WHAT WE HOPE FOR YOU
Parenting can be overwhelming. It often seems like they go from cute little babies to moody teenagers to independent adults so quickly. That's why we've gathered all these resources for you to help you along the beautiful and fullfilling journey of parenthood.
PREPARATION FOR PARENTING
6 Passages to Read During Pregnancy
Passages of Scripture can prove to be incredibly profitable in various times of need, stress, doubt, insecurity… Read these for energizing encouragement as you prepare to be a parent!
Expectant Parents
It’s often said that babies don’t come with an instruction manual. Author Suzanne Hadley Gosselin wrote this book to provide parents with information and practical steps for writing their own―as they work to create the kind of home and family they choose to build.
Things I Wish I’d Known Before We Became Parents
Dr. Gary Chapman and Shannon Warden write about the things they wished they had known before having kids. For example: children affect your time, your money, and your marriage—and that’s just the beginning. With warmth and humor they offer practical advice on everything from potty training to scheduling, apologizing to your child, keeping your marriage strong, and so much more.
FOR PARENTS OF NEWBORNS (0-2)
HealthyChildren.org
From the American Academy of Pediatrics, see what medical professionals are saying and recommending regarding the development of your Baby and Toddler. Note: For the most part, this is a great resource to better understand the developmental stages of your child, however, some of the perspectives and opinions that they share will vary from ours as a faith-based organization. See more About us and what we stand for. [link to “About” page]
10 Steps for Stressed Out Parents
A newborn can bring a whirlwind of activity and excitement to your life — and plenty of stress and fatigue, too. Whether you're a first-time parent or a veteran, consider these 10 practical tips to keep stress under control.
Are Sundays Good for Babies
Every Sunday, Christian parents have an opportunity to bring their little ones to Jesus. It might be disruptive. But, that’s a good thing.
Tips For Taking Care Of Newborns
Focus on the Family has a wealth of information for parenting children of all ages and stages. Check out these great tips for caring for your newborn.
ZeroToThree.org
This organization’s mission is to help you see that early connections last a lifetime. Here you’ll find insights on your child’s development and age-based tips from birth to 36 months.
FOR PARENTS OF PRESCHOOLERS (3-6)
TOP PICKS
Boundaries with Kids
Let Dr. Cloud and Dr. Townsend help you establish family boundaries and cultivate sound character in your children. Go from understanding to identifying the boundary issues underlying behavior-problems, learn to start setting boundaries and establishing consequences with your kids and so much more!
Don't Make Me Count to Three!
Do you find yourself threatening, repeating your instructions, or raising your voice in an attempt to get your children to obey? Through personal experience and the practical application of Scripture, Ginger Hubbard encourages and equips moms to reach past the outward behavior of their children and dive deeply into the issues of the heart.
The 5 Love Languages of Children - The Secret to Loving Children Effectively
Dr. Chapman and Dr. Campbell help you to: 1) Discover your child's love language, 2) Assist your child in successful learning, 3) Use love languages to correct and discipline effectively, and 4) Build a foundation of unconditional love for your child.
OTHER GREAT RESOURCES
HealthyChildren.org
From the American Academy of Pediatrics, see what Medical professionals are saying and recommending regarding the development of your Preschooler. Note: For the most part, this is a great resource to better understand the developmental stages of your child, however, some of the perspectives and opinions that they share will vary from ours as a faith-based organization. See more About us and what we stand for.
What the Bible Teaches About Child Training
This book by J. Richard Fugate, is a study designed to help parents to better understand their role and to reveal the mechanics for successfully raising children. This book will carefully define parental accountability, authority, and responsibility.
FOR PARENTS OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOLERS (7-10)
TOP PICKS
Are My Kids On Track?
In this book counselors Sissy Goff, David Thomas, Melissa Trevathan will unveil 12 emotional, social, and spiritual milestones for your child, the unique patterns of boys and girls, and practical suggestions for supporting your child's heart and soul development on a daily basis.
Grace Based Parenting
Dr. Tim Kimmel explains how fear-based parenting is a guaranteed method to set children up for failure. Learn how to meet your child's three driving inner needs for security, significance and strength.
Parenting with Love and Logic
Authors Foster Cline and Jim Fay reveal how to establish healthy control through easy-to-implement steps without anger, threats, nagging, or power struggles.
Shepherding a Child’s Heart
Pastor and Author, Tedd Tripp shares from his seasoned experience as a father and from God's Holy Word. This guide defines some healthy goals for you as a parent and provides the Scriptural methods for accomplishing them.
OTHER GREAT RESOURCES
The New Strong Willed Child
Find out what Dr. James Dobson, family counselor and child psychologist, has to say about what makes strong-willed children the way they are, shaping them will while protecting their spirit, avoiding the most common parenting mistake, and much more.
Protect Young Minds
Connect with these helpful resources to empower your family against pornography and sexual exploitation.
Big Truths for Young Hearts
Author Bruce A. Ware wrote Big Truths for Young Hearts to encourage and enable parents of children, ages 6 to14 years old, to teach through the whole of systematic theology in an understandable, chapter-a-day format.
A Christian Response To Bullying
Christians today are being presented with the opportunity to think theologically about bullying, and to implement creative solutions to protect the most vulnerable among them. This article will give you many of the tools you need to address this topic with your family.
OTHER RESOURCES
FOR PARENTS OF MIDDLE SCHOOLERS (11-13)
TOP PICKS
Axis.org & The Culture Translator
If you’re the parent of a Middle or High School student, you need to sign up for The Culture Translator (eNewsletter) and check out all that this site has to offer as resource for engaging in your teen’s culture and conversations.
Alongside: Loving Teenagers with the Gospel
In this transformative book, Drew Hill unpacks the challenges teenagers face and how parents can love them through it all. Full of practical insight and biblical knowledge, Alongside is an invitation to love teenagers well with the hope of the gospel.
Parenting Teens With Love and Logic
This book, by Foster Cline, M.D. and Jim Fay, empowers parents with the skills necessary to set limits, teach important life-skills, and encourage decision-making in their teenagers.
OTHER GREAT RESOURCES
Parenting Today’s Teens With Mark Gregston
The “Parenting Today’s Teens” radio program and podcast offers biblical insights and practical wisdom to help you gain a deeper relationship with your teen. They also offer free online parenting courses, eBooks, and events to guide you through the turbulent teenage years.
Protect Young Minds
“Protect Young Minds” engages families with a mission to empower parents, professionals, and community leaders to protect young kids from pornography and promote healing from any sexual exploitation.
Wait Until 8th
The “Wait Until 8th” pledge empowers parents to rally together to delay giving children a smartphone until at least 8th grade. By banding together, this will decrease the pressure felt by kids and parents alike over the kids having a smartphone.
Tween and Teen Development
Tweens and teens experience many physical and emotional changes that can be confusing for parents. Dr. Meg Meeker explains those changes and offers tips for parents to respond effectively so their sons and daughters can thrive during their teenage years. (from focusonthefamily.com)
Age of Opportunity
Are you hoping to merely survive your teenagers? With compassion, wit and wisdom, in this book, Author Paul Tripp uncovers the heart issues affecting families during the often-chaotic adolescent years.
Boundaries With Teens
Dr. John Townsend writes about how strong, healthy boundaries are the key to a strong, healthy relationship with your teen. Discover how to set healthy boundaries for both yourself and your teen to enhance your relationships.
Your Teenager is Not Crazy
Struggling to understand your teens' ups and downs? Pairing the latest brain research with scriptural principles, Dr. Jeramy Clark, and his wife, Jerusha Clark walk you through the radical physical remodeling of the adolescent brain to help you guide your children in developing creativity, individuality, and self-awareness.
OTHER RESOURCES
FOR PARENTS OF HIGH SCHOOLERS (14-17)
TOP PICKS
Axis.org & The Culture Translator
If you’re the parent of a High School student, you need to sign up for The Culture Translator (Newsletter) and check out all that this site has to offer as resource for engaging in your teen’s culture and conversations.
Alongside: Loving Teenagers with the Gospel
In this transformative book, Drew Hill unpacks the challenges teenagers face and how parents can love them through it all. Full of practical insight and biblical knowledge, Alongside is an invitation to love teenagers well with the hope of the gospel.
Parenting Today’s Teens With Mark Gregston
The “Parenting Today’s Teens” radio program and podcast offers biblical insights and practical wisdom to help you gain a deeper relationship with your teen. They also offer free online parenting courses, eBooks, and events to guide you through the turbulent teenage years.
Age Of Opportunity
Are you hoping to merely survive your teenagers? With compassion, wit and wisdom, in this book, Author Paul Tripp uncovers the heart issues affecting families during the often-chaotic adolescent years.
Boundaries With Teens
Dr. John Townsend writes about how strong, healthy boundaries are the key to a strong, healthy relationship with your teen. Discover how to set healthy boundaries for both yourself and your teen to enhance your relationships.
Other Resources
FOR PARENTS OF GRADUATES (19-22)
TOP PICKS
Doing Life With Your Adult Children
Dealing with boundaries, finances, and changing values are all part of parenting your grown child. In Doing Life with Your Adult Children, Jim Burns offers practical advice and hopeful encouragement for one of the richest and most challenging seasons of parenting.
OTHER GREAT RESOURCES
18 Plus: Parenting Your Emerging Adult
Eighteen Plus is a guide to help you parent in this new unfamiliar phase of parenting your emerging adult-child. You will discover how your emerging adult is changing, how their world is changing, and what they still need from you (besides more money.)
Fledge – Launching Your Kids Without Losing Your Mind
Your job as a parent isn’t over; it’s just changing. Equip yourself with biblical wisdom for this season of transition in your family life. In Fledge, counselor, educator, and mother Brenda L. Yoder helps Christian parents navigate the many transitions of the launching years.
Growing With
Based on brand-new research and interviews with remarkable families, “Growing With,” by Kara Powell, equips parents to take steps toward their teenagers and young adults in a mutual journey of intentional growth that trusts God to transform them all.
OTHER RESOURCES
- Are You Saying The Wrong Things To Your Adult Kids?
- Don’t Let Your Expectations Push Away Your Adult Children
- How To Trust God With Your Adult Children
- Parenting Adult Children
- Parenting Adult Children: Six Steps to Sanity
- When Adult Children Don’t Share Your Values
- Wisdom for Parenting Adult Children
GRANDPARENTING
TOP PICKS
The Grandparent Factor
Trusted pastor and author Phil Waldrep writes about five principles to help you make a difference in the life of your grandchild.
Focus On The Family – Grandparenting
With so much influence and insight on the topic of family health, they certainly don’t leave out the important influence of grandparents. See what all Focus On the Family might challenge you to think of and to do as grandparents to those great and precious grandkids of yours!
FamilyLife – Grandparenting
With so many articles and podcasts across the gamut of parenting, how could they not include grandparents! Check out these and the many other resources for grandparents that this insightful and faith-based site has to offer.