Recommended Resources
Tools:
Kids' Daily Prayer for Peace chart (PDF)
A chart to help children pray a simple daily prayer for peace. Here's an sample schedule incorporating the Daily Prayer for Peace."The History of Children and Parenting in the Community of Christ Tradition" by Jeri Lauren Lambert. (PDF)
Websites:
Christian Education for children
Seasons of the Spirit
Seasons of the Spirit is a lectionary-based resource created by an international team of writers and editors representing denominations from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United States of America, and the United Kingdom. A theological and educational foundations paper is available for review. In addition, there are free discussion groups, including "Spirit Talk - Learning", which focuses on practical issues facing teachers and leaders.Children's Ministry
ChildrensMinistry.com
Produced by Children's Ministry Magazine.ChildhoodSpirituality.com
Monica Bradford has explored with depth and compassion the issue of childhood spirituality in her blog. Monica brings the wisdom of a faith-informed parent and the gifts of a teacher to the topic. This site is highly recommended for parents, caregivers and anyone interested in engaging children in spiritual practices.
Children's Worship Bulletins
Children's Worship Bulletins
Reproducible children's bulletins. Can be customized with your church information. Available for ages 3 to 6 and 7 to 12.Bereavement/Grief Support
The Compassionate Friends
A national (USA) organization which assists families following the death of a child.Sexuality Education
Our Whole Lives
www.uua.org/religiouseducation/curricula/ourwholeOur Whole Lives is appropriate for use in a variety of congregational, school, and community settings, including classrooms, after-school programs, and youth groups. Although developed by two religious organizations, Our Whole Lives contains no religious references or doctrine. Religious references are contained in a Unitarian Universalist and United Church of Christ companion publication, Sexuality and Our Faith. Facilitator training opportunities for Our Whole Lives are listed on the website.
Books:
Bajema, Edith. A Family Affair: Worshipping God with Our Children. Grand Rapids, MI: CRC Publications, 1994.
Batchelor, Mary. Children’s Prayers From Around the World. Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1995.
Bolton, Andrew and Gardner, Jane, eds. The Sacraments: Symbol, Meaning & Discipleship. Independence, MO: Herald Publishing House, 2005.
Broyles, Anne. Growing Together in Love: God Known Through Family Life. Nashville: Upper Room Books, 1993.
Caldwell, Elizabeth. Making a Home for Faith: Nurturing the Spiritual Life of Your Children. Cleveland, OH: Pilgrim Press, 2000.
Cloyd, Betty. Children and Prayer: A Shared Pilgrimage. Nashville: Upper Room Books, 1997.
Cohn, Janice. Raising Compassionate, Courageous Children In a Violent World. Atlanta: Longstreet Press, 1996.
Drescher, John. Parents – Passing the Torch of Faith. Independence: Herald Press, 1997.
Garland, Diana. Family Ministry: A Comprehensive Guide. Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 1999.
Garland, Diana. Sacred Stories of Ordinary Families: Living the Faith in Daily Life. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2003.
Gottman, John M. and Gottman, Julie Schwartz. And Baby Makes Three: The Six-Step Plan for Preserving Marital Intimacy and Rekindling Romance After Baby Arrives. New York: Crown Publishing Group, 2007.
Gottman, John M. et.al. Bringing Baby Home: A Program for New Parents Experiencing The Transition to Parenthood – Instructors Manual. Seattle: The Relationship Research Institute, 2007.
Good, Phyllis and Merle Good. Ideas for Families. Intercourse, PA: Good Books, 1992.
Halverson, Delia. How Do Our Children Grow? Introducing Children to God, Jesus, the Bible, Prayer. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1993.
Howard, Barbara, ed. Children: Of Such Is the Kingdom. Independence: Herald Publishing House, 1979.
Judd, Peter A. The Sacraments. Independence: Herald Publishing House, 1992.
Leach, Penelope. Your Baby & Child: From Birth to Age Five, 3rd Ed. London: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc./Dorling Kindersley Ltd., 1997.
McGinnis, Jim et. al. Families Creating a Circle of Peace: A Guide for Living the Family Pledge of Nonviolence. St. Louis: The Institute for Peace and Justice, 1996.
Miller-McLemore, Bonnie J. Let the Children Come: Reimagining Childhood from a Christian Perspective. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2003.
Musleah, Rahel and Michael Klayman. Shared Blessings: Children’s Stories for Exploring the Spirit of Jewish Holidays. Woodstock, VT: Jewish Lights Publishing, 1997.
Payden, Deborah and Laura Loving. Celebrating At Home: prayers and liturgies for families. Cleveland, OH: Pilgrim Press, 1998.
Thompson, Marjorie. Family – The Forming Center: A Vision of the Role of Family in Spiritual Formation. Nashville: Upper Room Books, 1997.
Wallerstein, Judith S. & Blakeslee, Sandra. The Good Marriage: How & Why Love Lasts. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1995.
Westerhoff III, John H. Bringing Up Children in the Christian Faith. Minneapolis: Winston Press, 1980.
Wigger, J. Bradley. The Power of God at Home: Nurturing Our Children in Love & Grace. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2003.
Wigger, J. Bradley. Together We Pray: A Prayer Book for Families. St. Louis: Chalice Press, 2005.
Yust, Karen Marie. Real Kids Real Faith: Practices for Nurturing Children’s Spiritual Lives. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2004.
Devotional Resources
My First Message: A Devotional Bible for Kids by Eugene H. Peterson. ISB: 978-157683448-0
My First Message introduces children ages 4-8 to God's Word through The Message Bible text, lively illustrations and short lessons.
Bedtime Blessings by John Trent, Ph.D. ISBN: 978-1-56179-807-0
100 Bedtime stories and activities for blessing your child.Psalm Twenty-Three, Illustrated by Tim Ladwig ISBN: 978-0-8028-5163-5
Through this powerful series of illustrations, artist Tim Ladwig delivers the inspirational message of hope and rebirth found in the Twenty-Third Psalm. The words of the psalm, now thousands of years old, seem even more relevant today against the rich backdrop of the inner city.