Raising Christian Kids Lee Ann Mancini

It's the most wonderful time of the year... Christmas is approaching, and there are so ways you can help your children create meaningful memories that will last a lifetime!

From treasuring family time and building a nativity scene to engaging in acts of generosity and faith, Lee Ann offers practical and heartfelt advice for Christian parents seeking to instill the true spirit of Christmas in their children. With a focus on community service, spiritual enrichment, and the joy of giving, this episode resonates with anyone seeking to nurture a Christ-centered approach to the holiday season. Lee Ann also shares her childhood memories and explores ways to create meaningful and lasting Christmas traditions for children.

Key Takeaways:

Create meaningful Christmas memories: Take a lot of pictures throughout the Christmas season, create a nativity scene, engage in hands-on activities related to the birth of Jesus, and attend Christmas services or performances.
Give back during Christmas: Encourage children to give important items they love to charity, create care packages for homeless families, send homemade cards to soldiers or elderly individuals, and bake cookies for nursing homes.
Celebrate the birth of Jesus: Do fun December activities focused on biblical stories, and make placemats, cards, and advent calendars with biblical stories/themes.
Resources and gifts for families this Christmas season:

“Christmas Activities That Focus on Jesus,” by Focus on the Family.
Purchase a child nativity advent calendar here.
Purchase Scripture Bear here.
Sea Kids Book & Animation Series.



All of us at Raising Christian Kids wish you and your family a blessed Christmas season as you celebrate the birth of our savior. May this new year find you and your family well and safe. We hope and pray that we will continue to do our very best to serve you and your families.
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“This provides parents with a very simple and fun and engaging guide to teach our kids that the bible has a solution for every problem we face. And so we cover 36 of the most common struggles that all kids face; we give you simple lessons, we give you biblical tools, and we give you fun family activities and discussion guides.” -Katie J. Trent.

Katie J. Trent is a licensed clinical social worker, a respected leader in the Christian homeschool community, and the founder of Family Faith-Building Academy. She spent over a decade counseling children, teens, and families before transitioning to homeschooling and writing.
During this episode, Katie discusses her latest book, Recipes for a Sweet Child. She offers valuable insights and practical tools for parents who are seeking to effectively disciple their kids and instill a strong faith from an early age. Katie emphasizes the importance of nurturing a healthy parent-child relationship as a foundation for effective discipleship. Her book offers strategies to integrate faith into everyday activities, such as baking and other fun family activities. By actively incorporating the teachings of the Bible into a child's life, parents can help them develop a solid faith that is resilient against the challenges of the world.
Many parents feel overwhelmed or ill-equipped to navigate the complexities of raising kids with a strong faith. Katie's book and insights offer reassurance that nobody has to have all the answers immediately, and that a nurturing relationship with their children is the key to fostering open conversations and wrestling with tough questions. It can also help parents gain the confidence to navigate common struggles like disobedience and peer pressure, while instilling biblical principles in their children's hearts.
Whether you are a seasoned homeschooling parent or part of a non-homeschooling family, this book can be incorporated into any family's life as it provides a flexible framework that allows parents to tailor the activities to their unique circumstances and needs. The devotionals and activities can be adapted for various ages, making them applicable to families with both young and older children.
Katie’s website, Facebook & Instagram.

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Do your children know how to respect biblical and social authority?

During this episode, Lee Ann delves into the crucial topic of authority and its role in Christian parenting. Recognizing the prevalent lack of respect for authority in today's society, Lee Ann emphasizes the importance of teaching children to respect authority for their own well-being and their eternal journey.
Lee Ann discusses social authority and biblical authority and how we can teach our children that both are important.
She acknowledges that teenagers often question and challenge authority but reminds parents of their calling to rely on God's intervention and guidance during these challenging times. She shares practical strategies to help children comprehend the consequences of disrespecting authority, ranging from discussing real-life news stories to exploring personal experiences. By helping children personally relate to the effects of disobedience, they can learn to develop a genuine appreciation for authority and its role in maintaining order and safeguarding society. We can teach our children how authority enables the establishment of protective measures such as law enforcement agencies, emergency services, and regulatory bodies that safeguard society from various threats, such as crime, violence, accidents, and natural disasters. Social authority, when exercised justly, ensures fairness and equality. It prevents favoritism, discrimination, and abuse of power by providing checks and balances in our government.
However, biblical authority establishes the foundation and significance of Christianity. The Bible, as the inspired word of God, holds the utmost authority in the life of a believer and serves as the ultimate guide for moral and ethical decision-making. It is the source of spiritual guidance, setting moral and ethical standards of righteousness and justice. It is important to help children understand that God’s word is true and that without respect for authority, they could bring harm to themselves and others. Here are a few of the many verses about biblical authority to go over with your children: Exodus 20:12, Romans 13:1, Hebrews 13:17, 1 Peter 2:13-14, and Titus 3:1.
As parents, we can make sure our children respect family, societal, and, most importantly, biblical authority!
Resources mentioned: “Preteen Ministry Lesson on Respecting Authority,” by Ministry to Preteens, and “Jesus Has Authority – Mark 1:21-28 Sunday School Lesson,” by Kristin Schmidt.

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“A guy that used to be a neighbor of ours is now head of pediatrics at the medical school, and he said, “Until you verify to me that your child is properly hydrated, they are well nourished with the right kind of nutrients, they're getting deep sleep, and they're moving every day. I will not pull out that prescription pad.” – Ginny Brant.

Ginny Brant grew up in Washington, DC, where she served as a teacher, counselor, and adjunct professor for 28 years. She has written two award-winning books, Finding True Freedom and Unleash Your God-given Healing. During this episode, Ginny Brant addresses the common challenges parents face in the health industry and gives practical advice on healthy living for families.

Key Takeaways:
-Breaking free from unhealthy habits: Ginny highlights the need for parents and their children to prioritize healthy living by incorporating exercise, proper hydration, and nutritious eating into their daily routines.
-Deep sleep and its benefits: She emphasizes the importance of deep sleep in rejuvenating the body and brain and how creating a sleep schedule that aligns with the natural circadian rhythm can greatly enhance overall health.
-The inverted food pyramid: Ginny explores the concept of the inverted food pyramid, discussing the consumption of whole, plant-based foods as the foundation for a healthy diet. She also mentions the importance of limiting children’s exposure to added sugars and processed foods because they can have a profound impact on their long-term well-being.
-Finding natural remedies for illness: She shares insights into finding healthy alternatives and natural remedies for common childhood illnesses and the many benefits of essential oils and other holistic approaches that can be used alongside synthetic medicines.
-Integrative medicine: Various hospital systems are beginning to recognize the value of integrative medicine, combining conventional treatments with complementary approaches to enhance patient outcomes. Ginny shares her own experiences with an integrated approach to cancer treatment, highlighting the importance of a holistic approach to healing and recovery.
Ginny’s resources: Website, Facebook, Instagram & YouTube.

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Struggling to find age-appropriate Christian content for your kids? The Towers of Light series is an engaging and educational book series that brings biblical truths to life.

Allen Brokken is a teacher at heart, a husband, and a father most of all. He began writing the Towers of Light series for his own children to help illustrate the deep truths of the Bible in an engaging and age-appropriate way. He’s dedicated 18 years to volunteer roles in children’s ministry and youth development. Now that his children are off to college, he’s sharing stories and clean humor on social media and his blog.
During this episode, Allen shares his personal journey as a father and why he decided to write the Towers of Light series. With his own experiences of struggling to find meaningful ways to connect with his children amidst a demanding job, Allen found solace in storytelling and used it as a powerful tool to bridge the gap. Allen has created a unique avenue through his stories for parents to introduce complex theological concepts to their children effortlessly. Unlike other Christian children's series, Allen's books integrate realistic conversations about faith and an unwavering commitment to the truth found in the Bible. This approach eliminates the common pitfall of appearing preachy and allows children to actively participate in unraveling the mystery of their faith.
Allen also offers additional resources to support Christian families. Recognizing the struggles faced by children with reading difficulties or dyslexia, he developed the Pathway audio player. This device, which contains locked-down content, offers a screen-free and distraction-free platform for children to listen to audiobooks and even explore the depths of God's word through audio Bibles. Allen's mission is to make discipleship accessible and engaging for all children, regardless of their reading abilities.
Allen's Towers of Light series and innovative resources can help you draw your children closer to Christ!
Allen’s Website & Social Media: Towers of Light, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, & YouTube.

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Did you know children in high-achieving school districts had higher rates of substance misuse, depression, and anxiety?

During this episode, Lee Ann opens a thought-provoking discussion by addressing the competitive culture and the pressure to succeed that often infiltrates children's lives. Drawing wisdom from the word of God, Lee Ann highlights key scriptures that shed light on this issue and provide guidance for parents and their children. She also shares shocking statistics and reveals how even high-achieving school districts can inadvertently contribute to increased substance misuse and mental health issues among children.
Lee Ann acknowledges the pressures parents face in wanting their children to excel in all areas of life. From academic achievement to fitting in on social media, the demands placed on our children are overwhelming. However, it is important for parents to let go of what they cannot control and instead focus on being a living example of grace in the face of adversity. She encourages listeners to trust God's sovereignty and find peace in understanding that He is in control. By embracing this mindset, parents can release the unnecessary pressures that society places on them and their children, leading to better physical and emotional well being for the whole family.
By listening to this episode, you will hopefully gain a biblical perspective on the pressures children face today and discover how to support your child's spiritual growth amidst the demands of society, learn practical strategies to reduce stress, and find encouragement and guidance in becoming a living example of God's grace!
Resources mentioned: “The Pressures of the 21st Century Parenting,” by Sarah Walton & “The Difference Between Preparing and Pressuring Your Children to Follow Jesus,” by Patrick Schwenk.

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