All Family & parenting articles
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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 ...
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ArticleSetting yourself up for faith conversations in 2024
Do conversations with your kids come easily?
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Article‘God with us’ in a family with additional needs
What is the toughest part of Christmas for you?
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ArticleIs it OK to talk about Santa and does this undermine our words about Jesus?
What was your experience of Santa growing up?
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ArticleGive glory to God this Christmas (and ditch ’the elf on the shelf’, please!)
Have you had to make adjustments to your Christmas routine?
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ArticleMaybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store: how to be imaginative as you celebrate God's gift to us
Do you know your love language?
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Article‘I find it easier to share Jesus with my children at Christmas: here’s how I do it’
Do you find Christmas is a good time to share faith?
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ArticleHow to share Christmas gifts (without going into debt!)
How many gifts do you typically buy?
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Article‘Mum can I get a tattoo?’ What to say about tattoos and piercings in the light of the Bible
Have tattos been an issue in your home?
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ArticleA how, a wow and a bow: a Christmas meditation for your family this advent
Have you lost the sense of wonder of Christmas?
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Article11 activities for Christian families to brighten your advent season
Was ‘advent’ celebrated in your home growing up?
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Article‘Teamwork makes the dream work’: how one Christian family is tackling selfishness
Is selfishness the root of issues in your family?
