The 10ofthose Podcast

Raising Kids on Books That Actually Stick (with Betsy Childs Howard)

10ofthose Season 9 Episode 9

Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.

0:00 | 31:05

Every parent wants their kids to love reading, but Betsy Childs Howard wants something more: she wants the stories to stick. Not just as favourite books, but as moral imagination, gospel instinct, and a framework for understanding the world long after the last page is turned.

In this episode of 10ofThose, Laurie and Jonathan talk with Betsy (TGC editor and author of the beloved Arlo children's series among other titles) about how to raise kids on books that actually do something. They talk about why a great children's book only needs one big idea, why story-driven formation beats a moral lesson every time, how to use books mid-discipline rather than just at bedtime, and why the best spiritual conversations with your kids often happen not in family devotions but in the middle of a car ride.

If you enjoyed this episode be sure to leave us a review on wherever you listen!  Also remember to share with friends and family; both of those actions will help us spread the word about the show.

For more information about Betsy's work, please click here!