Don’t waste your children’s summer (or yours for that matter) on television and video games. Instead, utilize this time to read with and to your children. One thing for sure, you should be reading Scripture with your family on a regular basis, and you can enhance your family Scripture reading with helpful devotional material. Beware of children’s material that merely promotes moralism. I prefer books that help explain the storyline of Scripture (biblical theology) and present a BIG God! Here are some helpful suggestions:
General Resources
1. Catechism for Boys and Girls
2. Big Truths for Young Hearts: Teaching and Learning the Greatness of God by Bruce A. Ware (This is systematic theology for kids—great stuff!!!!)
3. Window on the World: Prayer Atlas for Children by Daphne Spraggett and Jill Johnstone (helps you pray with informed intentionality for the nations)
Resources for Use with Younger Children
1. Leading Little Ones to God by Marian Schoolland
2. The Child’s Story Bible by Catherine Vos (my wife’s personal favorite)
3. The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sallie Lloyd-Jones
4. The Big Picture Story Bible by David Helm (my personal favorite!)
Resources for Use with Older Children
1. Grandpa’s Box: Retelling the Biblical Story of Redemption by Starr Meade
Resources for Use with Pre-Teens/Teenagers
1. Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper
2. Dug Down Deep: Unearthing What I Believe and Why It Matters by Joshua Harris
My charge to moms and dads would be to read Scripture with your children regularly and supplement Bible reading with the catechism and devotional reading. Each family must find what (time and place) works best for them. Also, use summer to read (together) through Christian literature like The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis or Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan.
Summer is also a good time to read Christian biographies with your family. So, don’t waste your kids’ summer by allowing them to vegetate in front of a television or computer screen. Instead, take advantage of this time to spend quality time together, making memories and making much of God. I pray that these resources may be of great benefit to you and your family as you seek to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Download your free Christmas playlist by TGC editor Brett McCracken!
It’s that time of year, when the world falls in love—with Christmas music! If you’re ready to immerse yourself in the sounds of the season, we’ve got a brand-new playlist for you. The Gospel Coalition’s free 2025 Christmas playlist is full of joyful, festive, and nostalgic songs to help you celebrate the sweetness of this sacred season.
The 75 songs on this playlist are all recordings from at least 20 years ago—most of them from further back in the 1950s and 1960s. Each song has been thoughtfully selected by TGC Arts & Culture Editor Brett McCracken to cultivate a fun but meaningful mix of vintage Christmas vibes.
To start listening to this free resource, simply click below to receive your link to the private playlist on Spotify or Apple Music.
