Book Review: 52 Things Kids Need from a Dad: What Fathers Can Do to Make a Lifelong Difference
52 Things Kids Need from a Dad: What Fathers Can Do to Make a Lifelong Difference. Jay Payleitner. Harvest House Publishers, March 1, 2010, Trade Paperback, 192 pages.
Reviewed by Opal Freeman.
52 Things Kids Need from a Dad by Jay Payleitner is a carefully constructed book. Payleitner wrote this book with the intent of influencing the reader through elements of love, education, humor, inspiration, experience, and spirituality. The book provides positive as well as helpful insights into the world of parenthood from a father’s perspective. The author supports the value of the information provided with examples of life experiences, quotes, scriptures, and statistics.
As you read the book, there is a certain level of anticipation to learn the next tip as well as the recommended practical application that will be accomplished. As an advocate for fatherhood, the author is clear on defining his words and actions and as a result embraces the advice, support, and teachings from his wife, children, colleagues, and more importantly other fathers.
He is consistent and passionate about encouraging other fathers about the joy, ups, downs, and mixed emotions that life brings while raising children. He also wants to advise and teach other fathers the joys of fatherhood with the same kind of passion delivered to him.
“52 Things” is Jay’s specialty. After writing “52 Things” for wives, husbands, sons, and daughters, he created this book about what kids need from their fathers. He has taken the time to carefully select 52 fatherly tips in a step-by-step sequence. Reading this book will walk you through the first step, which is the fatherly tip with descriptive explanations. The next step is the takeaway that further defines the message or the description with an example. The last step is a quote of wisdom, which enforces the message and the takeaway.
Jay Payleitner has shown through the pages of 52 Things Kids Need from a Dad that his absolute priority is his children and his family. He is successful in influencing other fathers, mothers, and families across the United States about the importance of being the best father you can be. The book conveys how to love, share, laugh, learn and live not only for now, but also for the future. I enjoyed the book and was able to reflect on my childhood and the relationship built with my father and his fatherly influences. I really appreciated the wide variety of nuggets of knowledge included from all walks of life.