About the book:
With more than a million copies sold since its first release, To Train Up a Child is a radical perspective on what it means to raise joyful and victorious children in a world that encourages desolation and godlessness. Mike and Debi carefully explain their child-training techniques with simple instructions, personal testimonies from parents, and real application that comes directly from the source of truth: the Word of God.
A note from the author:
To Train Up a Child,ย first published in 1994, began as a letter to a homeschooled mother in answer to her question, โHow did you train your children to be so happy and obedient?โ I did not consider myself to be an author, nor did I possess the means or the knowledge to publish a book. But as I sat down to write a letter to this mother, I realized that it was a big subject that could not be put into a few pages. I consulted my friends and neighbors, gleaning their views and methods of child training. I even interviewed my own children, asking them what they thought about their upbringing. Deb and I analyzed how we were influenced by the traditions that we inherited from our parents, and we looked at the methods that were unique to our family. After about two years, that mother finally got a response. It is now 30 years later, andย To Train up a Child has been printed and read millions of times in dozens of different languages, making more of an impact than we could have ever imagined. No matter where you are in the child-training process, we hope this resource will be a blessing to you and your kids.
Excerpt from To Train Up A Child read by Michael’s brother, Stephen Pearl.
“Three thousand years ago, a wise man said, ‘Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.’ Good training is not crises management; it is what you do before the need to discipline arises. Most parenting is accidental rather than deliberate. Imagine building a house that way. We don’t need to reinvent training. There are child training principles and methods that have worked from antiquity. To neglect deliberate training is to shove your child into a sea of choices and passions without a boat or compass.”
Reviews from the book:
Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2026โญโญโญโญโญ
Controversial book, but I love it. This is how I raised my kiddos and I have ordered a copy for each one for when they have kids. ~Marcy F.
Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2025โญโญโญโญโญ
Very grateful for this book. Just wish I had read it sooner! ~Paul
Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2024 โญโญโญโญโญ
We have used this book while raising our own two (now adult) children and have used it in counseling other parents. This book instructs parents on the why and how of training children to happy obedience BEFORE conflict arises. Excellent parental guidance. ~Tracy L.
Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2024โญโญโญโญโญ
I was so tired of repeating myself to my 3 kids. I knew what I was doing wasnโt working. Not having parents that I could model, this has been a great resource for Biblical parenting and I have already seen a HUGE improvement in my kids listening and obeying and doing as they are told. They are even getting along better as siblings. Highly recommend. ~Jules
Mother of five –
Reviewed as Print Book โ To Train Up a Child by Michael & Debi Pearl - 30th Anniversary EditionMy husband and I bought our first copy of this book over 22 years ago and I have lost track of how many copies I have given out since then. The Biblical basis of training taught in these pages changed our lives. We really didnt understand the difference between training and discipline until we read To Train Up a Child. Now I look for the next family I can bless with a copy of the book. I have never read any other book that gave the same type of instruction in such a short and clear manner. You wont be disappointed if you read it and prayerfully, consistently, lovingly, apply the principles within it.
Nat –
Reviewed as AudiobookIt is always amusing to see the joyful reaction from parents when told how wonderful their children have been. But, it is even more so when someone comes up to you and tells you of how wonderful your children are, hard work pays off! It has been a blessing for me to get counsel from this book. I have been and still am in the journey of raising my children. I could see how life has transformed since I started implementing proper training to my children. We are happier and have more energy and time to do more activities and to create new joyful memories while the children are still young. Less frustrated and more stable!
Thank you for such a wonderful resource in how to train up a child!