All Family & parenting articles
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ArticleChristian parents should not let their children watch the new Harry Potter series
As an ex ‘new-ager’I want to share some concerns about parents letting their children watch TV series and films like the new Harry Potter series on HBO.
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ArticleAnswering your child’s questions: What’s the point of praying? Because God doesn’t change
We know that prayer matters, but if your home is anything like mine then the fast pace of busy family life often means it doesn’t get the time or the focus that you wish it did. With conflicting clubs and extracurricular activities routines are all over the place and bedtimes are not as consistent as they once were. Mealtimes are chaotic and often filled with others around the table too, and those special moments when you’re all together as a family are too few and far between.
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Article5 ways Christian parents can engage with sex and relationships education in school
No parent relishes the prospect of ’The talk’ with their kids. And when it comes to the birds and the bees, Christians are no exception; talking about sex and relationships can be embarrassing for both parents and children. Uncertainty, or fear of “getting it wrong” often lead mums and dads to stay silent- even in Christian homes. My husband and I recently bit the bullet and broached the topic with our eldest son; it’s safe to say there were a few awkward giggles and some very red faces!
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ArticleGetting the most out of school sports day - A guide for Christian parents
Amongst all the emails that come in from our son’s school, the one we open quickest is the one about sports day. Check the date, clear the diary, not to me missed!
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ArticleLook closer, you’ll find the Eubank Jr - Benn fight was secretly a sermon on fatherhood
In 1990, Chris Eubank Sr. and Nigel Benn met in a clash preceded by years of animosity. Simply put: these men just didn’t like each other.
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Article3 helpful qualities for Christian dads to foster this Father’s Day and beyond
On June 15th this year, families across the nation will celebrate Father’s Day. Fatherhood is likely to bring up different emotions in families. For some – hopefully many – emotions will be positive, and the day will be a chance to give thanks for the dads within the home. For others, the day will bring up mixed emotions due to the absence of a father, or perhaps a dad’s death. Churches which engage with the Father’s Day celebration would be wise to remember these various experiences – while also encouraging dads (and male role models within the church) in their midst.
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ArticlePlaying is good for youth, children and their communities - here’s how Christian parents and churches can encourage it
Today the Raising the Nation Play Commission released it’s report Everything to Play For: A Plan to Ensure Every Child in England Can Play - it shows that spaces and opportuntities for play in the UK are being eroded and that perhaps unsurprisingly youth and children in the UK are some of the unhappiest in Europe. How can parents and churches play their part in addressing this? Well before we get to that let’s wind back and think what play actually is.
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ArticleAnswering your child’s questions: Why is God a Father?
With Father’s Day just around the corner you’ve probably begun to notice that the shelves have filled up with bright ties and blue socks declaring “BEST DAD EVER” and “DAD YOU’RE ROARSOME!” (who actually buys those?) Teachers are scrolling Pinterest for new ideas of cute crafts, and our kids are spending their days creating beautifully unique handprint cards - just like everybody else! Whilst this day is quite rightly a celebration of the men in our lives who care so wonderfully for their families, it is also a painful reminder of what has been lacking for so many others.
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ArticleWhat’s your parenting style? Are you an elephant or a tiger parent?
King Solomon advised the sluggard to learn about hard work from watching an ant. What animal would he suggest a parent learn from? There are a number of choices and I wonder which species you might set as your role model. Perhaps you are like the tortoise – slow and patient with your children, compared to the hare who rushes them from task to task. Or perhaps you are like the eagle swooping over their heads, ready to plummet down to their level at any necessary moment. Or perhaps you are like the Mother Hen sheltering them under your wing, after all that’s a biblical picture (Luke 13:34).
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Article5 ways to help children respond with kindness and faith when the world doesn’t make sense
Last week, we went to see the Liverpool parade. The sun was out, the atmosphere electric, and spirits were high. As a family, we navigated the usual big-crowd quirks: people pushing in, kids on shoulders blocking views, random traders weaving through the chaos selling knock-off scarves and super loud horns. It sparked some good conversations about patience (we were waiting for seven hours!), and about kindness, as we encouraged the children to make room for people who couldn’t see, invited the smallest to go to the front, and choose to be considerate even when it felt like no one else was.
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ArticleChloe Swart: You don’t have to be a superhero parent. Just love Jesus deeply and live that out in front of your kids
Chloe, can you describe what it was like growing up in a home where your parents were so actively involved in mission?
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ArticleMarriage matters: The importance of Christian parents making space for each other
A few weeks ago, headlines and social media feeds were flooded with an image of the Prince and Princess of Wales embracing as they gazed out over the beautiful landscape of the Isle of Mull. The moment marked their 14th wedding anniversary, and they chose to return to the Scottish island they had first visited back in 2003 while dating as students at St. Andrews.
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ArticleHelping your child start school with confidence and faith
The school places have been finalised, and the countdown has begun. Whether your child is starting school for the first time, entering a new year, or starting at a new school, new beginnings are a big deal — and change is always hard. So how do we prepare our children in mind, body, and soul?
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ArticleSport, faith, and friendship: Evangelism for the everyday parent
Every Sunday morning, thousands of parents gather on the sidelines of children’s sports fields across the country. Some stand quietly with their coffee; others make small talk while the game unfolds. Earlier in the week, many are already at swimming pools before sunrise, watching through glass panels or sitting in cafés while their children train. For those in more competitive or elite pathways, weekends are spent travelling to competitions – families packed into cars, clocking up hours together, waiting and watching.
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ArticleWhat’s your parenting style? Are you a helicopter or a satellite parent?
You have probably heard of helicopter parenting - the idea that parents hover over every move their children make, ready to swoop in and protect them from harm. This style has been made even more possible by smartphones: I can see where my children are at any moment. Is he going to get home in time for dinner? Why is she in the park when she should be at dance class? I just want to check that they both made it home from school.
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ArticleParenting without pretence: How vulnerability builds stronger families and communities
It’s a sunny Tuesday morning in London and everyone in my family is getting ready for their respective days – a dad, a mum, and five kids. What could possibly go wrong? As it turns out… socks. Socks can go very wrong.
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Article4 ways to celebrate your child's birthday, honour God and not break the bank
The celebration of a birthday brings excitement, anticipation, and lots of fun. Celebrating a child’s birthday increases their self-esteem, sense of belonging, and overall well-being. But are parties now becoming too expensive to host given the current climate? A recent article in The Times suggests they are, with many parents delaying parties—leading to a dip in the party industry in the UK.
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ArticleOlly Goldenberg: 'I am so grateful to be able to pass on the spiritual legacy of my parents to my children'
I was born into a non-Christian home. My Dad was a nominal Jew, raised orthodox in Sudan he moved to the UK and had long since left the synagogue behind. My Mum, a gentile, would have called herself a Christian, but this was more a matter of culture than heart submission to the Lord. More a wedding and funeral follower than a devoted disciple of Christ. That all changed when I was 4 years. Both my parents became Christians around the same time attending church became a regular part of our lives.
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ArticleAnswering your child's questions: What’s the point of praying? Because God is all powerful
Praying with our children is one of the most meaningful and powerful parts of parenting. In fact, teaching them how to pray is quite possibly the most significant thing we could ever teach them! But it is often one of the hardest habits to help them form.
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ArticleWalking the talk: Six things Christian parents can do to raise children who care for God’s creation
It’s Walk to School Week this week. Children throughout the UK will be encouraged to walk to school every day of the week. The aim is for children to learn about the benefits of walking for mental and physical health, road safety, and the planet.
