Jim Burns is dedicated to equipping parents with the tools they need to educate their children about sexuality with a firmly Christian worldview. Well known for his resources such as The Purity Code for teenagers, Burns has now turned his hand to colorful, age appropriate resources for children.

How God Makes Babies is his offering for the 6-9 age group, though some parents may choose to read only parts of this book to their children or delay reading it with their children until they are older - depending upon their life circumstances and individual children.

Opening with a special note to parents Burns states:

"Studies show that when children receive values-centered sex education at home, they are less likely to become sexually promiscuous and more likely to have a healthy view of their bodies and relationships."

This is certainly one key reason why some gentle sex education should take place even in the younger age groups. There are many others as well - glorifying God through our obedience to His plan for sex, educating our children so that they are prepared to resist inappropriate sexual activity that they may otherwise fall prey to due to ignorance, and many others.

God's plan for sex should be treated respectfully and in age appropriate ways - thankfully How God Makes Babies certainly makes this task easier for parents by being able to open a book, read, and discuss it with their children. I had read through parts of this book with my oldest daughter when she was younger (6 or 7), but I didn't read through the entire book with her until she showed signs that she needed to understand a fuller picture of human reproduction.

Our discussions together had slowly been becoming more detailed - particularly as she began reading the Bible independently each day. Her questions from Bible readings naturally led into some gentle explanations. We have always told our children in very simple terms that mommies and daddies cuddle together in a special way that only married people do, and that is where babies come from.

When my eight-year-old told me that bulls jump on top of mommy cows and stretch out their pee-pees inside of them (courtesy of a similarly aged relative of ours - sweet girl - and I didn't mind at all), I knew we had to get a bit more detailed in our talks together. I wanted to be the one to provide the more nitty-gritty details, not someone else. How God Makes Babies provided us with the next step to take in our discussions.

Filled with birth color photographs, How God Makes Babies always places sexuality firmly within the realm of marriage as a normal expression of marital love, for which I am very thankful. Simple anatomical drawings illustrate the differences between boys and girls while using correct anatomical terminology. Protecting your private parts from inappropriate touches is briefly covered. A straightforward, facts focused explanation of the act of marital intimacy and conception is provided along with photos of sperm and egg coming together and the newly dividing embryo. Developmental stages of a baby in-utero are illustrated and described, followed by a description of birth, and explanations of how a new baby changes a family. There are also provisions made for diverse families that may be made up of different configurations than two parents and children (homosexual families are not depicted). Adoption is also covered.

This is absolutely a fabulous book for when you are ready to share more deeply about sexuality with your children. It can be tempting to put off these conversations, but they are vitally necessary to imbue children with a proper, God-honoring view of sexuality. Remember - sex is not bad, it's a natural part of life, don't be afraid of sharing about its proper, God-appointed role in life with your little ones.

Reviewed at quiverfullfamily.com

I recently had the opportunity of reviewing the book How God Makes Babies from Jim Burns. I already own the series God's Design for Sex published at NavPress. However, this new book seemed to be different since there was picture on the cover.
The book How God Makes Babies is full of beautiful pictures and packed with appropriate information for a child between the ages of 6 and 9. It explains in simple terms how babies are made with the help of God and guide the child through the growth of the baby in the womb of the mother.
If you expect a sibling for your child or if you know someone who is expecting, this book is a marvelous addition to your own library. Your child will be given the proper terms of the body parts and explained where the baby comes from. It will also give the child information on what to expect once the baby is born. I will always remember the reaction of my oldest, Alexandre, when we brought his brother, Dominic, home. He was next to him and observing him on the floor when suddenly he asked "Why can't he stand up and run with me?" It was so precious… We had to explain to him that Dominic couldn't walk yet and that some day he will have the strength to do so. And as time went by, Dominic did indeed follow his brother by cruising the furniture at 7 months and walking at 9 months (and he was the only one who did it at an early age!). Now, Alexandre has two other siblings who love to follow him around in the house, another brother and a little sister. Alexandre is a wonderful big brother to his siblings and I am forever grateful to God to have given me this young man…
Once again, the author introduces the notion of adoption in the book. And since our extended family has some members who were adopted, I think it is wonderful that the author had written and explained the adoption process. I would also have liked if there would have been some information about "special" children who has some sort of sickness or infirmity with an emphasis that they are special as well.
At the ages of 6-9 years old, it's important to make sure that they have a solid foundation of what sex is. I strongly recommend this book to any parent who wants to establish such a foundation in their children's lives.