Start with the Heart: How to Motivate Your Kids to Be Compassionate, Responsible, and Brave (Even When You're Not Around)

Parenting strategies you can be proud of

You know the feeling. You got frustrated, desperate, or overwhelmed and you reacted before you could think it through. Whether it’s a one-time thing or it becomes a habit, we all parent in ways we don’t like. But it doesn’t have to continue. Whether it’s bribery, yelling, counting to three, or threats of punishment you didn’t mean to make, reacting never feels good. But if you can learn to act with intentionality, you’ll feel better about your choices and be grateful for the results.

Dr. Kathy Koch (pronounced “cook”), author of Screens and Teens and 8 Great Smarts, will teach you proven strategies for training your child’s heart and parenting in a way that honors God. She’ll help you move your child from, “I can’t, I won’t," to “I can, I will, and I did.” We can do better than “Because I said so.” or “No screen time for 3 days.” We can do better than mere behavior modification. We can change our children’s hearts and teach them to do what is good, godly, and right even when we’re not around. Once you’ve learned to put these motivation strategies in place there’s no more need to nag, you’ll be astounded at what your kids will do without being asked. Dr. Kathy doesn’t offer a quick-fix. Starting with the heart is all about changing what children believe in order to change their behavior. And learning to use this kind of motivation takes effort, consistency, and strategy, but it works. And it’s never too late! If you’re willing to commit to a little hard work up front, you’ll enjoy your kids, your life, and yourself much more when you learn to start with the heart.

Do you need a breakthrough?

Are you stuck fighting the same battles with kids who seem totally unmotivated to change?

The truth is, every child is motivated, you just need to learn how to unlock your child’s unique heart.

In Start with the Heart, you’ll learn practical, manageable strategies for motivating your kids toward healthy life habits, including how to:

• Address beliefs that affect behavior
• Respond to consistent complaining
• Increase resiliency and decrease fear of hard work
• Listen longer and teach your kids to know themselves
• Create change that lasts long-term

Plus, Dr. Koch will teach you what really irritates kids (they’ve told her), and how to identify and avoid actions that break down trust. Move your kids from “I Can’t” to “I Can, I Will, I Did.”

In this wise and insightful volume, Dr. Kathy Koch has reminded parents how important it is to build our parenting on a foundation of solid, loving bonds with our kids.

Jim Daly, President – Focus on the Family