually a 14 year old boy trapped in a middle aged woman’s body.  Maturity has never been my strong point.  The point is, I’m a goober and I love to play and I value providing a safe space for my kids to do that, too.  

But as they’ve gotten older it has been harder to create that space for them.  As friends and technology and sports threaten to take over so much of their time and energy, we’ve had to look at how to intentionally provide moments of release for our boys.  Sometimes they just need to be kids – to build Legos and play tag and make s’mores.  But that choice isn’t always the most popular one.  Our boys weren’t allowed phones until they were 13 and even then all the online features were disabled.  We always tell our kids – “our job isn’t to help you be cool, my job is to raise you up to be a good person.”  

Synopsis

Let Them Be Kids is a book that allows parents the grace to do just that.  Jessica provides parent’s confidence to make counter cultural decisions and gives them practical ideas to meet these challenges head on. Part story and part guidebook, every chapter includes doable strategies and encouragement for the journey.  The chapters are short and include personal stories that drive the point home.  She shares her stories with humor and delivers wisdom on parenting topics like:

• time management
• getting outdoors
• being “cool” (or NOT!)
• managing boredom
• technology usage

One of my favorite parts of the book was when she talks about the importance of intergenerational relationships.  Our schools and churches and sports are all segregated into age groups.  Yet other generations provide perspective, life lessons, depth, and wisdom. 

Thank you to The W Publishing Group and Thomas Nelson, TLC Book Tours and @jessica.smartt for my #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

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