All Older children articles – Page 2
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Article5 ways Christian parents can teach their youth and children about generosity
Nurturing a spirit of generosity in children and young people is integral to encouraging their faith. The more they understand God’s lavish generosity towards them, the more likely they are to want to be generous themselves. A generous spirit will, in turn, deepen their faith as they witness the positive impact of their generosity on the world around them. Parents clearly have a pivotal role to play in shaping their children’s attitudes towards giving—but how exactly can they do this?
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ArticleSafeguarding and intergenerational relationships: Helping Christian parents explore the tension
You are running your first-ever Messy Church session. After months of planning, training the team, advertising the date, and talking to everyone you know about coming along to the launch, people start to arrive, and your church hall is now looking full. You are busy welcoming people and ensuring that your team has everything they need when you notice that your welcome desk team member is waving you over. You weave your way across the room to check that they are okay.
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ArticleThis Mental Health Awareness week, Christian parents can turn to the Bible for help with the well-being of their children
As Christian parents, we’re probably used to wanting to find out what the Bible has to say about the issues facing us and our families. We want to use scripture to help us navigate the world, and whilst sometimes we can easily see what the Bible has to say on a topic (there is an abundance of wisdom on navigating conflict well, for example), at other times it can be a little trickier.
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ArticleWhen Sephora meets Scripture: Helping our girls see true beauty
It was November 2024, that time of year when I ask my children for their Christmas lists to avoid any disappointment on 25th December. But this year felt somewhat different with my three daughters. As I scanned their lists, I found myself searching in vain for the familiar comforts of LOL Dolls, Barbie Dreamhouses, and Lego Friends sets. Instead, I was met with a line-up of brand names completely foreign to me — Laneige, Bubble, Rhode, Sol de Janeiro, Drunk Elephant, Fenty, Mario Badescu (had Ken been replaced by a Romanian counterpart?). Then it struck me, with a twinge of sadness, that my daughters had quietly moved beyond the innocent world of toys, trading them for the sophisticated realm of skincare and beauty products. Even my nine-year-old, surprisingly well-versed in the world of luxury brands, appeared caught up in this early wave of consumer savvy. It left me wondering: were they growing up too fast, or was I simply unprepared for how childhood itself has evolved?
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ArticleWhen parenting advice doesn’t work: Understanding PDA in autistic children
“Have you tried praying more for your child?”
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ArticleAnswering your child's questions: What does God look like?
Once upon a time, I was helping my 5-year-old brush her teeth, and she asked, “Does God have teeth?”
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ArticleHow to raise children who know they are loved by God - and you - even when they don’t “perform”
In part one, we explored the beautiful truth that God made sport as a gift, a joy, and a way to reflect His creativity. But let’s be honest: that can feel idealistic. We don’t live in a perfect world. Sport, like life, involves disappointment—injustices, injuries, losses, and rejection. So how do we help our children thrive in that reality?
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ArticleBeyond the endless scroll: Protecting your teen’s heart on TikTok
TikTok, known for its viral trends and challenges, has quickly become one of the most popular social‑media apps among young people. British teens spend an average of two hours a day on TikTok. With its creative, fast‑paced content and personalised algorithm, it’s no surprise that teens devote so much time to the app. However, such a time commitment inevitably shapes how they think, grow, and interact with the world.
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ArticleWhy God invented the game: Five faith‑filled reasons sport matters to your family
If you’re reading this, I guess you are parenting a child who loves sport—possibly to the point of obsession. Maybe you love it too. Whether your weekends are spent on muddy sidelines or at early‑morning training sessions, you’re probably asking deeper questions about how all this sporting enthusiasm connects with your Christian faith.
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ArticleFiction as a faith‑builder: How Christian parents can use stories in discipleship
Long ago, before my husband and I had children, we were staying with a family who had teenagers. Together we watched a TV series featuring an alcoholic. I was surprised that the parents allowed their young people to watch it, but the ensuing discussion proved invaluable.
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ArticleA Christian parent’s guide to mandatory reporting: What’s going on and why it matters
Trigger Warning: This article contains information about child sexual abuse
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ArticleWhat’s your parenting style? Are you a lawnmower?
If you could describe your parenting as a picture, what would it be? A helicopter always circling around; a bulldozer flattening everything in your path; a gardener, carefully nurturing tender stems?
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ArticleGifts not grades: Recognising every young person’s God-given talents
The summer term in schools means different things to different ages of children and young people. For some it is the term of sports day, end of year shows, outdoor PE lessons and being allowed to play on the school field. For our older ones this term brings very different events ahead; this is the term of exams, and all that they bring with them.
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ArticleThere is no good parenting without Good Friday
We spend a lot of time on NexGen providing helpful, biblical, practical articles for Christian parents on all manner of subjects: films, social media, additional needs, disability, schools, awkward questions, reviews of Christian resources and much more. But the most important element in Christian parenting is you. That sounds obvious, after all the clue is in the word! But sometimes we might forget the centrality of that truth. Your parenting starts with you. Not the skills, not the tips, not the information – you.
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ArticleWhen church attendance isn’t simple: Parenting, faith, and the beauty of flexibility
When our children were young, attending church on Sundays and midweek was a regular, prioritised part of our weekly rhythm. If you’d asked me back then, with toddlers in tow, what parenting teenagers would look like, I’d have confidently told you church attendance would be mandatory.
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ArticleFinding peace after loss: Trusting God while supporting your child’s grief
Grief is one of the most challenging experiences that we endure in life. Whether it arrives suddenly or evolves over time, nothing fully prepares you for the plethora of emotions that it brings. When my father passed away last year, the grief was overwhelming. Though I continue to hold on to my faith, there are days when the weight of his absence feels unbearable, and the notion of ‘healing’ seems distant.
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ArticleFrom headlines to hope: How Christian parents can guide youth and children through troubling news
The news isn’t easy for anyone to hear right now, least of all our children. From war and political divisions, to natural disasters, the headlines are enough to fill a grown adult with terror, let alone a young person.
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ArticleHaving a Disability Champion can revolutionise life for disabled youth and children in your church
When we moved to our current church a few years ago, most people who talked with me for more than a few minutes soon discovered that I’m passionate about churches becoming more accessible for disabled people, including disabled young people and children. It wasn’t too long before our vicar approached me and asked if I would consider being the Disability Champion for our church. After praying about it, I gladly accepted. I want churches to not only welcome and include disabled adults, youth and children, but to also be places where they can feel that they truly belong. But what is a Disability Champion and why might your church need one?
