Introducing Carpenter Kids: Little by Little – Building Faith One Day at a Time
Meet the Carpenter Kids — the heart of the Little by Little series, launching June 1.
Every parent wants to raise children who love God and reflect Christ-like character, but in the hustle of everyday life, it can be hard to connect Sunday’s lessons to Monday’s meltdowns. If you’ve ever wondered how to bridge the gap between child development, spiritual formation, and biblical parenting, you’re not alone. We often bounce between parenting advice that focuses on developmental milestones and church advice that focuses on spiritual growth, feeling there’s something missing in between. That’s exactly why we created the Carpenter Kids: Little by Little series – to help busy Christian parents meet children where they are and integrate faith into everyday family life, one small step at a time.
The Heart Behind Little by Little
At the heart of this new series is a genuine ministry desire to support families. We know parenting is a sacred calling as well as a daily challenge. Too often, moms and dads feel torn between being loving caregivers and being spiritual teachers. But the truth is, we’re called to be both at once; to nurture our children’s hearts and point them to Jesus in the very midst of bedtime stories, tantrums, and carpool lines. Little by little, through each ordinary day, God can use parents to shape a child’s character and faith.
This series is designed to bridge the gap between what we know about how children grow and what we believe about how they grow in Christ. It’s about bringing together biblical wisdom and the best of child development insights in a warm, practical way. Think of it as holistic discipleship for kids. We want to help you not only teach your children what to believe, but also understand how they’re wired at each age, so you can meet them with both grace and truth. As one writer put it, we should strive to “demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit to them rather than demand it from them,” modeling qualities like patience, gentleness, and kindness in our parenting. In short, Little by Little is about nurturing a deep parent-child connection that reflects God’s love, while guiding our little ones’ souls.
Scripture & Science in Harmony
One distinctive feature of Carpenter Kids: Little by Little is its integrated approach. We draw first from Scripture, the rich guidance God gives for raising children. The Bible calls parents to instruct their kids diligently, “talking about [God’s commands] when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up”. In other words, everyday moments are the building blocks of faith. Our series takes that biblical mandate seriously, and then enriches it with proven insights from research, like findings from The Whole-Brain Child and attachment psychology, to help you make the most of those everyday moments.
What does that look like? For example, modern brain research shows that young children’s emotional brains often overwhelm their logical brains (their “upstairs brain” is still under construction). No wonder a preschooler’s meltdown can feel overwhelming! The encouraging news is that these moments are actually opportunities. By applying simple, science-informed strategies, we can turn an outburst or fear into a chance to both calm our child and teach a lesson. Techniques like “Name It to Tame It”, helping a child name their big feelings, come straight from neuroscience and can help “calm emotional storms”. In our series, we show how tactics like this pair beautifully with biblical principles (for example, “a gentle answer turns away wrath”) to help kids learn godly character through emotional coaching.
Likewise, attachment theory and object-relations theory underscore how crucial a secure, loving relationship is for a child’s spiritual development. Research has found that a child’s early bonding with caregivers actually becomes the template for how they later view God. In other words, when a little one learns “when I cry, someone hears and responds,” it’s easier for them to trust that “God hears me when I pray.” Knowing this, Little by Little emphasizes building trust and safety. It encourages parents to reflect God’s steadfast love, comforting children, being present, and providing gentle guidance, because these everyday acts of love lay the groundwork for faith. A securely attached child who feels consistently cared for is more likely to grow up confident in God’s care. By weaving together scriptural truth with these developmental insights, we aim to help families create an environment where kids’ minds and spirits can thrive together.
Little Hearts at Different Stages
Another key aspect of the series is recognizing that children’s needs change as they grow. A one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work when you’re parenting an infant, a toddler, a first-grader, and a preteen! Carpenter Kids: Little by Little provides age-tailored guidance, focusing on four crucial age groups: 0–2, 3–4, 5–7, and 8–10 years old. Each stage has unique developmental and spiritual distinctives, and understanding these helps us parent more effectively.
Infants & Toddlers (0–2): In the earliest years, children thrive on love, security, and routine. Babies and toddlers learn about God primarily through experience: the comfort of a parent’s arms, the joy of laughter, the peace of a lullaby. This is the age of developing trust. Just as Erik Erikson noted that infants grapple with “trust vs. mistrust,” we have the privilege to show them that the world is trustworthy and safe. Spiritually, little ones can begin to learn basic truths: “God made you, God loves you.” Don’t underestimate what they absorb even before they can talk. These tiny “sponges” are already learning about God through how we care for them. For instance, even a toddler can start to grasp that God wants us to be kind as they watch us model gentleness and encourage them to share. In this stage, your warm, consistent care is laying the foundation for faith.
Preschoolers (3–4): Preschool-aged kids are bubbling with curiosity and imagination. They ask “Why?” a hundred times a day, and they’re able to start grasping simple spiritual concepts through stories and play. At this age, children love Bible stories, especially ones with big visuals like Noah’s rainbow or David’s songs. They often see God in a very concrete, magical way (in fact, ages 3–5 are sometimes called a “phase of wonder,” when kids might picture God as a superhero with amazing powers!). Our task is to enjoy that wonder with them while gently pointing them to what makes God truly great: His love, goodness, and nearness. Developmentally, 3- and 4-year-olds are learning about relationships and empathy on a simple level (“sharing is good,” “be kind to friends”). We can teach them that Jesus is their friend, that God made the world, and that we can talk to God about anything. They learn by imitation, so your example, praying before meals, showing kindness to a neighbor, speaks volumes. Faith formation at this stage looks like small seeds planted in everyday life: singing a fun worship song together, thanking God for a sunny day, or helping a sibling because “Jesus wants us to love others.” These little seeds of truth, planted in eager young hearts, will grow with time.
Early Elementary (5–7): Around the early school years, children enter what some call the “age of reason.” A 6- or 7-year-old starts to seek logic and consistency in what they’re told. They want to know “Why?”, not to challenge you, but because they’re genuinely trying to make sense of the world. This is a wonderful opportunity to show them that our faith is both reasonable and real. Kids in this range can understand that God’s truths make sense and see those truths lived out in your family. They are capable of memorizing short Bible verses and grasping the “why” behind your family’s rules and values (“We tell the truth because God is truth,” etc.). Morally, their conscience is developing, they know when something is unfair or when they’ve done wrong and need forgiveness. We can talk about concepts like grace and repentance in simple terms (“Jesus forgives us when we say sorry”). They’re also growing in empathy; a first-grader can begin to understand that others have feelings like theirs. The Little by Little materials for this age encourage things like family prayer charts (to track prayers and answers) and hands-on kindness projects, because kids this age love to see their faith in action. They are learning that being a Christian isn’t just what Mom and Dad do, it’s becoming their own relationship with God, too.
Older Elementary (8–10): By the time kids are 8 to 10, they often exhibit more independence and critical thinking. They can handle more complex questions and have a keen sense of justice and truth (“That’s not fair!”). This is the age where they need space to ask hard questions and honest answers to satisfy their curiosity and concerns. They also start to notice real-world problems, maybe hearing about sickness, death, or injustice, and they wonder how faith speaks into those. Spiritually, many children by 9 or 10 are capable of grasping the heart of the gospel and even making a personal decision to follow Christ. They won’t understand everything, but their trust in God can be very genuine and deep. Our role as parents is shifting from simply telling them what to do to mentoring them as they take ownership of their faith. In this stage, Little by Little guides parents to have deeper conversations about trusting God in scary times, about why we believe what we believe, and to get kids involved in living out their faith (serving others, leading a prayer at family devotions, etc.). A child in this age group benefits from being challenged in a supportive way: You can ask them what they think, involve them in decisions (like how to allocate some allowance to giving), and encourage their budding gifts. By tailoring spiritual guidance to their developmental level, we help ensure their faith isn’t just “head knowledge” but a growing relationship with God that speaks to their real life.
Looking Ahead: Launching with Kindness
(June 1)
We hope you’re as excited as we are about this journey of integrating faith and child development in your home. The phrase “little by little” reminds us that spiritual growth is gradual, and that’s okay. Parenting (and childhood!) is made up of small, faithful moments that God weaves together over time. Our prayer is that the Little by Little series will be a friend by your side, equipping and encouraging you with a warm, pastoral heart and practical ideas grounded in both Scripture and science.
The first installment of the series is titled Kindness, and it’s coming out on June 1. In this release, we zero in on one of the fruits of the Spirit that every parent hopes to see in their child: kindness. You’ll find age-appropriate activities, Bible readings, and even insights from child psychology and neuroscience on how to nurture kindness in a way your child can understand. Whether it’s helping your toddler practice sharing or guiding your 9-year-old to show compassion at school, the Kindness module will offer you creative, real-life ways to weave this Christ-like virtue into daily life.
Mark your calendar for June 1 and get ready to join us as we launch Carpenter Kids: Little by Little – Kindness. We invite you to walk with us on this journey, little by little, trusting that as we plant small seeds of faith and love each day, God will make them grow into a harvest of righteousness in our kids’ lives. We’re truly in this together – cheering you on as you build your child’s faith one day at a time!