The Best Christian Parenting Books
A while back, I shared some of my favorite books for parenting toddlers.
But, as my kids are getting older, I have found a need to find the best Christian parenting books to help guide my day-to-day parenting decisions. If you’re anything like me, you find yourself getting weary as the job of parenting is ALWAYS evolving.
I am confident you’ll love many of these books and they’ll become the foundation of your Christian parenting strategy. These are books currently on my bookshelf that I am personally working through or I’ve already read. I wouldn’t recommend something to you that isn’t worth reading.
When you find parenting to be a struggle, grab one of the best Christian parenting books to help you parent your kids in a more Godly way. I did my best to sort them into groups by the people who would benefit most from them.
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Table of Contents
Best Christian Parenting Books
Mama Bear Apologetics
Although geared towards moms, Mama Bear Apologetics, written by Hillary Morgan Ferrer, is about championing your kids to love Christ and not fall for the ways of the world. And with the way things are going in the world right now, this should be at the top of our priority lists as Christian parents. This is a powerful read and can be beneficial for moms and dads alike. This parenting book encourages parents to teach apologetics to their kids and not be afraid to be bold in the truths of Christ.
In each chapter, you’ll be given topics to challenge your thinking as a parent, as well as opportunities to see worldly lies through a biblical microscope. If we aren’t teaching our kids real, biblical truth then the world is gladly going to teach them something else.
Talking with Your Kids About Jesus
Kids ask REALLY tough questions sometimes, even as Christians. And as a Christian parent, you want to answer their questions in a way that aligns with your Christian beliefs while explaining things in a way they understand. Talking with Your Kids About Jesus, written by Natasha Crain, is broken down into five sections: The Identify of Jesus, The Teachings of Jesus, The Death of Jesus, The Resurrection of Jesus, and The Difference Jesus Makes.
Each of the 5 sections offers 6 different conversations you can have with your kids about who Jesus is. The idea behind this book is that if you can have lots of tiny conversations with your kids about who Jesus is, it’s going to be so much less overwhelming than sitting down with your child and trying to cover everything you want them to know about Jesus in one LONG conversation.
Grace-Based Parenting
Grace-Based Parenting, by Dr. Tim Kimmel, is a Christian-based parenting book dedicated to reminding parents that the way we should parent our own children is the way God parents us as His children, with grace. Through love, forgiveness, and direct guidance, you’ll learn to examine your own parenting strategies and decide how to move forward with a more grace-filled parenting approach.
Grace-Based Discipline
The daughter of Tim Kimmel, author of Grace-Based Parenting, Karis Kimmel Murray writes Grace-Based Discipline with the same approach of grace in disciplining children. In this book, you’ll learn how to stay calm in moments of frustration, identify the best ways to parent EACH child, set rules (not yours, but what God wants), and apply reasonable consequences. You will find relatable parenting advice as you navigate the tough calling of Christian parenting.
5 Love Languages of Children
I recommend that every married couple read the 5 Love Languages to better love your spouse according to his or her needs. Similarly, I think every parent should read the 5 Love Languages of Children, by Gary Chapman, to better understand how your kids give and receive love. It is imperative that you know how to love each of your kids based on their needs, as well as recognize when they’re giving love to you. Once you identify their love languages, this book will help teach you ways you can show love to your kids in their love language.
Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World
When it comes to raising kids, they can often seem ungrateful and entitled. If you find yourself battling these ideologies with your kids, then Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World, by Kristen Welch, is a must-read. Starting out with a chapter on wants versus needs, the book dives into teaching kids to be grateful for ALL things, as well as teaching your kids to recognize the needs of others. You’ll be encouraged to parent according to your personal standards, choose to be a parent instead of a friend, and cultivate obedience and gratitude daily. I love that this book offers advice in every chapter based upon the ages of your kids as well.
Raising World Changers in a Changing World
Also written by Kristen Welch, Raising World Changers in a Changing World is all about teaching your kids to see others. Living in a world that tells us we DESERVE the best of EVERYTHING, you’ll be encouraged to teach your kids to see others and give of their time, talents, and resources, even as kids. There are conversation starters in every chapter, as well as ways that you and your kids can take action and model the behaviors being taught. If they don’t learn how to love others in Christian love now, then when?
Making Children Mind Without Losing Yours
Making Children Mind Without Losing Yours, by Dr. Kevin Leman, is written for parents whose kids are old enough to understand the difference between right and wrong. Keeping Christ’s teaching in mind, this Christian parenting book teaches you to use the concept of correcting kids in a verbal way, rather than physical, like spanking. You will feel more in control and your kids will be more aware of you as your parenting skills are more direct in dealing with their behaviors.
Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family
I came across this book when I was searching for a bible study book for my small group. WOW! Parenting, by Paul David Tripp, is a book that will change your thoughts on and approach to parenting your kids in a way that is pleasing to God. You’ll take a first-hand look at yourself as a parent– be careful, it may be scary at first. But, if you approach this book with an open mind and not take offense to things that aren’t meant to be offensive, you’ll come out on the other side a much better Christian parent for your kid(s).
Best Parenting Books for Raising Girls
Bringing Up Girls
Dr. James Dobson is a very well-respected person in the Christian community. His book, Bringing Up Girls, is going to help you be better prepared to walk with your daughter through the stages of growing up as a young Christian woman in today’s world. You’ll have the chance to have important conversations with your daughter as she experiences the changes of life and deals with the peer pressures around her.
Raising a Daughter After God’s Own Heart
If you want a book that you can work through together with your daughter, I would recommend that you grab a copy of Raising a Daughter After God’s Own Heart. While teaching her to be a God-fearing woman, you’ll have the chance to take the journey with her as she learns to be the young woman God desires for her to be.
Best Parenting Books for Raising Boys
Wild Things: The Art of Nurturing Boys
Wild Things: The Art of Nurturing Boys is going to give you hope and encouragement as you journey down the path of parenting boys who are becoming young Christian men. The authors have a total of 5 boys between them and you’ll likely relate to many of the personal stories they share. Dive deep into understanding the physical, spiritual, and emotional needs of boys. A must-read for anyone raising boys.
Boys Should Be Boys: 7 Secrets to Raising Healthy Sons
As you’re navigating the world of parenting boys with a Christian mindset, make sure to read Boys Should Be Boys. Although often wild and climbing the walls, you’ll be reminded of the importance of setting and maintaining expectations and boundaries for your son(s). In a world that continually tells us who we should be, this book will encourage you to stay the course of creating a home with boundaries, expectations, as well as teaching you ways to have important conversations.
Best Parenting Books for Dads
52 Things Kids Need From a Dad
As a dad, do you need some encouragement when it comes to parenting your kids? 52 Things Kids Need From a Dad will give you 52 weekly ideas to interact with and be more of an example to your kids. Nothing crazy or over-the-top, just simple, applicable ways to be a better dad.
52 Things Sons Need From Their Dad
Similar to the book above, 52 Things Sons Need From Their Dad is geared specifically towards helping dads tach their sons to grow up to be good men. There will be the opportunity to discuss things like how to treat women, the value of hard work, how to be honest and have self-respect, and so much more!
52 Things Daughters Need From Their Dads
And, not leaving out daughters, 52 Things Daughters Need From Their Dads is going to give you the chance to spend some quality time with your daughters. The foundation of a father-daughter relationship is trust. And truthfully, just having a relationship with them by spending time with them, listening to them, and creating a positive understanding of how they should be treated by men. This book will encourage you to do all of those fatherly things.
Best Parenting Books for Moms
Hope for the Weary Mom: Let God Need You in the Mess
If there is one thing I have learned about motherhood- it’s messy! Hope for the Weary Mom is going to help you feel encouraged to let God meet you in the messy moments of motherhood. As Christian women, it can be challenging to be encouraged when we’re constantly told we can’t measure up to not only the world’s expectations but even to God’s expectations of what he wants for us as mothers. When you feel like you’ve run out of energy for anyone and anything, this book will help give you a boost back to your amazing self.
Risen Motherhood
Gosh, I need this book every day! Risen Motherhood is about taking everything you gather up from church on Sunday and making it last throughout the week in your daily mothering. If your momma’s heart is feeling a bit weary these days, you’ll feel uplifted and rejuvenated after reading this one!
Strong Mothers, Strong Sons
Strong Mothers, Strong Sons will help you be the Christian mom you want to be for your son. You’ll be encouraged to love your son while teaching him how to love, respect, and appreciate women. You’ll have a chance to heal places in your life so that you can better guide your son without baggage from your personal experiences.
There is so much good stuff in this book. If you feel like you’re falling in some of the common pitfalls moms of boys fall into, such as struggling to be bold and confident in your parenting, teaching the value of hard work, figuring out how to survive tough moments with your son, then this book is for you.
Best Parenting Books for Helping Kids with Death
Invisible String
When it comes to dealing with grief, loss, or separation, making loss understandable and relatable for kids can be really hard. Invisible String is a book about a mother’s way of teaching her kids that they’re always connected to those they love, wherever they may be by an invisible string. This is a fantastic book for Christians and non-Christians alike.
Why Do Things Die?
Geared towards the littlest members of your family, this lift-the-flap book helps make death a more understandable concept. Why Do Things Die? will open up the conversation about death in a way that little ones can grasp. Topics such as talking about death, what things will die, what happens when someone dies, and how to deal with their emotions are all talked about in this book. Here’s a video for you to check it out!
The Memory Box: A Book About Grief
As the title describes, kids will be encouraged to create a memory box. They’ll be able to write letters and draw pictures of things that bring them happy thoughts of who they lost. The Memory Box: A Book About Grief is geared towards kids who have a somewhat basic understanding of death. I would personally use this book as a path to talk about how God hears us and sees our sadness, and the box is a way to put our feelings on paper.
God Gave Us Heaven
Truly written with God’s peace and love in mind, God Gave Us Heaven reassures kids that God has a special place for each of us when we die. You’ll find loving answers for their most difficult questions about death while loving them through their emotions. This is an excellent resource in teaching kids about death from a Christian perspective.
Parenting kids is a challenge in itself, but parenting kids with a Christian purpose and motivation is something totally different. These are some of the best Christian parenting books I have found in my own parenting journey and I hope at least one of them will help you be the Christian parent God desires for you to be. What are some of your favorites?
Here are some of my favorite Parenting Websites!
MORE Helpful Parenting Tips
How to be a Better Toddler Mom
The Best Books to Help Parent Toddlers
Why Dads are Parents and NOT Babysitters
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One of the best christian books I’ve read so far is The Shift https://www.keionhenderson.com/books/, a truly inspirational read. This book gives you a look at the life of the author Keion Henderson and the ways we can survive the seasons in between with the courage that comes only when you’re sure of God’s purpose for your life.
Thank you so much for sharing this!