SHOW NOTES: https://parentforward.com/sacredplayseries-whenplaygrowsup/

Remember when play came naturally? When laughter flowed freely with your little ones? Then something shifted. The sidewalk chalk disappeared, games became "dorky," and eye rolls replaced giggles. What happened to that sacred sense of wonder we once shared with our children?

This episode explores the beautiful tension of parenting older kids while trying to maintain—or recover—our capacity for sacred play. We dive into the neuroscience behind why imagination fades (it's called synaptic pruning) and the hopeful reality that our brains can build new pathways back to joy through intentional practice. We challenge common myths about teenagers: they don't actually want to be left alone; they crave meaningful connection beyond screens; and yes, they still want moments of silliness and delight—just in different forms.

Looking to Jesus as our model, we find someone who embodied playful spirituality through questions, stories, and inviting people to notice the world around them. His posture of curiosity reminds us that God delights in questions rather than fearing mystery. What blocks us from embracing this divine playfulness? Often it's shame, exhaustion, or the persistent feeling that we haven't earned joy yet—that we don't deserve delight until the to-do list is complete. But what if play isn't a luxury but a spiritual discipline essential for our wholeness?

Whether your children are toddlers, teens, or somewhere in between, this episode offers gentle permission to start small: one moment of shared delight this week. Because it's not too late to rebuild wonder—for your children's sake and your own. Join me on Instagram @parentforwardpodcast to share how it goes, and tune in next week for a special behind-the-scenes episode about the heart behind Parent Forward, plus a giveaway of my favorite parenting tools!

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SHOW NOTES: https://parentforward.com/sacredplayseries-sacredimagination/

The spiritual life of children doesn't look like adult faith—it's wilder, more embodied, and deeply imaginative. When my daughter gathered her stuffed animals and announced "Jesus is here and we're going to listen with our hearts," I realized she wasn't just playing—she was creating sacred space in her own intuitive way.

Decades of research by experts like Catherine Stonehouse and Scotty May confirm what many parents have glimpsed: children naturally encounter God through creativity and play long before they can articulate faith in adult language. Their book "Listening to Children on the Spiritual Journey" documents countless moments where kids express profound spiritual insights through art, storytelling, and imaginative exploration. One child described feeling Jesus's love while painting; another built a LEGO church and experienced it as genuine worship.

This isn't coincidental. Jesus himself taught primarily through parables and metaphors—he didn't offer three-point sermons but invited listeners into imaginative participation through stories about seeds, coins, and lost sheep. When our children ask if God has wings or what heaven smells like, they're engaging in precisely the kind of imaginative theology Jesus modeled. Eugene Peterson captures this beautifully in "Christ Plays in 10,000 Places," suggesting that divine presence saturates our ordinary world—not just in church but in cardboard castles and backyard adventures.

The challenge for parents is simple but profound: can we set aside our need to control and correct, stepping instead into our children's worlds with reverence and curiosity? This week, try joining your child in play without leading. Ask open-ended questions like "Where do you think God is in this story?" or provide gentle prompts such as "Can you draw what it feels like when God is close?" Your presence—not your perfection—is what creates space for sacred play.

Something beautiful happens when we enter our children's imaginative worlds: we remember what our souls have forgotten. We rediscover wonder, mystery, and a faith that breathes and moves. Join us next week as we explore what gets in the way when play feels hard, and how to gently find our way back to joy. Subscribe now and become part of our community of parents seeking faithful formation, one imaginative step at a time.

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SHOW NOTES: https://parentforward.com/sacredplayseries-theplayfulparent/

What happens when a parent chooses to be ridiculous on purpose? Something sacred emerges in those unguarded moments of laughter and play.

Through a story about a tension-filled dinner transformed by an impromptu Sound of Music performance, we discover how play creates connection beyond what words could achieve. That moment of shared silliness didn't just lighten the mood—it created a sanctuary where everyone belonged, where even a resistant three-year-old found her way back to joy.

We've been taught that adulthood means productivity and emotional efficiency. Play gets labeled as childish or optional, something we outgrow when "real life" begins. But researchers like Dr. Stuart Brown and Dr. Karen Purvis have discovered something profound: play isn't decorative—it's developmental. "The opposite of play isn't work," Brown notes after decades of study, "it's depression." When play fades, confusion and emotional disconnection take its place.

Even Jesus modeled this playful approach to transformation. His stories about camels squeezing through needle eyes and people with logs protruding from their eyes weren't dry theological points—they were vivid, sometimes absurd windows into the kingdom. What if Jesus told them with the joy of a campfire storyteller, using humor not to entertain but to invite?

This week's spiritual practice is beautifully simple: be silly. Use a funny voice. Make up a secret handshake. Narrate bedtime like a nature documentary. For some of us, this feels harder than it sounds, especially if we were raised where play wasn't safe. But when we meet our children in the absurd, we're communicating something profound: this space is safe, you are free here, joy doesn't need to be earned.

Join our Parent Forward community by visiting parentforward.com where the conversation continues with weekly insights and resources. Has this episode stirred something in you? Share it on Instagram @parentforwardpodcast and leave a review to help others discover this soul-nourishing approach to family life.

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SHOW NOTES: https://parentforward.com/sacredplayseries-playisholy/

Remember when laughter came easy? When joy didn't need a reason? Somewhere along the way, most of us traded imagination for efficiency and forgot how to play. This profound loss isn't just about missing out on fun—it's about missing a sacred pathway to spiritual formation.

When my daughter asked me to pretend to be a baby bunny, I froze. The request seemed trivial, even inconvenient. Yet in that moment of hesitation, I recognized something deeper at stake. She wasn't just asking for my time; she was inviting me into a forgotten posture of lightheartedness and freedom. What followed—my awkward hopping and nose-twitching that sent her into fits of giggles—created a connection between us that felt holy, a moment where heaven brushed against earth.

Theologians and children's spirituality experts have long recognized what most adults forget: play isn't a break from serious work—it might be the work itself. When children were asked what they would say if Jesus appeared at dinner, they didn't ask him to solve problems or answer theological questions. Their responses were beautifully simple: "Will you stay for dinner?" "Will you hunt for bugs with me?" "Will you have a tea party?" They didn't ask Jesus to fix anything—they invited him to play. What if the divine is found not in our striving but in our silliness? What if play is prayer?

This episode opens a new series exploring sacred play as spiritual practice—not as another item on your to-do list but as a gentle return to something your soul already knows. Join me in rediscovering the God who rejoices over us with singing, who delights in our delight, and who never tires of playing. Share your own stories of rediscovered play on Instagram @parentforwardpodcast or visit parentforward.com for resources to help you continue this journey. The kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these—perhaps it's time we remembered how to enter it.

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SHOW NOTES: https://parentforward.com/whenyourkidlieswhatsreallygoingon/

Lying often reveals what our children are trying to protect through fear, confusion, or attempts to preserve connection. This episode explores how to create a family culture where truth is safe to tell and honesty is consistently invited.

• All kids lie at some point, regardless of their character
• Children's dishonesty usually grows from fear or self-protection
• Approaching lies with curiosity instead of control opens doors for real conversation
• Developmentally, younger children blur imagination with reality
• Older kids often lie to avoid trouble or gain autonomy
• Jesus modeled leading with presence and welcome, not shame
• With young children, gentle questions like "Can you tell me what happened?" create safety
• For older kids, deeper conversations about trust and motivations are more effective
• Trust is "earned in droplets but lost in buckets" but can be rebuilt over time
• Parents should examine their own patterns that might make truth-telling difficult

Download the Reflection Guide for Episode 5 "When Kids Lie" right here --> https://shorturl.at/FUPLp or at parentforward.com under episode five to help you gently walk through what's happening beneath the surface. Connect on Instagram @parentforwardpodcast or visit parentforward.com.

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SHOW NOTES: https://parentforward.com/forgivenessrewiresbothparentandchild/

Forgiveness in parenting isn't just about cleaning up after mistakes – it's where transformation begins for both parent and child. When we mess up and repair with our children, we're creating holy moments that reshape relationships and model God's grace.

• Perfectionism isn't the goal – being a "formed parent" willing to repair connection is what matters
• Research shows rupture and repair cycles actually strengthen emotional bonds
• When parents apologize, it signals safety, worth, and unconditional love to children
• Forgiveness stands at the center of the gospel – demonstrated by Jesus throughout scripture
• Spiritual formation mentors like Tutu, Ten Boom, Nouwen, and Willard emphasize forgiveness as transformational
• Practicing forgiveness flows both vertically (with God) and horizontally (with our children)
• Simple repairs like "I'm sorry, I was wrong, will you forgive me?" create cultures of grace

Come find me on Instagram at parentforwardpodcast, or visit parentforwardcom and, if you haven't already, would you subscribe to the show, leave a review or share it with a friend who might need some soul-deepening encouragement today.

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SHOW NOTES: https://parentforward.com/raisingspirituallyresilientkidsinanageofquestions/

Raising spiritually resilient kids isn't about having all the right answers or preventing doubt. It's about creating relationships where questions are welcome and faith feels real, not forced.

• Nearly two-thirds of young people leave church after high school, often returning after a season of questioning
• Research shows the strongest predictor of lasting faith is having adults who walk with them through doubt
• Parental faith that's lived out authentically matters more than theological knowledge
• Different developmental stages require different approaches to spiritual questions
• Three recommended postures: inviting curiosity instead of shutting down questions, engaging in dialogue instead of theological dumping, and responding with peace instead of panic
• Helpful questions to ask when kids express doubt: "What makes you wonder about that?" "How do you think God feels about your question?" and "Can I wonder with you about this?"

Find me on Instagram at parentforwardpodcast or visit parentforward.com. If you found this helpful, please subscribe, rate the podcast, or share it with a friend navigating similar questions.

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SHOW NOTES: https://parentforward.com/presenceoverperfection/

Parenting doesn't have to be about getting everything right—it can be about being present in the moment with our children. Julie Ann Luse explores how shifting from perfection to presence can transform our parenting approach and build stronger neurological connections with our kids.

• The overwhelming pressure parents feel to get everything right
• How fixating on control often disconnects us from our children
• A personal story about choosing presence over fixing problems
• Research showing how parental attunement shapes children's brain development
• Biblical examples of Jesus demonstrating the power of presence
• A simple practice: asking "What do you need right now?" and then listening
• The neurological and spiritual benefits of being fully present with our children

If today's episode encouraged you, I'd love to hear from you. You can find me on Instagram at parentforwardpodcast. And if you haven't yet, would you take a moment to subscribe, rate the show or share this episode with a friend? It helps other parents find us and join this gentle, sacred journey.

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