Did you know that about 96% of Americans celebrate Christmas? In the U.S., Christmas has become a largely cultural event filled with twinkling lights, jingle bells, and festive carols. While those traditions contain a special kind of magic, it’s easy to let the busyness of the season overshadow the real reason we celebrate. In this episode, Amy and Sara share practical ways to slow down the holiday hustle and create meaningful moments with your kids that keep Jesus at the center of it all.

Navigating the teenage years can feel overwhelming, but it’s also a crucial time to nurture your child’s faith. In this episode, Amy and Sara sit down with Alecia Bryant, Brand Owner and Content Editor for The Gospel Project for Students at Lifeway, to uncover four practical ways parents can disciple their teens. Whether you’re feeling lost or just looking for fresh ideas, this conversation is packed with encouragement and actionable insights to help you make a lasting impact on your...

Children are born curious, but they often hit a “curiosity cliff” around age 7, when their natural wonder begins to decline. In this episode, Amy and Sara sit down with Patrick Miles, Innovation Strategist at Chick-fil-A Corporate and a WinShape Homes foster parent, to explore how parents can nurture their kids' curiosity. Together, they discuss practical tips for making our mundane daily rhythms into problem-solving, innovating moments our kids can build on.

Did you know that practicing gratitude can lead to better sleep, improved mood, and even boost your immune system? In this festive episode of Carpool Conversations, Amy and Sara explore the heart of Thanksgiving, offering parents practical ways to make gratitude a lasting tradition with their kids. Tune in for ideas you can use all year round, and discover how to instill a spirit of gratitude that reaches far beyond Thanksgiving Day.

What does the "Whole Child Approach" mean? In today's episode, it means looking at our kids through four key pillars: social, emotional, academic, and spiritual. As we explore these areas, reflect on where your children excel and where they could use a little more support. Along the way, we'll provide simple and practical tips that you can easily incorporate into your day-to-day to empower your kids in each of these fields of development. Join us as we explore how to nurture a well-rounded...

How do we, as parents, instill the joy of Christ in our children so that it resonates throughout their lives? It starts in our homes, but it truly takes a village. In today's episode, we are joined by friend and colleague Emily Alters. Emily reflects on how her parents and community influenced her faith journey over the years. She also shares personal stories and practical tips for surrounding kids with a Christ-centered community that nurtures their faith.

Change is inevitable and can be even more difficult to navigate if you don't get a say in it. That's why this episode is dedicated to helping your kids navigate both the planned and unplanned changes that life brings. Listen in as our guest, Jeremy Marshall, shares practical examples and steps you can take to help your kids feel more comfortable and confident while handling changes.

No matter their age or stage, kids today encounter peer pressure in various forms, both positive and negative. In today's episode, Amy and Sara discuss effective strategies for coaching our kids through these challenging experiences. They also share tips on how to initiate meaningful conversations that help prepare children to handle peer pressure with confidence.

Whether you are a stay-at-home parent, a working parent, a mom, or a dad - we all have experienced feelings of “parent guilt” from time to time. The term "Parent Guilt" is a name we often give to the feelings of guilt or shame that arise when we don't live up to our own or others' expectations as parents. In today's episode, Amy and Sara address this feeling of parent guilt and share some of the ways they have overcome and dealt with these uncomfortable feelings.

In this episode, we sit down with Rusty Chadwick, the Director of WinShape Teams, to explore the transformative concept of viewing your family as a team. He shares several practical tips on how to lead our family with a team-first mindset, highlighting that the success of the family unit hinges on the health and teamwork of all its members. He uses the concept of "Looking In, Looking Up, and Stepping Out" to When we lead and unite our family around a common purpose and goal, we can unlock a...

Have you ever wondered what middle and high schoolers are worried about these days? Are they having the same questions and conversations at church that we did as a kid? Today we are joined by Anna Aaron Harvey, the Minister to Middle and High School Girls at Hebron Church, to get the inside scoop on what goes on behind the curtain of student ministry. We got to pick her brain about the trends that she is seeing in these age groups and she shares advice on how we as parents can come alongside...

As kids grow, they learn lessons through relationships, discovering new abilities, and quite often they learn through failure! As parents, we get to come alongside them and help them understand that taking risks and failing is okay! It's hard to watch our kids take risks when our instincts are telling us to protect and to rescue. But it's also important to look for opportunities where our kids can feel the freedom to choose, to take risks, and to fail in a controlled setting. In today's...

There are many hats we wear as parents, and today's episode is all about the "coach" hat. The key to being a good coach, is asking great questions! A coach is different than a cheerleader. They are someone that pushes you to new heights, calls out your potential, and picks you up when you fall. In this episode we will cover the art of asking kids good questions, and give you some practical tips to better coach your kids in your parenting.

Sending your kids to overnight camp for the first time can feel really scary. How do you know if your kids are ready for camp? How do you know if YOU are ready? In today's episode we will be talking about how to prepare your kid's for their first overnight camp experience and some things to consider when selecting an overnight camp.

As parents, our desire is to disciple our kids well. In this episode we get to talk with the leader of our Family Camps, Mike McGuire about the significance of creating memorable family experiences to help engage our kids and point them to Jesus. And then we're going to give you a glimpse of what you can expect at a WinShape Camps for Families experience.

Did you know that studies show children who engage in regular play have higher levels of creativity and problem-solving skills, as well as reduced anxiety and boosted joy and self-esteem? In this episode, we uncover why play matters, drawing insights from research and Biblical truths. From laughter-filled anecdotes to practical tips, let's unlock the power of play together!

What do you want to be known for? Identifying your family values can help set a tone and a vision for your family. When called out, they may serve as a compass for your family, especially when rooted in biblical truth. In this episode, Amy Lowe and Sara Jones share an enlightening conversation around the topic of identifying your family values, discussing their significance and sharing practical steps to how you can determine these together as a family.

Discipleship can feel like an intimidating responsibility for parents when they think about their kids. In this episode, we give a definition for discipleship and how you can take steps as a parent to be the primary discipler of your kids.

As a parent, it can be difficult to think of ways to get your kids involved in serving others, much less get them interested in it. In this episode, we share the heart behind serving and offer some simple ways for you to help inspire your kids to serve others together as a family.

As our kids grow older, we often find ourselves wondering if we are doing the right things to lay the groundwork for their future success. We want to launch them from the nest trusting that they will soar, but what are some practical actions we can take now? Katie Bulmer, a mother to two teenage daughters and a motivational speaker to twenty-somethings, joins us in this episode to share valuable insights for planning ahead and preparing our kids to leave the nest.

We all share the desire to glimpse into our kids' futures, seeking guidance on how to be better parents today and equip them for tomorrow. It's natural to question if our parenting efforts are effective. Will our kids embrace their faith independently when they leave for college? Are they prepared to tackle "real-world" challenges? While we will never have all the answers, this episode brings together three accomplished and faith-driven young adults —former WinShape Camps summer staff—...

In this episode, Amy Lowe and Sara Jones explore the transformative impact of speaking spiritual truths and encouragement over our kids. Then, they share some practical examples of how we can shine a light on milestone moments in our kids lives to make them feel special.

The New Year is a wonderful time for a fresh start or a reset. Yes, maybe you want to get more fit or eat healthier, but it's also a great time for your family to press the reset button. If you or your family is stuck in a rhythms that isn't working for you, take some time to look back and reflect; and then look forward to set new goals for your family in the new year or new season. You and your family can have a fresh start today, no matter what the calendar says. In this episode, we talk...

Technology and screen time can be a hot topic when it comes to parenting. Research tells us that kids need movement, touch, human exposure, and exposure to nature; and screens don't help with any of that. Anything parents can do to encourage our kids to gain experiences beyond screens is a win-win.