Bibliography for Parents:  Children’s Spirituality

Bernardin, Joseph. Growing In Wisdom, Age and Grace: A Guide for Parents in the Religious Education of Their Children. New York: William H. Sadlier, Inc., 1997.

An introduction to the importance of the family in forming children in the faith.

Carotta, Michael. Sometimes We Dance, Sometimes We Wrestle: Embracing the Spiritual Growth of Adolescents. Dubuque, IA: Harcourt Religion Publishers, 2001. 

Focus on adolescent spirituality. It is never too early to prepare oneself!

Coffey, Kathy. Experiencing God with Your Children. New York: Crossroad Publishing, 1997.

Coles, Robert. The Moral Life of Children. Boston: Atlantic Monthly Press, 1986.

An insightful reflection on children’s moral development from a noted child psychiatrist.

Coles, Robert. The Spiritual Life of Children. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, Co., 1990.

An insightful reflection on children’s spirituality from a noted child psychiatrist.

Coles, Robert. Their Eyes Meeting the World: The Drawings and Paintings of Children. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1992.

Noted child psychiatrist uses children’s pictures as a means to understand their development.

Eipers, Carole M. Table Talk: Story-sharing for Families. Kansas City, MO: Sheed & Ward, 1997.

An original and low-key approach to faith-sharing within the family.

Fowler, James W. Stages of Faith. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1981.

The foundational work how individuals develop in their awareness and appropriation of faith.

Isca, Kay Lynn. Catholic Etiquette for Children at Mass. Huntington, IN: Our Sunday Visitor, 2001.

A sensitive and thought-provoking approach to children at liturgy.

Keepers of the Promise: A Parent’s Guide to Handing on the Faith. Washington, DC: National Conference for Catechetical Leadership. 3 volumes.

Each booklet in this series offers an overview for parents of children’s development in faith.

Ramshaw, Elaine. The Godparent Book. Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications, 1993.

While written for godparents, the variety of faith-sharing ideas included can also be used by parents (grandparents, aunts, uncles, and anyone who works with children).

Sowing the Seeds of Faith. Washington, DC: National Conference for Catechetical Leadership, 2000. Series of 6 leaflets.

These six leaflets offer an overview of what religious education can provide for children, youth, and adults at each level of development.

Westerhoff, John. Will Our Children Have Faith? New York: The Seabury Press, 1976.

A seminal work on development in faith, this work includes analysis of the socio-cultural contexts in which people grow in faith.