Little Steps, Big Faith: How the Science of Early Childhood Development Can Help You Grow Your Child's Faith by Dawn Rundman

From brain science to language development and social skills, we've never known more about how children's minds develop in the first five years of life. Yet with all the information available, Christian parents may find themselves confused about how to apply these learnings to daily life with their children. In Little Steps, Big Faith, early childhood expert Dr. Dawn Rundman navigates the research to arrive at surprising insights about how very young children experience God, and how parents can use science to teach faith. 

Is That Poop on My Arm? Parenting While Christian by Justin Lind-Ayres

Parenting is messy business. Joyful, but messy. When faith is combined with parenting, we double down on the mess. Pastor and father of three Justin Lind-Ayres chronicles his adventures (and misadventures) raising children and passing on his faith to them--teaching them to be compassionate, generous, quick to forgive, and to trust in God's promises. But this father is sure to point out that it is children who are our best teachers in faith, opening our eyes and our hearts to God's love for us. In the messy and challenging moments of parenting, and in the joyful ones, God is fully present. And a God who knows your story--especially the messy parts--is a God who can redeem you.

With stories full of humor, honesty, and, yes, even some poop, this book is a welcome encouragement for parents, grandparents, and anyone who cares deeply for the children in their life.

Parenting Forward: How to Raise Children with Justice, Mercy, and Kindness by Cindy Wang Brandt

How do we build a better world? One key way, says Cindy Wang Brandt, is by learning to raise our children with justice, mercy, and kindness. In Parenting Forward Brandt equips Christian parents to model a way of following Jesus that has an outward focus, putting priority on loving others, avoiding judgment, and helping those in need. She shows how parents must work on dismantling their own racial, cultural, gender, economic, and religious biases in order to avoid passing them on to their children. “By becoming aware of the complex ways we participate in systems of inequal­ity or hierarchy,” she says, “we begin to resist systemic injustice ourselves, empower our children, and change our communities.”

Sticky Faith by Kara Powell and Chap Clark

Nearly every Christian parent in America would give anything to find a viable resource for developing within their kids a deep, dynamic faith that "sticks" long term. Sticky Faith delivers. This easy-to-read guide presents both a compelling rationale and a powerful strategy to show parents how to actively encourage their children’s spiritual growth so that it will stick to them into adulthood and empower them to develop a living, lasting faith. Written by authors known for the integrity of their research and the intensity of their passion for young people, Sticky Faith is geared to spark a movement that empowers adults to develop robust and long-term faith in kids of all ages.

Faithful Families: Creating Sacred Moments at Home by Traci Smith

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

Parenting Beyond Your Capacity: Connect Your Family to a Wider Community by Reggie Joiner and Carey Nieuwhof

Engage your family in a bigger story -- one that involves other influences who are on a journey to discover why a relationship with God really matters. We want to encourage you to establish a lifestyle as a parent in which you:

• Invite others to invest in your children, so your sons and daughters have other voices that will help shape and determine the direction of their lives.

• Create a culture of unconditional love to fuel the emotional and moral health of your children.

• Tap into the power of quality moments together, building a sense of purpose through everyday experiences.

Bless This Mess: A Modern Guide to Faith and Parenting in a Chaotic World by Rev. Molly Baskette and Dr. Ellen O’Donnell 

A witty, compelling guide to raising open-minded and morally grounded kids in these crazy times, with an approach that’s rooted in science, psychology, and faith. In Bless This Mess, readers will gain constructive tools as they learn how to talk to their children about social justice, money, God, ethics, bullying, disabilities, sexuality, and their bodies. Parents will also glean insights on how to serve others with joy, give generously and gratefully, and—perhaps most important—learn how to stop being so afraid all the damn time, even while raising kids in an increasingly chaotic and often scary world. 

New Directions for Holy Questions: Progressive Christian Theology for Families by Claire Brown & Anita Peebles

With accessible language, Bible stories, and connections to daily life, this book guides children and the adults who love them through the core teachings of Christianity. Kids have big questions about God and faith, and, while many of those questions don’t have one clear answer, Christians throughout the ages have given us helpful ways to think and talk about what we believe.

Each chapter includes simple spiritual practices and questions for reflection, either in solitary reading or through conversation between children and caregivers or ministers. It is oriented towards anti-racism, gender equality, economic justice, care of the environment, affirmation of LGBTQ+ folks, trauma-informed practice, and global citizenship.

Ordinary Blessings for Parents: Prayers, Poems, and Meditations for Family Life by Pastor Meta Herrick Carlson

Gifted poet, empathetic pastor, and mom of three Meta Herrick Carlson names the moments we take for granted or that make us second-guess ourselves. Her blessings call out the simple struggles that remind us we are in good company and that we are loved in the midst of loving children. Ordinary Blessings for Parents is a spiritual high-five for parents in every stage of raising kids

Peanut Butter and Jelly Prayers by Julie Sevig

The dinner table may be the only time that today's busy families sit down together and pray together. This book meets families where they are, offering prayers of thanks for macaroni and cheese, fast-food meals, and, yes, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Includes rhyming prayers for little kids, dinner-table prayers for special family occasions, and prayers marking the movement of the church year. 

Prayers for Faithful Families: Everyday Prayers for Everyday Life by Traci Smith

Prayers for Faithful Families equips busy parents with simple prayers, written in ordinary language, for a wide variety of occasions. From everyday moments like mealtime and bedtime to milestones such as the first day of school, the death of a pet, or welcoming a new baby, this unique prayer book is an invaluable resource for creating meaningful faith connections at home throughout the highs and lows of family life. Straightforward and flexible, Prayers for Faithful Families helps parents turn ordinary and extraordinary moments into opportunities to teach children that God is with them through all of life's joys and challenges. Tips for praying in creative ways and for creating sacred space at home are included.

When Kids Ask Hard Questions: Faith-Filled Responses for Tough Topics edited by Bromleigh McCleneghan and Karen Ware Jackson

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. More than 30 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. When Kids Ask Hard Questions invites you to take a deep breath, create safe spaces for the hard conversations, and speak the truth in love. Each chapter includes a resource list for further exploration.