Parenting in today’s world can be tough. And as Christian parents, we have an additional responsibility according to scripture:

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

But how do we do this well? How can we parent our children in a way that honors God? We could use some guidance from those that have gone before us. That’s where this list comes in…

Here are 12 Christian Parenting Books to help you raise your child according to biblical standards.

14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family

If you are a busy parent (carpooling, sports, school, playdates, work, the list goes on), it can be easy to lose sight of our ultimate purpose as parents.

In this vision-centered book, Paul David Tripp offers parents more than just a parental to-do list. He presents a bird’s eye view of God’s plan for us as parents. This book is founded on the Gospel and gives parents the vision to parent their children for Christ.

The 5 Love Languages of Children – The Secret to Loving Children Effectively

There is a reason The 5 Love Languages of Children is a bestseller! As a parent, sometimes communicating with your child reaches a dead end, often because you don’t understand what makes them tick. 

This book helps you understand the heart and needs of loving your child through their unique love language.

Shepherding a Child’s Heart

As far as Christian parenting books go, Shepherding a Child’s Heart is a classic that has helped thousands of parents raise children of all ages. Dive into this book to get fresh biblical perspectives and procedures for shepherding your child’s heart into the paths of life.

Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World

This book is for you if your kids have ever said, “But everyone else has it!” or “If you loved me, you’d get it for me!”. In Raising Grateful Kids In An Entitled World, Kristen Welch shares the long-term risk of giving your kids everything they want and how to inspire contentment in your family. 

Boundaries with Kids: When to Say Yes, When to Say No, to Help Your Children Gain Control of Their Lives

Have you ever wondered, “How can I help my children establish healthy boundaries that will guide them to live well-rounded and successful adult lives?”

Boundaries with Kids, Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend help parents apply the Ten Laws of Boundaries (first described in their book Boundaries) to the challenges of raising children. 

Treasuring Christ When Your Hands Are Full: Gospel Meditations for Busy Moms

Motherhood is easily one of the hardest jobs in the world, and it can be hard to recenter on Christ when your life is hectic. This is an encouraging book for moms that re-establishes the joy of motherhood and will help you treasure Christ no matter how busy life gets!

Wild Things – The Art of Nurturing Boys

Raising boys can be a challenge in today’s world. Wild Things is an encouraging and practical guide for raising boys into healthy manhood. The authors, Stephen James and David Thomas, are therapists who work with boys and are fathers of sons.

This book will help you address the physical, emotional, and spiritual parts of raising young men in a Godly way.

Boys Should Be Boys: 7 Secrets to Raising Healthy Sons

Boys will always be boys: building forts, living with adventure, and playing with curiosity. Unfortunately, our sons today face an increasingly hostile world that doesn’t value the spirited nature of boys.

Boys Should Be Boys will help you raise your sons to become the mature, confident, and thoughtful men of tomorrow.

Strong Mothers, Strong Sons

If you’re a mother raising sons, this book will teach you how to parent your sons into strong men. 

Raising boys can feel overwhelming, but this book offers a road map to help moms find the strength to raise extraordinary sons.

Raising a Daughter After God’s Own Heart

Raising a Daughter After God’s Own Heart, by bestselling author Elizabeth George, is a book that helps mothers understand the challenges and opportunities that come with raising young girls.

This book is an inspirational resource for moms who want to lead their daughters in a Godly life through example, encouragement, scripture, and prayer.

Bringing Up Girls

Peer pressure, decisions about romance, and the demands of academics are just a few of the challenges girls consistently face today. The age at which they experience these challenges is getting younger and younger.

Bringing Up Girls will help you guide your daughter on her journey to womanhood. Dr. James Dobson will help you raise your daughter in a way that will strengthen her true identity.

52 Things Daughters Need From Their Dads

The relationship between a father and daughter is special, and you should have all the tools to love your daughter well. The resources in this book will help you bond with your daughter and encourage her to become the woman of God she is meant to be.