Raising children in the faith is hard. We get it.
No one said it would be easy, but does it have to be as hard as it is some days? Our job as the church is to be with you every step of the way of this messy, hilarious, hard, long, and short journey that is parenting. You spend more time with your kiddos than we do, so Christian formation isn't something we can entirely delegate to the church on Sunday mornings. But we can equip you for faith conversations over dinner, about movies, on the way home from church, and beyond.
Before you dig into our resources, one pro tip: Do less more often. Don't try to run through all of the activities on this site. Don't try to read all of the books. Pick a few things that speak to you, and try them! Heck, you might even wind up doing the same nighttime prayer with your kid every night for a whole year, and that's okay. We remember things when we repeat them, and repeat them often. And when we're forming faith, remembering what we learn and do (and God's love for us) is most important.
Have other questions? Need other resources? Just be in touch!
Before you dig into our resources, one pro tip: Do less more often. Don't try to run through all of the activities on this site. Don't try to read all of the books. Pick a few things that speak to you, and try them! Heck, you might even wind up doing the same nighttime prayer with your kid every night for a whole year, and that's okay. We remember things when we repeat them, and repeat them often. And when we're forming faith, remembering what we learn and do (and God's love for us) is most important.
Have other questions? Need other resources? Just be in touch!
Why faithful parenting matters
"All the studies show that parents have the greatest influence on their children’s faith development and their eventual faith transmission... It has more to do with who parents are than what they do with their children. Faith transmission is more likely to occur among children whose parents are strong in their own faith and religious practice versus
lukewarm or marginally committed... It matters what families do together with intention, purpose, and discipline. What seems to surface from several studies (both current and in the past) is the value and importance of family conversation. Families grow in faith when they talk about it; when they move beyond the surface level of day-to-day interaction and go deeper into matters of faith, spirituality, and meaning of life. And, over time, they develop a rapport with one another that makes such conversations rich and meaningful and sets the family up to engage in other intentional faith-building activities, tasks, and behaviors."
-- Practices for Forming Faith with Families & Parents by Leif Kehrwald and John Roberto
According to Kehrwald and Roberto, the full benefits of faith and religious practice are experienced by those who actively engage in home-centered religious practices, as well as attending religious services. Among the most important practices are:
Below you will find some resources to help with these essential faith-forming practices at home. And if you ever need more ideas and support or a thought partner, be in touch with Linda Kurtz.
lukewarm or marginally committed... It matters what families do together with intention, purpose, and discipline. What seems to surface from several studies (both current and in the past) is the value and importance of family conversation. Families grow in faith when they talk about it; when they move beyond the surface level of day-to-day interaction and go deeper into matters of faith, spirituality, and meaning of life. And, over time, they develop a rapport with one another that makes such conversations rich and meaningful and sets the family up to engage in other intentional faith-building activities, tasks, and behaviors."
-- Practices for Forming Faith with Families & Parents by Leif Kehrwald and John Roberto
According to Kehrwald and Roberto, the full benefits of faith and religious practice are experienced by those who actively engage in home-centered religious practices, as well as attending religious services. Among the most important practices are:
- Reading the Bible as a family and encouraging young people to read the Bible regularly.
- Praying together as a family and encouraging young people to pray personally.
- Serving people in need as a family and supporting service activities by young people.
- Eating together as a family.
- Having family conversations about faith.
- Talking about faith, religious issues, and questions and doubts.
- Ritualizing important family moments and milestone experiences.
- Celebrating holidays and church year seasons at home.
- Providing moral instruction.
- Being involved in a faith community and participating regularly in Sunday worship as a family.
Below you will find some resources to help with these essential faith-forming practices at home. And if you ever need more ideas and support or a thought partner, be in touch with Linda Kurtz.
Bible Recommendations
-
Children
-
Youth
<
>
For infants and toddlers who like to grab their books, we recommend Lift-the-Flap Bible Stories for Young Children. This is a great hands-on version of the Bible.
For children up to age 4, we recommend the Children of God Storybook Bible, a global Bible for children of all nationalities. This Bible features Archbishop Desmond Tutu retelling fifty of his most beloved Bible stories. Each story is short enough for the attention spans of these little ones, but are more fleshed out than those in the Lift-the-Flap Bible.
For children ages 5 to 9, we recommend Growing in God's Love, a new story Bible written and illustrated by a diverse set of contributors. This Bible features 150 stories organized into 13 themes. Three reflection questions — Hear, See, Act — are included at the end of each story to help children and their families further ponder the message of the story. Want a copy? Be in touch with Chris Teesdale and we'd be happy to provide one!
For children ages 10 to 12, we recommend the Deep Blue Kid's Bible, which uses the Common English Bible (CEB) translation. The CEB is written in more contemporary English, allowing readers of all age to better understand Scripture. The Deep Blue Kid's Bible is interactive and includes four-color icons and illustrations throughout with a wealth of notes, historical facts, book introductions, devotionals, and other interactive elements to capture inquisitive young minds. Use the reading quizzes for kids interspersed throughout the Bible for devotion and deeper engagement with the text.
For children up to age 4, we recommend the Children of God Storybook Bible, a global Bible for children of all nationalities. This Bible features Archbishop Desmond Tutu retelling fifty of his most beloved Bible stories. Each story is short enough for the attention spans of these little ones, but are more fleshed out than those in the Lift-the-Flap Bible.
For children ages 5 to 9, we recommend Growing in God's Love, a new story Bible written and illustrated by a diverse set of contributors. This Bible features 150 stories organized into 13 themes. Three reflection questions — Hear, See, Act — are included at the end of each story to help children and their families further ponder the message of the story. Want a copy? Be in touch with Chris Teesdale and we'd be happy to provide one!
For children ages 10 to 12, we recommend the Deep Blue Kid's Bible, which uses the Common English Bible (CEB) translation. The CEB is written in more contemporary English, allowing readers of all age to better understand Scripture. The Deep Blue Kid's Bible is interactive and includes four-color icons and illustrations throughout with a wealth of notes, historical facts, book introductions, devotionals, and other interactive elements to capture inquisitive young minds. Use the reading quizzes for kids interspersed throughout the Bible for devotion and deeper engagement with the text.
For middle schoolers, we recommend Bibles using the Common English Bible (CEB) translation. The CEB translation is written in more contemporary English, allowing readers of all age to better understand Scripture. (It's also still very true to the original text!) The CEB Navigation Bible is a particularly colorful and fun version, though the exact version doesn't matter very much! (We give our rising 6th graders a Deep Blue Kid's Bible that we love. It's also a CEB Bible.)
For youth in high school, we recommend study Bibles using the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) or Common English Bible (CEB) translation. The NRSV translation is what we use most often in worship and in Christian formation gatherings at FPC. Study Bibles include footnotes with historical context, cross-references to other Scripture texts, and much more - allowing for a deeper reading of Scripture. Confirmands (usually youth in 9th grade) at FPC are asked to have a study Bible for their confirmation journey.
For youth in high school, we recommend study Bibles using the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) or Common English Bible (CEB) translation. The NRSV translation is what we use most often in worship and in Christian formation gatherings at FPC. Study Bibles include footnotes with historical context, cross-references to other Scripture texts, and much more - allowing for a deeper reading of Scripture. Confirmands (usually youth in 9th grade) at FPC are asked to have a study Bible for their confirmation journey.
Book Recommendations
When Kids Ask Hard Questions: Faith-Filled Responses for Tough Topics edited by Bromleigh McCleneghan and Karen Ware Jackson (Vol. 1 & 2)
The world is a confusing and painful place for children (and adults). How do you respond faithfully to your kids' big questions? Learn to craft faithful conversations and be better prepared to talk about the tough stuff with your kids. Essays from a diverse group of young Christian parents/pastors address today’s toughest topics, including gender, race, bullying, mental illness, death, divorce, money, technology, and generosity.
Parenting Forward: How to Raise Children with Justice, Mercy, and Kindness by Cindy Wang Brandt
How do we build a better world? By raising kids with justice, mercy, and kindness. This book models a new way of following Jesus as parents that has an outward focus, putting priority on loving others, avoiding judgment, and helping those in need.
The Hopeful Family: Raising Resilient Children in Uncertain Times by Amelia Richardson Dress
Through exploring nine spiritual practices such as sacred reading, forgiveness, Sabbath, and generosity, this book provides both inspiration and evidence to help parents step more fully into a framework of abundance and optimism as they create lives of meaning and purpose.
Parenting for a Better World: Social Justice Practices for Your Family and the Planet edited by Susanna Snyder and Ellen Ott Marshall
Even busy parents can work with their families for global justice. Without pressing you to do it all, this book offers spiritual resources for reflecting on the relationship between your faith, your calling for justice, and your commitment to parenting. Find encouragement from fellow parents who weave together stories of caregiving, activism, and scripture that affirm your sense of calling. Plus, it offers practical strategies to help committed (and over-committed) people integrate caregiving and justice work into their daily lives.
Sabbath in the Suburbs: A Family's Experiment with Holy Time by MaryAnn McKibben Dana
For one year, this family committed to a practice of Sabbath-keeping. For a whole day each week, they set aside their doing in order to simply be. Work took a backseat to games, walks, Legos, naps, homebrewing, and leisurely contentment. This book documents the Sabbath experiment as a guide for families of all shapes and sizes. Each chapter includes tips to help you claim Sabbath moments -- to see time not as an enemy to subdue, but as a friend to savor. (Fun fact: MaryAnn was a pastor at the church Linda grew up in!)
Faithful Families: Creating Sacred Moments at Home by Traci Smith
Add family faith moments to your daily routine with little or no prep, and share meaningful spiritual experiences with your children! Traci Smith, a pastor and mother of three, offers ways to discover and develop new spiritual practices as a family, whether you're a new seeker or a lifelong follower. Faithful Families is brimming with easy, do-it-yourself ideas for transforming your family's everyday moments into sacred moments! Faithful Families helps you: connect faith to your family's everyday life; add family faith moments into your daily routine; learn new spiritual practices alongside your children; teach your children to appreciate religious diversity with time-tested non-Christian and Christian spiritual practices; respond to life's everyday challenges and opportunities with meaningful practices
The world is a confusing and painful place for children (and adults). How do you respond faithfully to your kids' big questions? Learn to craft faithful conversations and be better prepared to talk about the tough stuff with your kids. Essays from a diverse group of young Christian parents/pastors address today’s toughest topics, including gender, race, bullying, mental illness, death, divorce, money, technology, and generosity.
Parenting Forward: How to Raise Children with Justice, Mercy, and Kindness by Cindy Wang Brandt
How do we build a better world? By raising kids with justice, mercy, and kindness. This book models a new way of following Jesus as parents that has an outward focus, putting priority on loving others, avoiding judgment, and helping those in need.
The Hopeful Family: Raising Resilient Children in Uncertain Times by Amelia Richardson Dress
Through exploring nine spiritual practices such as sacred reading, forgiveness, Sabbath, and generosity, this book provides both inspiration and evidence to help parents step more fully into a framework of abundance and optimism as they create lives of meaning and purpose.
Parenting for a Better World: Social Justice Practices for Your Family and the Planet edited by Susanna Snyder and Ellen Ott Marshall
Even busy parents can work with their families for global justice. Without pressing you to do it all, this book offers spiritual resources for reflecting on the relationship between your faith, your calling for justice, and your commitment to parenting. Find encouragement from fellow parents who weave together stories of caregiving, activism, and scripture that affirm your sense of calling. Plus, it offers practical strategies to help committed (and over-committed) people integrate caregiving and justice work into their daily lives.
Sabbath in the Suburbs: A Family's Experiment with Holy Time by MaryAnn McKibben Dana
For one year, this family committed to a practice of Sabbath-keeping. For a whole day each week, they set aside their doing in order to simply be. Work took a backseat to games, walks, Legos, naps, homebrewing, and leisurely contentment. This book documents the Sabbath experiment as a guide for families of all shapes and sizes. Each chapter includes tips to help you claim Sabbath moments -- to see time not as an enemy to subdue, but as a friend to savor. (Fun fact: MaryAnn was a pastor at the church Linda grew up in!)
Faithful Families: Creating Sacred Moments at Home by Traci Smith
Add family faith moments to your daily routine with little or no prep, and share meaningful spiritual experiences with your children! Traci Smith, a pastor and mother of three, offers ways to discover and develop new spiritual practices as a family, whether you're a new seeker or a lifelong follower. Faithful Families is brimming with easy, do-it-yourself ideas for transforming your family's everyday moments into sacred moments! Faithful Families helps you: connect faith to your family's everyday life; add family faith moments into your daily routine; learn new spiritual practices alongside your children; teach your children to appreciate religious diversity with time-tested non-Christian and Christian spiritual practices; respond to life's everyday challenges and opportunities with meaningful practices
Articles
|
|
|
Helpful websites
Real Kids, Real Faithrethinking how to help children respond creatively to whatever life brings their way - including lots of practical resources for how to talk about current events, popular movies, and more from a faith perspective
|
Picture Book Theologypicture books offer an infinite number of possibilities for theological expansion - here are ideas for how you can use kid's books (even those not obviously churchy!) for faith conversations at home
|
Parent Cuecueing you with what you need when you need it, so you can be the parent you want to be - articles, a weekly email, an app, and much more to help you raise faithful kids
|
Preparing for church worship
One day, your baby is in the nursery. And the next, she's supposed to sit in the pew quietly for an hour?! How does that work? Good news: it doesn't. Your child is welcome in the sanctuary no matter their age or stage or level of noise. God put the wiggles in children, and we embrace them! That said, there are some ways to make that hour in the pews a bit easier for kids and parents alike. Here are our resource recommendations.
Books
Parenting in the Pew: Guiding Your Children into the Joy of Worship by Robbie F. Castleman
Children are at church for the same reason as their parents: for the privilege of worshiping God. Worship, Robbie Castleman writes, is "the most important thing you can ever train your child to do." So with infectious passion, nitty-gritty advice and a touch of humor, she shows you how to help your children (from toddlers to teenagers) enter into worship.
Children are at church for the same reason as their parents: for the privilege of worshiping God. Worship, Robbie Castleman writes, is "the most important thing you can ever train your child to do." So with infectious passion, nitty-gritty advice and a touch of humor, she shows you how to help your children (from toddlers to teenagers) enter into worship.
Articles
Raising anti-racist children
We offer these resources for white Christian parents who, like those who compiled this list, want to dig deeper into the nuances of systemic racism, own our part in it, and do the hard work of dismantling racist structures – especially in ourselves. We have a responsibility to our siblings of color – our siblings in Christ, made in the very image of God – to learn all we can about systemic racism, listen to their stories, and act as allies. And for those who are parents, our opportunity to be the difference we wish to see extends to our children, too. For our full list of anti-racism resources, please click here.
Books
And Social Justice for All: Empowering Families, Churches, and Schools to Make a Difference in God's World by Lisa VanEngen
Writer, educator, and parent Lisa VanEngen has written an outstanding resource for speaking with kids about justice issues, including racism, creation care, health care, disabilities, hunger, and more. Her book includes conversation starters, action ideas, recommended library books, and more.
Raising White Kids: Bringing Up Children in a Racially Unjust America by Jennifer Harvey
This book is for families, churches, educators, and communities who want to equip their children to be active and able participants in a society that is becoming one of the most racially diverse in the world while remaining full of racial tensions. For white people who are committed to equity and justice, living in a nation that remains racially unjust and deeply segregated creates unique conundrums. These conundrums begin early in life and impact the racial development of white children in powerful ways. What can we do within our homes, communities and schools? Should we teach our children to be “colorblind”? Or, should we teach them to notice race? What roles do we want to equip them to play in addressing racism when they encounter it? What strategies will help our children learn to function well in a diverse nation? Talking about race means naming the reality of white privilege and hierarchy. How do we talk about race honestly, then, without making our children feel bad about being white? Most importantly, how do we do any of this in age-appropriate ways?
Writer, educator, and parent Lisa VanEngen has written an outstanding resource for speaking with kids about justice issues, including racism, creation care, health care, disabilities, hunger, and more. Her book includes conversation starters, action ideas, recommended library books, and more.
Raising White Kids: Bringing Up Children in a Racially Unjust America by Jennifer Harvey
This book is for families, churches, educators, and communities who want to equip their children to be active and able participants in a society that is becoming one of the most racially diverse in the world while remaining full of racial tensions. For white people who are committed to equity and justice, living in a nation that remains racially unjust and deeply segregated creates unique conundrums. These conundrums begin early in life and impact the racial development of white children in powerful ways. What can we do within our homes, communities and schools? Should we teach our children to be “colorblind”? Or, should we teach them to notice race? What roles do we want to equip them to play in addressing racism when they encounter it? What strategies will help our children learn to function well in a diverse nation? Talking about race means naming the reality of white privilege and hierarchy. How do we talk about race honestly, then, without making our children feel bad about being white? Most importantly, how do we do any of this in age-appropriate ways?
Articles & websites
- "How to Raise Race-Conscious Children"
- "Your 5-year-old is already racially biased. Here’s what you can do about it."
- "Becoming a Parent in the Age of Black Lives Matter"
- "What White Children Need to Know About Race"
- "4 Tips for Talking to Kids and Teens About Racism and Social Unrest"
- Sesame Street racism town hall for kids and families
- Colours of Us (all about multicultural children's books)
|
|