A review by theologiaviatorum
Real Kids, Real Faith: Practices for Nurturing Children's Spiritual Lives by Karen Marie Yust

informative inspiring fast-paced

4.0

Of all the books I have read about Youth Ministry or Family Ministry or Children's Ministry or any related topic this one has been my favorite. Yust follows the happy trend of philosophers and theologians today away from a cognitivist model of education and towards a more holistic and embodied model of spiritual formation. Based upon the assumption that children are capable of religious faith, Yust offers solid theology and practical suggestions for inviting our children into spiritual practices in age appropriate ways. She offers great tips and points the reader to other available resources. While she is a Christian herself, and writes mainly from a Christian perspective, she regularly makes comments applicable to other faiths, drawing from Judaism and Islam, even (if my memory serves) Buddhism on a few occasions. One does not have to be a Christian to find wisdom here, though she aims primarily at a Christian audience. I highly recommend this work to anyone interested in such questions.