Talking to Kids About Hard Things : Honest Conversations When Life Gets Complicated

Talking with Kids helps parents engage hard conversations with empathy, grace, and gospel hope, creating homes where questions are welcomed and faith takes root.

From cultural pressures and political discussions to questions about identity and struggles with doubt, kids are exposed to the realities of our world from an early age. That’s why honest, courageous conversations are not optional for today’s parents—they are essential opportunities for the spiritual formation of both children and parents. Rebekah Hannah and Michael Keller offer parents a path for talking to their kids that is neither fearful nor passive but rooted in empathy, curiosity, and the steady love of Jesus. The authors invite parents to replace fear, avoidance, and control with faithful presence, truth-telling, and hope rooted in Christ. Parents will learn how to create homes where questions are welcomed, grace is abundant, and faith is lived out authentically, helping children develop a deep and enduring relationship with God. Offering a gospel-centered approach that prioritizes grace, truth, and humility over performance and perfection, the book provides practical tools for engaging children in meaningful conversations—such as asking thoughtful questions, listening well, using stories, and making the most of everyday moments. It also emphasizes that parenting is not only about shaping children but about God’s ongoing work in transforming parents themselves, and includes a foreword by Kathy Keller.