All Family & parenting articles
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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?
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ArticleAs Gareth Southgate considers a generation of lost boys here are some reflections for Christian parents
In recent weeks, the success of the Netflix drama Adolescence, with its visceral depiction of a teenage boy’s crime and its effects on his family, has led to widespread conversation on boys and masculinity. Sara Taylor has already helpfully explored ways in which this might inform parents in their relationship with kids.
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ArticleMothering Sunday: A chance to celebrate mothers and consider the implications of mothering for mission
One of the things that I love most about being a Mum is receiving hand delivered tokens of love. I have kept notes from my now-teenagers, one of whom, at six, declared they loved me nearly as much as their favorite toy. I have photos of a special stick found ‘just for me’ by a sweet little redheaded boy who is now as tall as I am.
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ArticleSiblings of youth and children with additional needs need support too - Here’s five things Christian parents can do
This article is written by Phoebe Ridout, who is the daughter of Mark Arnold (from the Additional Needs Alliance). Phoebe shares her experience of growing up as an additional needs sibling to her brother, James, as well as offering learnings for us all…
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ArticleIt’s not all in the head - Physical activity is really important for the mental and spiritual health of youth and children
In 2024 there were 9.3 million NHS Couch to 5K runs started in the year as people sought to get healthy. I really enjoy physical activity but there are times (especially at the end of a busy day or if it is cold and dark) that dragging myself away from a comfy sofa is quite a challenge. However, one thing I do know is that being active is good for me and I always feel better having chosen to abandon the sofa for exercise.
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ArticleChristian grandparents: An underused resource in the faith lives of youth and children?
It’s over 20 years now since my Grandad moved on to heaven, but I am still inspired by his prayers and the role model of faith he was to me. His well-worn Bible was always open next to his favourite armchair, and he told me on so many occasions that whilst he couldn’t physically do much in his later years, so he would sit talking to Jesus for large portions of the day, particularly praying for me and my family. I will never forget him. His faith inspires me still now and will do for the rest of my life.
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ArticleChristian devotions at home for children with additional needs are hard but worth working at
Hands up if you feel pressured by your church to do family devotions every morning. In some areas of our wonderful church, we can be left feeling that having daily family devotions is compulsory and doing it in the morning brings extra holiness points.
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ArticleWe might be facing a pornography pandemic but Christian parents do have weapons to fight back with
The statistics are bleak. A 2023 report from the UK Children’s Commissioner found that by the age of 13 half of all children have viewed pornography. The porn that is freely available on the internet isn’t like the magazines of the past. Videos are often harsh, involving scenes of sexual coercion and aggression.
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ArticlePlaying is good for your kids. Here's how Christian parents and churches can encourage it
Play is a funny thing. Everyone knows intuitively what it is but struggles to define it. It’s fun, but it is also a serious business. We associate it with children but deep-down love it as adults. It comes naturally and yet we seem also to spend a lot of time working at it. Play is a bit of a paradox but before we give up on it lets step back and consider what exactly it is and why it is important.
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ArticleNow parents know which school their year 6 children are going to it’s time to start getting ready
Our youth and children make several big steps in their life but as parents and carers we make those steps with them and can be as concerned and nervous as they are. One of the biggest steps our children make is starting at secondary school and that certainly is a significant change for us parents!
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ArticleOur children and young people need the good news not mere happy news
Rachael Newham considers whether we are passing on an emotional prosperity gospel and what a healthier approach might be.
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ArticleParents are the key to bridging the gap between church and school
Ashley Nichols sees parents as playing a pivotal role in helping schools provide appropriate space and time for children and young people to consider the Christian faith.
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ArticleChristian parenting in hospital: surviving through everyday faith
I’m sitting just to her side, wedged between the ward wall and my child’s hospital bed. For me and many other parents this has become a familiar yet daunting place. The rhythmic soundscape of oxygen masks and intermittent beeping from machines becomes our lullaby. It merges into the background of chatter and children’s cries, as we try to rest and get some sleep.
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ArticleHand in Hand Conference 2025: A call to action for children’s and family ministry
As the skies drizzled on a chilly Friday afternoon in February, the excitement surrounding the 2025 National Children’s and Family Ministry Conference, Hand in Hand, was anything but damp. Over 600 attendees arrived at the Bethel Convention Centre in Birmingham, where the warm, vibrant welcome was evident from the moment they stepped onto the red carpet. This year, the event found a new home, bringing with it a fresh energy and a renewed sense of purpose in children and families ministry.
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ArticleAre smartphones rewiring my kid’s brain?
Robin Barfield wonders if Christian parents are sometimes a little too negative on the impact of smart phones and social media. For an alternative perspective click here.
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ArticleUse the Gospel to transform your approach to your child’s behaviour
How do you approach your child’s behaviour? Do you find yourself giving commands or trying to persuade? Are you an authoritarian or gentle parent? As a Christian parent, you feel like you want to be able to give your child clear, simple instructions for how they are to behave and why. You also want to speak to their heart, not just their behaviour.
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ArticleChildline’s tips on tackling loneliness are helpful. But Christians should go further.
This month Childline revealed that that they ran nearly 5,000 online or telephone counselling sessions with youth and children in 2023-24. There are lots of issues that worry youth and children but, in those sessions, the main concern was loneliness. This isn’t an outlying report. The Office for National Statistics said something similar about the same time period. Loneliness, it seems, is a big problem.
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ArticleDiscipline – Getting it right, biblically, legally and practically
When you think about discipline, what comes to mind? Perhaps it brings back memories of how you were treated as a child. Those memories could be positive or negative. As parents, we know discipline is key in helping children become well-balanced and responsible people, but the way you approach discipline can have a lasting impact on your child’s emotional and behavioural development.
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ArticleA Parent’s Guide to Safe and Enjoyable Sleepovers
Sleepovers are a cherished part of childhood—an opportunity for children to bond with friends, and enjoy the freedom of staying up far too late! For parents, sleepovers are a big moment, as the fun also comes with the responsibility of ensuring everyone is safe and looked after. With stories of peer-on-peer abuse in the media, it’s natural for parents to have concerns. So let’s look at how you can make for an enjoyable and safe sleepover.
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ArticleA parent’s guide to safeguarding
Most parents want to protect their children, ensuring they thrive in safe environments. For many families, this extends beyond their homes and into the various clubs and church communities where their children participate. Whilst these places may offer growth, friendship, or spiritual development, parents need to be ...
