Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers

Honest. Quirky. Real. Practical tips, candid reviews, and stereotype-smashing humor for homeschooling families.

Honest. Quirky. Real. Practical tips, candid reviews, and stereotype-smashing humor for homeschooling families.

Review: Doorposts

By Kris Bales

If you’re a part of the Christian homeschooling community, chances are you’ve heard of Doorposts , publishers of a wide variety of Bible-based parenting and character training materials.  I’ve used a number of their products over the years, one of my favorites being the “If/Then” chart which helps families to clearly outline the disciplinary action that can be expected for a variety of misbehaviors.

doorposts

Recently, I was given the opportunity to review either Polished Cornerstones or Plants Grown Up, Doorposts’ character training books for girls and boys.  Since I have two girls, I opted for Polished Cornerstones, the book for girls.

Our schedule went crazy about the same time I received Polished Cornerstones.  Between preparing for our homeschool group’s Around the World Day (which we didn’t get to attend) and attending Relevant (the reason we didn’t get to attend ATWD), I didn’t get to use Polished Cornerstones as much as I would have liked…but we definitely will be using it throughout the coming weeks and months.

This 491-page, spiral-bound book has hundreds of ideas for mentoring and training your girls from about the age of five until they leave home as an adult.  The book is not designed to be used in a “cover-to-cover” fashion.  Rather, parents are encouraged to skip around to cover the topics that are relevant to their particular daughters’ stages in life.

Topics covered include:

  • Time management
  • Home management
  • Money management
  • Cooking and meal-planning
  • Self-discipline
  • Wisdom
  • Spiritual discipline (prayer, studying and memorizing God’s Word)
  • Patience
  • Humility
  • Purity

Under each topic heading, dozens of activity ideas are offered to help girls and their parents explore God’s Word and get real-life practice related to each discipline.  From studying and memorizing Scripture to writing essays, hands-on learning to discussion ideas for girls and their parents, ideas are included for every learning style, always turning the student back to God’s Word.

For each topic, activity ideas are broken down into beginner, intermediate, and advanced for ease of use, though parents are encouraged to let girls work above or below their suggested level, basing the selected activities on a particular child’s needs, interests and skill level.

I am very anxious to start exploring the homemaking and budgeting areas with my girls (and my boy).  I always have good intentions to let my kids help with things like menu planning and cooking so that they are prepared to do those things on their own after they leave home (or just give me a break once in awhile), but sometimes it just seems quicker and easier to do it on my own – or I just don’t think about it in the midst of day-to-day routine. Having these things listed as a project for us to do together often helps me move from good intentions to actual activity. 

I love that Polished Cornerstones lists out so many wonderful projects to help with how I should be discipling my girls anyway.  It’s that good intentions thing again.  Having the project ideas and Bible study suggestions already laid out for me, helps me to be more intentional about discipleship opportunities that are already there, but of which I might not be taking full advantage.

Polished Cornerstones and Plants Grown Up are available from Doorpost for $48 each.

I received this product free for the purpose of reviewing it.  I received no other compensation for this review.  The opinions expressed in this review are my personal, honest opinions.  Your experience may vary.

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About Kris Bales

Kris Bales is the quirky, Christ-following, painfully honest voice behind Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers. She and her husband of over 25 years are parents to three amazing kids - one high schooler and two homeschool grads. Kris has a pretty serious addiction to sweet tea and Words with Friends. She has traded in her crazy cat lady card in favor of crazy bird lady with a current flock of seven that includes a Congo African grey, an Indian ring-neck, and green cheek conures.

Comments

  1. Tristan says

    I would really like Plants Grown Up to use with my boys. Well, I would like all of their products, but that is the one that really stands out to me as I will soon have 4 boys.

    Reply

  2. Stephanie says

    Well, I went to Doorposts and right now, I think the only thing I would order would be the Plants Grown Up book. :) We seem to have just about everything else! LOL!

    Thanks so much for the chance to win!

    Steph

    Reply

  4. Homeschool Dawn says

    I love Doorposts and have used several of their products over the years. The If,Then chart is a winner imho, too. The Brother Offended Chart is another really helpful tool.
    I have wanted to get Plants Grown Up. Thanks for the chance to win!

    Reply

  8. Gator Mommy says

    At the moment I could really use the "4 Chart Biblical Parenting set" but with 3 boys the "Plants Grown Up" would be something we would use forever! Thanks for hosting!

    Reply

  11. Dianne says

    We have the If-then and Blessings Chart, as well as For Instruction In Righteousness and find them to be very usefull. I would also be interested in the book As Unto the Lord for myself. Having 3 girls I'd love to win Polished Cornerstones!

    Reply

  12. Tonya @ Live the Adventure says

    I have used a number of their products over the years and my favorite would be the Ruby Doll Kit and Proverbs 31 study that accompanied it for my daughter. I've always wanted to use either Polished Cornerstones or Plants Grown Up, they both look like tremendous products.

    Reply

  15. Renee says

    I think the "Brother Offended" chart looks interesting. It seems my two kiddos could benefit. My youngest, especially, has been bitten by the tattle tale bug.

    Reply

  16. Joesette says

    OOohhhh what a great giveaway! I looked at their site, and love the Ruby doll set, and the Young Woman of Valor and…oh you get the point.

    I'd love the Polished Cornerstones book!

    Reply

  17. Sara @ Embracing Destiny says

    I have looked at the If/Then chart from Doorposts before and would like to have that. With three daughters, I could definitely use Polished Cornerstones!

    Reply

  18. Crow Family of 5 says

    OMG!!! I have been reading about, hearing about, and wanting these two books forever!! At $48 each, I simply don't have the extra money to purchase them right now. I would absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to win one! Sending up lots of prayers that you pick us. What a blessing that would be. We SO need this in our house! I would most like the Polished Cornerstones book. Thanks so much for doing this!

    Jennifer @ Crow Family of 5
    crowfamilyof5@yahoo.com

    Reply

  20. starrchasers says

    We already use the "if/then" chart, and we really love how it helps us be consistent as parents in our discipline. I've also been thinking about getting the "Blessings" chart, so I guess that would be my favorite right now. :) Since we have two boys and one (going on two) girls, either book would be well loved and much utilized in our home!

    Thanks for the opportunity!
    Nikki

    Reply

  22. Sarah says

    I liked 'A Day of Delight'- what great resources! I have a girl so the Polished Cornerstones would be fitting- thanks for the giveaway!

    Reply

  24. Donovan Doins says

    We have been thinking about adding Plants Grown up with our homeschooling. Would love to win it.
    We are using the If/Then cards and they have been most helpful.

    Reply

  27. Brittney says

    I was *just* on their site on Monday checking out the Plants Grow Up book. I decided it didn't fit in the budget yet, so I am crossing my fingers to be the winner!

    Reply

  28. Beth says

    This sounds like a great way to incorporate those topics that always seem to get left behind, yet are so imortant! I like the Honor Your Father and Mother Book. Would be very handy for my little ones.

    Reply

  30. Tabitha says

    I have gotten this "For Instruction In Righteousness" out from the library and would love to win your giveaway. Thanks for a chance.
    tabitha4cm at yahoo dot com

    Reply

  34. D and A says

    I am not sure that I could decide on which one I wanted if I won.

    I think the patterns for the uniforms would be fun too. I would want to get that from the website!

    Thanks,
    Amy @ Missional Mama

    Reply

  35. Mark & Heather Mac says

    I love the For Instruction in Righteousness book – we use it all the time! I would love to own the Polished Cornerstones!

    Reply

  40. Michelle says

    We have all girls also and have used the "Instructions in Righteousness" in the past–in fact we need to crack that book open again.

    Reply

  41. Jessica says

    Since I have only girls here at home, I would enjoy any of the character training books for girls. I agree that the charts look helpful as well.

    Jessica (jp31374@gmail.com)

    Reply

  44. Cam says

    My favorite would definitely be the Plants Grown Up book, but aside from that, probably the character training package. :)
    Thanks for the giveaway.

    Reply

  46. Treasures from a Shoebox says

    OMW! I was just sharing on another blog (where they were reviewing Plants Grown Up) that I have wanted both these books for several years now! We have For Instructions in Righteousness and The Ruby Doll kit and study (LOVE them both!), but I really would like Polished Cornerstones (I have 7 daughters!).

    Reply

  48. Karilee says

    My favorite Doorposts product is the "For Instruction in Righteousness" book. A great resource for training children!!
    I love it!

    Reply

  49. Anni says

    I have a really old copy of Polished Cornerstones. I hear it's been updated with lots more activities. I've been waiting until my girls are older to do this. Thanks!

    Reply

  57. marco67red says

    I became familiar with Doorposts years ago when we only had two children, and now we have five (1 girl, 4 boys)! I would really love to have Plants Grown Up to use with the boys. I'd hoped to order it by now, after seeing it somewhat recently, but I need to replenish my "book fund" first … so it may be quite a while. Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy!!

    Reply

  59. ttt says

    I like Plants Grown Up,
    For Instruction In Righteousness, Put On chart, Go-To The -Any chart. Actually, there are so many good things from them.

    Thanks for the Giveaway !!

    Tina

    Reply

  61. zekesmom10 says

    I have a looooong Doorposts wish list! A Day of Delight and As Unto the Lord for myself, Plants Grown Up and Honor Your Father and Mother for the littles, For Instructions in Righteousness and the 4 small chart set… I could go on!
    Since I have all boys, I would choose Plants Grown Up if I won.
    Thanks for the chance!

    Reply

  65. Mojave Momma- says

    LOVE Doorposts! My 4 year old has gained a lot from their if/then poster. I'd love to have a copy of Polished Cornerstones for my girls.

    Reply

  73. Judy says

    My daughter belongs to a girls group and we are working through Doorpost's book Beauty and the Pig. So far so good. I am learning just as much as she is.

    Reply

  75. Kara says

    We love Doorposts products here too! I have both Plants Grown Up and Polished Cornerstones, plus a couple of their Bible studies and all their posters. If I were to win, I'd love to give this to my sister-in-law.

    Reply

  76. Nicole says

    Honestly, the Polished Cornerstones book is exactly what I would want! When thinking about my kids, I have been thinking about what interests my 5 year old daughter. And what interests her is ME and anything I am doing. This would be a great tool to use in teaching her. My email is taulmans@netzero.net. Thanks!

    Reply

  77. Beth says

    I could use either book with 2 girls and 2 boys, but I really liked the character training package, as this would be a new curriculum for me. This looks like what I've been searching for in character development.
    Your blog has pointed me in alot of good directions
    Thanks,
    Beth

    Reply

  78. Bonnie says

    To be honest I have never used their products. I have always wanted to but the if/then charts. I would love to have the cornerstone one though. I need to know how to raise a daughter.

    Reply

  79. AdoptionMom says

    I had never heard of Doorposts before and enjoyed the website. The freebie area has some great info on courtship.
    I would like the Plants Grown Up book it sounds very helpful in this crazy world.
    Moe
    adoptiongiftoflove @ Yahoo.com

    Reply

  80. Christy says

    I liked many things at Doorpost. I think the checklist for parents is my favorite, but I ordered a catalog to look at more! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

  81. Dawn says

    My favorite Doorpost item? Tough question!!! I guess right now my favorite would be: Polished Cornerstones. I've been wanting to get that book for sometime now. I have other items from them and absolutely love them. Thanks for offering this giveaway. One of the best so far.

    Reply

  84. jtmel815 says

    I would love to get "Polished Cornerstones" for my Daughter and Niece. Those two are full of attitudes just not always the right ones. It would be nice to have a guide to help show them there are more character traits than just being independent.

    Reply

  87. ReneeK says

    For Instruction In Righteousness is my favorite. I have a boy and girl, boys are so different I think I would love the Plants Grown up book!

    Reply

  88. thecurryseven says

    Polished Cornerstones would be the winner. I've had my eye on it for ages

    thecurryseven (at) sbcglobal (dot) net

    Reply

  89. pebblekeeper says

    We have used almost all of the Doorpost's tools of getting the Word in our home as a daily practice. I just loaned out my For Instructions In Righteousness, and I think it was given away – the mom really loves it . . I'll need to get another one for me. We have Plants Grown Up, and were just talking about this verse yesterday with the 2 timothy 4:12? of Youth and how they may live. I don't need another plants book, but I'll say that Doorposts directed our family to live in the Word with practical every day tools. :)

    Reply

  90. Heather says

    How about the Character Training Package?! Then I don't have to pick just one! I just recently came across Doorposts, and I'm planning on getting the If/Then Chart, and I'd love to have both the girls and boys book in the future. Hope I win!

    Reply

  91. Shannon C says

    I think that the character training for both girls and boys look great to me since I have one of each. The If/then chart would also be useful.

    Reply

  92. Chelli says

    I love their If/Then chart! Such a great idea so that children can see their behavior in the light of God's Word, not just because mom and dad said so. Thanks for highlighting such a great company on your blog :)

    Reply

  95. Dusti says

    i would love to use plants grown up with my boys or polished cornerstones with my 13yr old girl. i've been thinking about buying it for awhile now, but not ready to bite the bullet on the price. we have the instructions for righteousness book-it is awesome!

    Reply

  98. Loving Our Homeschool says

    I've gotten their For Instruction in Righteousness book at the library before and really like that book! The Polished Cornerstones looks like it would be awesome as well!

    Reply

  100. Michelle - Blessed Mom of 4 says

    I think my daughter would love the Ruby doll! I would also love to have the Plants to grow up and Polished Cornerstones books to use with my kids.

    Reply

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