Finding faith-based adventure books for tweens that are both exciting and clean can feel like searching for buried treasure. That’s why I’ve loved The Issachar Gatekeeper book series from L.G. Nixon. 

A few months ago, I shared a review of the first two books in the fantasy series. The new book in the series, “The Ghost You Can’t See,” keeps the adventure going with a story that’s packed with mystery, courage and Biblical truth all while staying clean and tween-friendly.

I received a free copy of “The Ghost You Can’t See,” a Christian fantasy book for tweens and teens, in exchange for my honest review and social media coverage. All opinions are my own.

About “The Ghost You Can’t See”

As part of a series, “The Ghost You Can’t See” both continues with main characters we’ve come to know and love — namely Lucy Hornberger and her best friend Schuyler Williams — while also introducing new characters. 

Lucy, who we meet in the first book of the series, “The Ghost of Darwin Stewart,” is a young girl (13) facing all the struggles of real life like parents, chores, school and even a bit of romance. 

Early in the first book, Lucy’s world changes when she learns she’s been chosen to battle evil spirits. 

Instead of having special powers, Lucy is gifted with some magical items in the first book that let her see supernatural creatures not otherwise visible. Pretty quickly Schuyler joins her with the girls having been best friends their whole lives.

The pair quickly face a series of tests in the first book. Then in the second book, “The Ghost Writer,” Lucy’s spiritual battles continue as she comes to the rescue of a classmate who has been cursed. 

Like all great fantasy books, those in The Issachar Gatekeeper series let us see a mix of the real world and the magical world beyond. 

Lucy is working for The High King, who reigns over all that is good, to defeat Darnathian, whose true identity is the dark prince reigning over evil.

Having fought against evil with good in the past, Lucy has fully embraced her new life in this latest book and is ready to watch out for daemons (or evil spirits) and protect those around her. However, her path isn’t easy, and her challenges grow more complex with each book.

In this third book, Lucy faces struggles with friendships, new responsibilities at home and taking on a curse from hundreds of years ago.

Lucy remains the perfect heroine for the series with a mix of relatable strengths and weaknesses in both the real world and in the fantasy world. It’s a creative way to explore spiritual warfare in an age-appropriate, Biblically sound way.

Ghosts in a Christian fantasy book

Don’t let the word “ghost” throw you off. These books aren’t about haunted houses or spooky specters.

Ghosts are often taboo in Christian circles — and understandably so in the sense of departed souls haunting others. But, that is not the take or interpretation in these books.

Nixon, a devout Christian, portrays these ghosts as manifestations of demon spirits. Early in the series, for example, Lucy learns the ghost she sees isn’t the real Darwin Stewart but a demon taking his form.

Instead of spooky ghost stories, L.G. Nixon’s fantasy novels for tweens are faith-based adventures.

(Read about Nixon’s viewpoint on ghosts reflected in the books here.)

A faith-filled story with heart and purpose

This creative take on the supernatural makes it easy to connect the story’s deeper meaning to Biblical truths. 

“The Ghost You Can’t See” is a great book for digging into the ways the supernatural world affects our daily life in a way that is approachable and understandable to tweens. While reading the book, I found a variety of references to Biblical concepts. 

It’s an easy connection to make between The High King representing God and the dark prince, Darnathian, representing Satan — much like in The Chronicles of Narnia from C.S. Lewis.

Multiple passages throughout the book explain Biblical concepts in a great way that older kids will easily understand while also just reading a good book. This passage, for example, explains the importance of monitoring what we allow into our minds: 

Nixon does a great job of encapsulating the fantasy genre while also making Biblical principles accessible. It’s a relatable Christian middle grade book.

“The Ghost You Can’t See” is a perfect book for Christian moms who are fans of Harry Potter and looking for a clean Christian book series for teens with a young protagonist fighting against a dark force.

Why tweens (and parents) will love it

Yet, with all of that said, will tweens actually like the book? Is it relatable, engaging and thrilling? In short, yes to all of the above — and for good reason! Voracious readers and casual readers alike will be drawn into this fantasy adventure for tweens.

​”The Ghost You Can’t See” has lots of fantasy elements but is also relatable. Lucy is struggling with friend drama in the middle of spiritual wars. For example, Lucy faces doubts about her best friend early in this third book and finds herself losing heart. 

Feeling left out or cast aside by friends is something tweens can certainly relate to. Lucy certainly isn’t perfect and struggles with a variety of imperfections, even including being clumsy.

The book doesn’t use any inappropriate language. It does, however, use language that tweens and teens will relate to. The characters’ dialogue sounds like listening to a group of kids with sarcasm and slang terms unique to the series. For example, expressions like ‘Son of a buck snort!’ add humor without crossing any lines.

The story continues

One of the great things about a book series is getting to know and follow the characters throughout their journey. Just as in any other series like Harry Potter or Percy Jackson, The Issachar Gatekeeper series gives tweens and teens the chance to see main character Lucy and Schuyler grow and change.

As they are growing and learning, so are young readers. It’s a great series in that it grows with the reader. 

As with any great series, each book ends with just enough of a cliffhanger to make you eager for the next book. As an avid reader myself, I appreciate that each storyline ties up in the book while also leaving us wanting more at the end just as all favorite fantasy books should do!

Getting your own copy

The Issachar Gatekeeper series really is worth adding to your tween or teen’s book list. This is the perfect time to get started with the series.

L.G. Nixon’s site is running a limited time offer to get the books in the series for $10 each and receive a copy of the seasonal novella from the series, “The Ghost in Your Christmas Present.”

You can also just purchase book three, “The Ghost You Can’t See” for $15.99 for paperback, $8.99 for ebook or $3.99 for audiobook. (As the mom of a dyslexic child, I love this series has the accessibility of an audiobook as well!)

If you’re looking for a clean, faith-filled fantasy adventure for tweens, “The Ghost You Can’t See” is a must-read.

Find more book reviews for tweens and teens from Families with Grace:

Christian books for teens: Why “The Ghost Writer” is a standout read

Book review: “The Message Student Devotional Bible”

Book review: “The Enneagram for Teens”

The post A Christian fantasy book for tweens and teens appeared first on Families With Grace.

One of the first chapter book series I read out loud with my children was Harry Potter. The magic, intrigue and young hero create engaging stories of good winning over evil—but they lack a spiritual component.

And as lovers of fiction and a Christian family to boot, we also read through The Chronicles of Narnia. My kids enjoyed that as well.

Nowadays at 12 and 15, they do their own reading instead of us reading books aloud together. Finding an engaging Christian book series for teens is a bit like finding a unicorn.

That’s why I was incredibly excited for a chance to check out The Issachar Gatekeeper series by L.G. Nixon — an adventurous Christian fantasy series for teens. It reminds me of a mash-up between Harry Potter and Narnia.

I received free copies of “The Ghost of Darwin Stewart” and “The Ghost Writer,” two exciting Christian books for teens, in exchange for my honest review and social media coverage. All opinions are my own.

The main premise

We first meet Lucy Hornberger in the first book of the series, “The Ghost of Darwin Stewart.” Lucy is an average 13-year-old girl struggling with all things a young teen faces from friendship to chores to parent problems.

However, she also learned pretty quickly that she’s been chosen to vanquish ghosts. Her best friend, Schuyler Williams, is tasked with assisting her.

Together, they face intense spiritual battles and begin to understand the power and authority of The High King, who reigns over all that is good.

Lucy’s saga — and trials — continue in “The Ghost Writer” when she discovers a fellow student who’s been cursed.

Lucy is the perfect heroine for the series. She has faults and struggles youth readers will relate to. Even I — as a middle aged mama — found myself relating to her many times!

The recommended ages for this book is 12 to 17. That seems pretty spot on to me.

Ghosts in a Christian book

Don’t let the word “ghost” throw you off. These books aren’t about haunted houses or spooky specters.

Ghosts are often taboo in Christian circles — and understandably so in the sense of departed souls haunting others. But, that is not the take or interpretation in these books.

Nixon, a devout Christian, portrays these ghosts as manifestations of demon spirits. Early in the series, Lucy learns the ghost she sees isn’t the real Darwin Stewart but a demon taking his form.

(Read about Nixon’s viewpoint on ghosts reflected in the books here.)

How it connects to the Bible

Through The Issachar Gatekeeper series, Nixon draws inspiration from Scripture in ways that are both familiar to Christian readers and approachable for those new to the Bible. She crafts thrilling and mysterious stories without straying from Christian beliefs.

Much like in The Chronicles of Narnia, characters and situations aren’t called precisely the same as in the Bible. Yet, it also doesn’t take much thought for those familiar with God’s Word to pick out the key players.

The High King clearly represents God, while Darnathian, the main antagonist, represents Satan.

What Nixon does beautifully through her engaging fiction books is show stories and examples of the character of God and His goodness, mercy and forgiveness. The books showcase struggles of faith that everyone faces.

As an avid reader of Christian fiction myself, I love stories where the lessons are seamlessly woven in and don’t feel like a sermon. Both “The Ghost of Darwin Stewart” and “The Ghost Writer” do this very well.

Where to find these Christian books for teens

You could start with book two, “The Ghost Writer,” but I highly recommend beginning with book one to fully grasp the characters and storyline.

The series is sold at book retailers, but the best deal right now is on L.G. Nixon’s website. For $23.99 you get the two books mentioned here, the third book in the series (“The Ghost You Can’t See”) plus a bonus novella book “The Ghost in Your Christmas Present.”

Looking for more great Christina books for teens and children? Check out these as well:

“The Message Student Devotional Bible”

“All the Things I Say to God”

Family read aloud chapter books for kindergarten through 5th graders

The post Christian books for teens: Why “The Ghost Writer” is a standout read appeared first on Families With Grace.

As a Christian mom, I most want my children to know and have a relationship with God. So from the beginning, I have found ways to make the Bible part of their lives.

It started with illustrated, simple children’s Bibles and has progressed from there. Now at 12 and 15, my son and daughter need something deeper.

Yet, I have learned in my own faith journey that simply reading the Bible to check it off my to-do list isn’t super beneficial. I need to really dig into the Word in order to get the most from it.

This is true for my children as well. As a tween and teen, they need their own way to grow in their faith through personal devotion time. This looks different for each child — and that’s perfectly fine.

My daughter loves her current teen Bible with devotionals, but she’s had it long enough to have gone through them. Finding something fresh and engaging for her is important.

When I heard about “The Message Student Devotional Bible,” I had to check it out.

And, even better, I have a chance for you to get your own FREE copy of the Psalms portion of this Bible as well. You’ll find a button at the bottom of this post to get you right to it.

Affiliate links are used in this post, if you make a qualifying purchase via my link, I receive a small percentage of the sale at no additional cost to you. It helps support my blog, so thank you for your support! Read my full disclosure here.

I received a partial copy of “The Message Student Devotional Bible” at no charge in exchange for providing a teen Bible devotional review and social media posts about it. All opinions, however, are completely my own and not influenced by the free copy.

What is a devotional Bible?

Let’s start with talking about what a devotional Bible actually is. There are different options for Bible study and devotionals. One is a stand-alone devotional like this free 7-day “Finding Grace at Home” family devotional.

And the other option is a Bible with devotionals included and interwoven throughout. “The Message Student Devotional Bible” falls into this category.

While it includes the full text of the Bible in The Message translation, it has a devotional every few pages to help students go deeper.

What I love is the devotionals are concise and bite-sized. Just a few sentences long, each devotional is impactful while also fitting in with the time constraints (and attention spans!) of teens. Three reflection questions go along with each devotional.

Having worked with my daughter a couple of years ago on writing a mother-and-daughter shared journal, “Connecting with Grace,” I learned to spot the typical Sunday School-type questions. When I added those in for our journal, she was quick to call me out.

Sunday School is by no means wrong. I’m all for small group meeting to get into the Word! But, teens know these types of questions. They don’t go as deep or get as personal. Today’s teens crave sincerity and honesty more than ever.

The questions in this devotional Bible for students are spot-on with addressing topics and ideas that really matter in daily life without sounding too much like your favorite Sunday School teacher from second grade.

This makes sense because the devotional content comes from a variety of youth ministry professionals who know how to connect well with teens.

Why use The Message version?

In English alone, we have 450 versions of the Bible. That’s a lot! Many folks have their favorite. The Message is one of the more contemporary versions.

In its original text, the Bible was written in words that everyday people could easily understand. It was never meant to be a book that only intellectual scholars can read and understand.

Yet, one of the struggles with early translations is the words, phrases and metaphorical concepts that were easy for the average person to understand years ago are not as understandable today.

Contemporary translations, such as The Message, have been carefully researched and worked on to use modern words and phrases to convey the same message. This makes it easier for people today to understand.

Most teens are relatively new to devotionals and Bible study — just for the sheer fact of their limited age and life experience. Using a translation that makes it even easier for them to understand seems like a great starting point.

How to use “The Message Student Devotional Bible”

Right from the beginning, “The Message Student Devotional Bible” presents the Bible itself takes the main focus over everything else.

Of course, “The Message Student Devotional Bible” can be used as merely a reading source, but it goes much deeper with guides and plenty of additional content for students.

Each section and each book have a short introduction for context about time, place and author.

Every few pages is a short devotion that gets to the heart of the matter and presents three reflection and life application questions. There are 320 of these throughout the entire Bible and 26 included in the Psalms portion of it alone.

“The Message Student Devotional Bible” is also sprinkled throughout with 30 character studies of key players. Because, the Bible is full of all kinds of interesting people whose stories reflect God’s love played out in their lives.

Another great features of this devotional Bible is the large margins on each page that are perfect for making notes. (Personally, I love a devotional book or Bible with space to write so I don’t have to keep track of the book and a separate notebook.)

Where to get “The Message Student Devotional Bible”

The full version will be released by NavPress in the spring of 2026; however, the Psalms portion is available for purchase right now and is what I received.

You can purchase it around $10 at most book retailers — or you can grab a FREE copy of it here:

If you have a teen, know a teen or work with teens, this is a great resource you don’t want to miss!

The post Book review: “The Message Student Devotional Bible” appeared first on Families With Grace.

One of my family’s favorite things to do together is watch movies. Recently we had an opportunity for an early viewing of “The Firing Squad” from Epoch Studios which is opening in theaters on August 2.

Unfortunately my daughter was away with a friend, so she missed it. But my husband, 11-year-old son and I picked up pizza and settled in for a movie night.

I received early access to view “The Firing Squad” in exchange for providing a review and social media posts about it. All opinions, however, are completely my own.

All about “The Firing Squad”

“The Firing Squad” is loosely based on a true story about men who were executed by firing squad in Indonesia on April 29, 2015. People convicted of dealing or running drugs in Indonesia are sentenced to death by firing squad, and that’s exactly the circumstances of the main character named Peter Lone played by James Barrington.

Throughout the movie, we see Lone’s transformation to coming to know God. He heads to his execution with songs of praise.

The movie’s cast includes names and faces of award-winning actors such as Kevin Sorbo and Cuba Gooding, Jr.

The best ages for watching

As a Christian movie, “The Firing Squad” does well with not using bad language or showing graphic violence. Based on the topic, I was slightly concerned it might be too intense for my 11-year-old.

We started the movie night with the idea that we’d stop it if it became too intense and then my husband and I would finish it later.

However, it was well done and was fine for my 11-year-old. I would say, though, that kids under 10 would not be a good fit for this movie.

Great for discussion

Our biggest takeaway as a family came after the movie in our discussions. Along with talking about the movie itself, we discussed other things like Christians who are killed even now solely for their faith.

My son was most struck by Kevin Sorbo’s character in the movie who was a pastor in the prison but also a convicted felon himself. He was convicted of murder. That left my son wanting to know more about his transformation.

Overall, it’s a great movie to talk about the transformative power of Jesus. God changes lives so dramatically and can turn a drug dealer or murderer into a pastor whose impact resounds for years.

Where to watch it

“The Firing Squad” opens in theaters throughout the United States on Aug. 2, 2024. You can find all the details about tickets, including group tickets and some free showings, on the movie’s site.

Looking for other ideas for family fun night? Check out these posts as well:

10 Family bonding ideas

Family fun night activities at home

20 Spring break activities and ideas for at home

The post Movie Review: “The Firing Squad” appeared first on Families With Grace.

This past school year, my daughter completed a unit in which her class took all sorts of personality tests. We talked about her enneagram type a little bit afterward.

I thought it was a pretty neat activity to do with a group of middle schoolers. So when I came across an opportunity to review “The Enneagram for Teens” from Ainsley Britain, I jumped at the chance.

I figured it’d be something my incoming high school freshman daughter and I could talk about, especially because it approaches enneagrams from a Christian perspective.

What I didn’t expect, however, was how much I’d truly enjoy and appreciate the book myself!

Affiliate links are used in this post, if you make a qualifying purchase via my link, I receive a small percentage of the sale at no additional cost to you. It helps support my blog, so thank you for your support! Read my full disclosure here.

I received a copy of “The Enneagram for Teens” at no charge in exchange for providing a review and social media posts about it. All opinions, however, are completely my own and not influenced by the free copy.

Learning about enneagrams

I wasn’t completely unfamiliar with enneagrams, but I didn’t know a huge amount about them either. I still am no expert by any means.

But, as I sat down to preview “The Enneagram for Teens” before showing it to my daughter, I got sucked into the introduction and explanation of enneagrams.

Basically, enneagrams are a tool to help you understand yourself better. They go into your motivations, fears, strengths and weaknesses.

In this particular book, they also relate to your faith and how you connect with God.

What I really appreciated is how conversationally and clearly Britain communicated this message. The book may be written for teens, but this 40-something mama sure learned a lot and appreciated it!

Figuring out your enneagram

There are nine different categories or types of enneagram that are each numbered:

1. The Moral Compass
2. The Helper
3. The Heroic Leader
4. The Unique Creative
5. The Deep Thinker
6. The Loyalist
7. The Adventurer
8. The Challenger
9. The Gentle Peacemaker

So the biggest question is which enneagram type you are. My personality is such that I like concise answers when I can get them. I wanted a quiz to tell me my enneagram type.

I headed to Britain’s website to check out the enneagram resources she offers to determine your type. Two charts of simple decisions allow you to narrow down your type.

I had trouble deciding on my answers and whether they were accurate. (I’d guess this is probably a pretty common issue for my enneagram type, even though the book doesn’t actually say so.)

Each chart gave me a different enneagram number: 5 and 9. Britain recommended reading through the chapters about each type in her book and deciding which resounded with you more.

However, I really wanted to be sure. Was I a 5 or a 9? I found a free online enneagram quiz to tell me my type.

It told me I was a 5. With two 5s and only one 9, I figured I’d start with the type 5 chapter. The description and first couple of pages seemed familiar.

I stopped a couple of pages in to see what type 9 had to say. I was blown away and read the entire chapter for type 9s.

It described me eerily well. I got choked up a few times in recognizing myself on the pages.

The type breakdown

The real treasure of this book is in the enneagram chapters. The things I’ve read other places about enneagrams have been a bit more text-bookish.

“The Enneagram for Teens” is engaging, to say the least.

The chapters begin with examples of two different people of that enneagram type and how they might behave in certain situations. Then Britain outlines exactly what makes up that enneagram type, including what they’re known for, their deepest fear, messages real or perceived learned in childhood and their core desire.

Next she dives into what a healthy, average and unhealthy people of that type look like.

Understanding these different behaviors we have a tendency toward helps us work on self-improvement. We all experience each degree at different times in our life from unhealthy to average to healthy.

Britain goes into some more helpful details and then has a section for each enneagram type about how to get along with them.

This is the meat for us as parents. If you can identify your child’s enneagram type, this book gives you a general outline for how to best communicate with them and meet their needs. Light bulb moment!

Each type also includes ideas of careers that work well and ones that don’t, what it’s like being in love as that type and how they interact with family and friends. Again, these are important to understand about ourselves and our children.

What I love about this book is each type also has a section regarding faith and the things each type might struggle with in their faith walk along with suggestions on how to overcome those struggles.

The chapters each end with advice for that enneagram type, including a letter and a challenge.

The letter

I don’t want to gloss over the letter for each type. It’s only a few paragraphs long, but it gets to the heart of the matter for each type of enneagram.

Based on the letter to type 9s I read, I can only assume the rest are just as touching and poignant for their types. I felt seen, heard and understood.

I say that as an adult. I love the chance for my kiddos to get that feeling as well!

How to use “The Enneagram for Teens” as a parent

Honestly, I loved this book for myself. However, reading it as a parent makes me appreciate it all the more.

I know my daughter’s enneagram type, because she told me. I read through the whole chapter about type 2s and learned a lot.

Since each enneagram type chapter starts with a list of 10 characteristics for that type, I think I would have sorted out her type without her telling me.

While I will let my daughter have this book to read through on her own and relate to her own type as well as maybe her friends or family, I am thankful for it as a mama.

I was able to find new ways to relate to my kiddo. One of my goals as a mom is to meet all of my children’s needs — emotionally and physically.

My sensitive self and I are pretty good at sensing their emotional needs; I’ve learned when they need grace more than discipline, for instance.

Yet, I want to make sure I’m truly speaking their love language and helping them grow into strong and healthy versions of the unique people God has made them.

Surprisingly helpful

If I’m being completely open, I’ll also tell you I figured this book would be OK and maybe helpful a bit. I wasn’t overly confident about its helpfulness and perhaps a bit skeptic.

But just perusing the pages and getting sucked in as easily as I did, I was pleasantly surprised. It is definitely a more helpful parenting tool than I expected it to be.

Read more about parenting tweens and teens!

The post Book review: “The Enneagram for Teens” appeared first on Families With Grace.

A few years ago, the best Easter basket ideas I had for my son included toys. I’ve tried to not go too overboard on candy through the years and include some fun, small gifts in my kids’ baskets as well.

However, figuring idea for my tween’s Easter basket is a little trickier. My daughter was easier as a tween because there are all sorts of little gifts that were easy to add to her basket from lip balm to jewelry.

In fact, filling my teen’s Easter basket is a bit easier since my current teen is a girl with definitive likes and dislikes. For my tween boy, though, I struggle a bit.

Tween and teenage boys are in the middle of growing. They aren’t so into toys, but they also aren’t usually as into accessories and such as their female counterparts. 

Figuring out fun gifts for tween and teenage guys that are affordable Easter basket stuffers can be challenging. Once they’re past toys, technology and video games seem to be their next best thing. And those are pricey!

​The good news is, though, that there are a lot of great Easter basket ideas for tween boys that won’t break the bank and are great Easter basket fillers.

Affiliate links are used in this post, if you make a qualifying purchase via my link, I receive a small percentage of the sale at no additional cost to you. It helps support my blog, so thank you for your support! Read my full disclosure here.

Fidget toys

Fidget toys are the perfect Easter gift for tween boys. They aren’t toys per se, but are still a fun gift for older kids. And, most of them are small enough to fit into plastic eggs, which will make life easier for the Easter Bunny!

Fidget toys are the perfect Easter gift for tween boys. They aren’t toys per se, but are still a fun gift for older kids. And, most of the are small enough to fit into plastic eggs, which will make life easier for the Easter Bunny!

These transformable fidget spinners were actually on my tween boy’s Christmas list this year. They’d be a great addition to the Easter basket of your tween or teen boys this year. They’re a great way to keep hands busy whether in class, at home or in the car. 

In fact, I’ve enjoyed playing with these as much as my son has. And if your big kids is still on the younger end of the tween years, like my newly minted 11-year-old is, they’ll also have all sorts of fun ideas for what to turn these fidget spinners into and come up with imaginative play ideas.

Another great gift in the fidget toy category are magnetic rings. Grab a set of three magnetic rings that your tween will have fun twisting around on his fingers. 

If you’re looking for a fidget toy he can take to school, check out this magnetic pen. I got this for my three nephews last year when they turned 14. My tween son thought they were such cool gifts that I ended up getting one for him just because!

While it is a functional gift in that it is a usable pen, it’s also a fun gift because the pen cane be made into all sorts of shapes.

Next up is these sensory robot toys. They put more of the “toy” in fidget toy, but they are small and would be a fun addition to his collection of fidget toys.

Not only are they small enough to easter fit into your tween boy’s Easter basket, they’re also small enough he can stick them in his pocket and take them along when he has a long car ride or another lengthy, boring task.

Squishy fidget toys

Transformable fidget toys are a perfect gift for tween boys, but so are squishy fidget toys. Honestly, I still love squishy fidget toys myself. 

I have a stress ball on my desk that I play with while I’m brainstorming. They’re a fun way to focus and release some frustration as well!

First up is a three-pack of sensory stress balls that are color changing. These stress ball are certainly one of the fun Easter basket ideas that your tween and teen kiddos will enjoy!

A second great idea for stress balls are ones filled with small water-holding balls inside of them. With a different feel to them than the dough-type balls like above, this three-pack of squishy balls also works well for your tween boy’s Easter basket.

If you’re looking for Easter goodies that aren’t chocolate bunnies that will give your child a sugar high, these squishy animals are a great filler for plastic Easter eggs. This set of 24 mini squishy toys come in a variety of options, including forest animals and Easter.

Puzzles and games Easter basket gift ideas

Though he may be getting older and outgrowing some of his toys, your tween boy still enjoys fun things. Puzzles and games are great Easter gifts to provide some age appropriate fun.

Puzzles and crafts

​As a bit of a larger Easter gift idea, Foldology, an origami puzzle game, will provide hours of mind-challenging fun for your tween. It will take him skill and concentration to fold each of the 100 pages just right to reveal the picture.

Another cool boredom beater game is Kanoodle and with 200 puzzles contained in a small case, this is perfect for Easter. The balls and shapes have to fit into the case just right and there are all sorts of options.

This is one game the whole family can enjoy whenever you’re traveling or have downtime. It’s much trickier than it looks — trust me!

​For tween boys like mine whose favorite subject is art, crafts are also a great Easter basket gift idea. Check out this rock painting kit that comes with 10 rocks, 12 paints, stickers, glitter glue, googly eyes and gems.

This catapult wars kit from Boy Craft gives guys a chance to build a fun game they can then play.

Card and board games

Games are a great addition to your tween boy’s Easter basket. While games of the digital variety are pricey, card and board games aren’t so much. 

Plus, anything that encourages them to be device-free and spending time with the family or their friends is definitely a perfect gift idea!

A fun card game option is Sussed. The game poses questions and answers. Players vote on how each other would answer. It’s a great way to spark conversation and get to know each other better.

One of the most hilarious card games your whole family will love is What Do You Meme? Family Edition. It’s become a favorite of our entire family, including my parents, my aunt and my in-laws!

As a child during the 1980s, I’ve got to include this fun, unique board game that’s like the old video game Frogger. It’s a blast from the past that your tweens will enjoy in a whole new way.

Jewelry

Don’t overlook jewelry as a perfect gift idea for your tween boy this Easter. My son is very into jewelry right now. And the good news is that it’s not expensive jewelry he’s drawn to.

The other good news is that jewelry is small enough to fit into plastic Easter eggs in his Easter basket.

Rope bracelets are a great choice for tween boys. This one is personalized with the first letter of his name.

If you’re buying for more than one tween or teen guy or you want a variety of options for your son, this 12-pack of bracelets include options that are leather, beaded and wooden.

Outside of bracelets, the other wristwear my son is into right now is watches. This digital sport watch has a huge amount of color options.

There are some smart watch options that won’t break the bank, like this Kummel Smart Watch that doesn’t need a phone. It includes a heart rate monitor, step counter, calorie tracker and sleep monitor. It comes in three different colors and is waterproof.

And then there are necklaces. A cross necklace makes for a great Easter gift for tween boys. This simple cross necklace on a 16-inch chain comes in 11 different color options.

With a two-sided design, this cross necklace features the American flag on one side and a Bible verse or quote about strength on the other. It comes in nine different options on a chain that goes up 24 inches.

Books

Finally, books are also one of the best Easter basket ideas for tween boys. Even if your tween isn’t a huge reader, there are still some great book options for him.

If your tween or teen boys have a book series or author they enjoy, then definitely go for some of those books. “Wings of Fire” is a super popular series for my son. It has both written novel and graphic novel options available.

For more general picks, we’ve got some fact and riddle books that work for readers and non-readers alike.

Advice books

Let’s start with an advice book of “101 Things Every Boy Needs to Know.”  Filled with life advice for teenage boys, this is a good choice for tweens as they are heading into a time of change.

It covers general life advice and doesn’t delve into the my personal (aka embarrassing) topics.

Another fun advice book is “Wilderness Survival Guide for Kids.” If your tween boy is into camping or outdoors and/or just likes to think about how he’d respond in every different scenario like mine, this is a great book option for him.

It includes things like where to find help if you get lost, how to defend yourself, how to build a fire and more.

Riddle and fact books

Riddle and fact books are popular for tween boys. They love absorbing new information that is random they can pull out and share. I know that’s certainly true for mine!

These are more fun books to read as well  because they are usually written in smaller chunks of text that aren’t as overwhelming.

First up is “Interesting Facts for Curious Minds.” This book has 1,572 random and surprising facts on everything from science to pop culture to history.

Another option for fact books is “Super Interesting Facts for Smart Kids.” It has 1,272 facts about animals, earth, sciAnd, finally, riddle books work well as an Easter gift and fit into your tween boy’s Easter basket nicely. “Difficult Riddles for Smart Kids” has 300 difficult riddles and brain teasers that will entertain your kiddo.ence and more.

And, finally, riddle books work well as an Easter gift and fit into your tween boy’s Easter basket nicely. “Difficult Riddles for Smart Kids” has 300 difficult riddles and brain teasers that will entertain your kiddo.

The post The best Easter basket ideas for tween boys in 2026 appeared first on Families With Grace.

The ultimate list of gifts teenage girls will love!

Just a few years back, I was buying baby dolls and accessories for my daughter. But now, she’s a young teen and coming up with Christmas idea for a 14-year-old girl can be challenging!

So I’ve put together a list of the best gift ideas for your favorite teen girl. Whether you’re buying her a Christmas gift, a birthday gift or any any time gift, these great gift ideas will make your life easier.

Affiliate links are used in this post, if you make a qualifying purchase via my link, I receive a small percentage of the sale at no additional cost to you. It helps support my blog, so thank you for your support! Read my full disclosure here.

Portable speakers

If the teen girl you’re buying is a music lover, portable speakers are a great pick. She can easily listen to her music anywhere. As a mom, I also love this idea for letting my 14-year-old enjoy music without her headphones in order to better protect her ears.

This Anker Soundcore Bluetooth speaker is a great option for a basic portable speaker.

For an even cooler portable speaker, check out this LFS Bluetooth speaker that changes through different colors with five different color-changing themes.

Another fun gift she can rock out to her favorite artists with is this Retro Bluetooth speaker that comes in five different color options.

One of the more unique presents for the music loving teen is this vinyl record player turntable with a built-in Bluetooth receiver. She can listen on vinyl and digitally depending on her mood!

Water bottles

I mean, honestly, this probably includes everyone in their teen years, but finding creative gifts that will also be practical can really help your 14-year-old girl life her best life.

First up is staying hydrated. In order to do that, she needs a good, sturdy water bottle. My daughter takes hers everywhere. And I do mean everywhere! Water bottles are one of the best Christmas gifts that you can pretty much guarantee will get used!

This stainless steel vacuum insulated 40-ounce tumbler has a handle and comes in a variety of colors. Plus it’s dishwasher safe, comes with its own straw and is leakproof!

Right now Stanley tumblers are one of the latest trends for teen girls. They are a bit more costly than other tumblers, but getting her one in white just might make her Christmas even merrier.

(And I am adding this completely at the suggestion of my 14-year-old daughter, so you know it will be a hit!)

Anything that’s personalized is always a cool gift. This gorgeous water bottle with a screw-on lid lets you select the letter you want for your teen’s name.

A great idea to help your teen stay motivated to stay hydrated is a water bottle like this 32-ounce one that encourages her to sip throughout the day and meet her intake goals.

A great addition to any water bottle gift is a set of stickers to help her personalize her water bottle in a fun way. Even better, they are a price point that works well for most budgets. Check out this set of 300 water bottle stickers for teen girls:

Beauty products

Whether she likes to go with an all-natural look or is into adding some color, teen girls are going to be pretty pleased with beauty products. From skin care to makeup and beyond, these are some of the best gifts for 14-year-old girls.

(And, as a mom of a 14-year-old girl myself, I did pay attention for age appropriateness with these selections!)

Face masks

Face masks are a great way for teenagers to take care of their skin and relax at the same time. They are one of my daughter’s favorite things for taking care of herself and improve her mental health. Face masks are so relaxing and rejuvenating!

The Yes To Tomatoes detoxifying mud mask has been a favorite for my teen. It both takes care of her skin, including treating for acne, and relaxes her.

This Bioré instant warming clay mask includes four single-use packets to help your teen girl cleanse and soothe her skin.

Paper face masks also make it onto the wish list of most teen girls. What’s nice about paper masks is they aren’t as messy! This Yes To Blemish Fighting paper mask is designed to help with pimple and blackhead control.

This SpaLife Snow Buddies facial sheet mask 10-pack is a festive gift idea for your fave teen!

Body skin care

​While face masks are great for facial skin, body skin care is just as important. And teen girls are usually all about what smells good. The teenage years are definitely the time when many girls start experimenting with different beauty products. And that makes beauty products one of the top gifts for teen girls!

Let’s start with body scrub. If you live in colder weather areas, especially, this is an excellent gift choice. Tree Hut shea sugar scrub is one of my 14-year-old’s top picks!

This Dove body scrub that is brown sugar and coconut also would work well.

Shower jelly is also a neat body skin care option, and this set of three Bella & Bear Tutti Frutti Shower jellies is pretty cool.

Bath bombs help moisturize skin in a relaxing way. The only thing better than relaxing in the tub with a bath bomb is doing so with a cute bath bomb like in this set of 6 bath bombs that look like sweet treats.

If baths aren’t her thing, then this set of 8 shower steamers aromatherapy from POPCHOSE is a good alternative.

Lip care

Another one of the best Christmas gifts for 14-year-old girls is definitely lip care. Not only is lip care something she’ll enjoy, but it’s also small enough to be a great stocking stuffer.

If you want to get lip balm that works well to soothe and moisturize her lips without adding color, this 4-pack of Burt’s Bee Lip Balm works well.

With a bit of flavor to them, this eos lip balm variety 4-pack comes in a variety of flavors including Marshmallow Fluff, Vanilla Creme, Salted Caramel and Vanilla Toffee.

My teen girl is especially into lip oil right now. This NYX lip oil is vegan, shiny and tinted. It’s available in clear and in colors. My daughter is a fan of sheer pink.

Rounding out lip care is an option that has bit of color to it. This set of five NK hydrating lip gels come in various flavors and colors. None of the colors are dark and add just a hint of color. Plus they are priced super well!

Makeup

While makeup might be a hot topic for young teen girls, I’m including it on the list. For my 14-year-old girl, a bit of makeup is allowed on regular school days. Having additional makeup to play around with on the weekends, for special occasions or when her friends are over is a fun option.

Makeup kits can be a great way to let your teen practice and experiment with makeup. If she’s at all interested in makeup, any one of these makeup kits would be ideal!

First up is this simple all-in-one makeup kit with six color varieties and options. This is a terrific kit for a teen just trying out makeup. It’s priced low, includes application tools and offers neutral colors.

For the teen girl itching to experiment with more makeup colors, this Hot Sugar makeup kit is a starter cosmetic set that comes in its own travel case. The case comes in four different colors.

A fun and colorful option is this set of 88 eyeshadow colors. It comes in a leather case with a mirror. 

While a vanity mirror isn’t makeup, it certainly goes right along with makeup and a great Christmas gift for a 14-year-old girl. This lighted, portable vanity mirror has two, three and 10 times magnification.

Hair care

Another perfect gift for 14 year olds is hair care items. While she may be past the day of big hairbows, she’s certainly going to enjoy these sort of hair care items to pamper herself.

First up is claw clips. This set of 8 is a great choice for all hair types. With 14 different color sets and styles to pick from, you’re sure to find something she’ll like. My 14-year-old daughter picked these shades:

Teen girls with long hair will appreciate and use this 3-pack of microfiber hair towel turbans. Of course a regular towel works, but these hair ones are even easier to use which is a good reason to grab a set. There are nine different color combinations available.

For girls with wavy or curly hair, consider a hair straightener. This Remington Shine Therapy flat iron is argan oil and keratin infused to be easiest on her hair. It comes in both a 1- and 2-inch option. 

Room decor

Teen girls get into making their personal space their own, so room decor can be great Christmas ideas for 14 year old girls. A few accents can make her room feel more special and personalized.

Lighting

You don’t have to replace the lighting fixture in her bedroom to embrace some different lighting. From twinkle to neon to strobe lights, light up her Christmas with one of these great gift ideas.

Kick twinkle lights up a notch with this 17-foot string of LED twinkle lights with 50 photo clips. The lights have eight modes and a remote control.

​These light-up letters would be a great accent in a teen girl bedroom. Priced at less than $10, they’re a great gift idea that fits into any budget.

If a boho aesthetic is what your teen girl loves, this light-up hanging photo display comes in nine color options and would be great in her room. It includes 30 wood clips for her to personalize it with her own photos.

The neon heart light is super fun and comes in four different colors.

Strip lights are ideal for stringing along the ceiling and in corners. This 100-foot strand of strip lights syncs with music, has a remote and 28 modes. It’s available in other lengths as well.

For an option to light up the room without hanging anything, this sound activated disco ball strobe light fits the bill. It has seven modes and a remote control.

Cozy space

Anything that makes her space more cozy is a great Christmas gift idea for a 14-year-old girl. Give her somewhere she can snuggle up with a good book or gab session with her friends, and she’ll be happy.

(If you’re looking for a good book option to include with any of these gifts, my teen girl recommends “The Complete Summer I Turned Pretty Trilogy Boxed Set.”)

This set of six throw pillows comes in a pink and green option to bring color and coziness to her bedroom.

Another throw pillow option is this flower pillow. It comes in two sizes and six different color options to match the color of her room.

A cozy, fluffy rug works well for most teen girl rooms, whether the room is carpeted or not. This round fluffy rug has rubber backing, comes in three sizes and 15 color choices for less than $30.

Nothing says cozy more than a soft, fleece blanket. Available in 15 colors and designs, this 50 x 60-inch throw for less than $20 is an excellent option.

Toys aren’t going to show up on a wish list for a 14-year-old girl, but Squishmallows have their own special cool factor. They are great for snuggling up with. My teen daughter has a few that she keeps on her bed and often moves around the house with her.

Wall art

Changing out the wall art in a room can give the space a whole new look without taking lots of money or time. Wall art is a great gift idea for teen girls. Find something she likes and go for it.

Get inspirational with this set of three wall art panels that say, “You are loved. You are beautiful. You are enough.” That’s a message teen girls need daily! It’s available in three sizes and three color options.

Though they don’t come framed, this set of 6 sage green art prints would look great in any girl’s room.

Another set of unframed prints is this set of nine retro prints that are 8 x 10 inches. They are so cute!

This three-panel set of pink Matisse artwork is incredibly feminine and works for 14-year-olds girls. The images are 12 x 16 inches that are wrapped on canvas and ready to hang.

A current trend is making collages of artwork. This set of 50 4×6 images is available in 10 different color palettes to match any room decor.

And I can’t make a list of Christmas gift ideas for 14-year-old girls and not include Taylor Swift. This set of six posters inspired by Taylor’s music would make any Swiftie happy. And at under $10, they’ll make your wallet happy as well!

Shoes and accessories

Rounding out our list of Christmas ideas for 14-year-old girls has to be shoes and accessories. Clothes shopping is tricky for multiple reasons from sizes to styles. But, there are a few basic shoe choices most teen girls would love. And accessories are always a great Christmas or birthday gift. Many of them also work well for stocking stuffers since they are small!

Shoes

First up is classic white platform Crocs. Go for the lined choice to get her through colder weather months. While they come in other colors, white is certainly the latest fad for teen girls.

A great add-on for the Crocs is a set of shoe decoration charms. This set of 50 has all sorts of options she can use to make her shoes her own. There is a second set of 50 and a cheaper set of 30 shoe charms available as well.

Keep her tootsies warm with these fuzzy slippers. They are indoor-outdoor shoes available in six color options. My daughter picked tan as a favorite for teen girls, but you know your teen best!

Accessories

Bracelets are a great accessory for teen girls. For the Taylor Swift fans, this 11-piece set of album-inspired friendship bracelets would be a fabulous Christmas gift.

With a variety of different color options, these sets of 12 stackable bracelets with five different color options are also a fun choice for teen girls.

Necklaces are also a great gift for teen girls. These 12-piece necklace sets are available with four different options and will give her something to wear every day.

Both my 14-year-old daughter and my 16-year-old niece are big fans of Kendra Scott necklaces. My daughter got the one below for her birthday in October and is in love with it. The necklace is 14k gold plated and available in 87 color options!

Finally, she’s got to have something to carry all her things in and mini backpacks are not only trendy but a great option.

My daughter has one she carries and loves. The one we got for her is no longer available, but it’s a lot like the Hayner mini backpack set below. This option is nice because it includes the mini backpack, shoulder bag and wallet. It’s available in 10 different colors.

Mini backpacks can also be a great way to showcase her fandoms. The Harry Potter mini backpack is pretty cool. And for fans of Wicked (like I am!) the Loungefly Universal Wicked mini backpack is an Amazon exclusive and the cutest one I’ve seen!

Don’t miss these other helpful Christmas gift lists:

The best Christmas gift ideas for mom friends

Funny gift ideas for co-workers: 25 clean gag gifts

Christmas gift ideas for people who are hard to shop for

15 Christmas gifts under $25 for almost everyone on your list

30+ of the best white elephant Christmas gift ideas under $20

The post The best Christmas gift ideas for 14-year-old girls 2025 appeared first on Families With Grace.

Filled with easy recipes for kid chefs, this post comes from Maria Lawrence, a content writer for Cuisipro. These kid friendly recipes not only taste good but will help your family enjoy time together in the kitchen!

The warmth of a kitchen is amplified when it brings family members together in the joyous act of creating meals. With this in mind, we present six delightful, family-friendly recipes that promise not just nourishment but also shared moments of togetherness.

Kid friendly pepperoni pizza muffins

A delightful mix of pizza and muffins, these handheld bites are perfect for kids and will make snack time or dinner an exciting affair.

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 2 cups pepperoni, chopped
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1 cup pizza sauce

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a muffin tin.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, salt and Italian seasoning.
3. Stir in the cheese and pepperoni.
4. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs, then add the milk and olive oil.
5. Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry, stirring until just combined.
6. Divide the batter evenly among the muffin cups.
7. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden and a toothpick comes out clean.
8. Allow the muffins to cool slightly, then serve with pizza sauce for dipping.

Mini chicken pot pies

These comforting, individual pot pies are filled with a hearty mixture of chicken and veggies, all encased in a buttery, flaky crust.

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken
• 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 cup cream
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 pack ready-rolled puff pastry
• 1 egg (for egg wash)

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour until a paste forms.
3. Gradually add in chicken broth and cream, stirring constantly until the sauce thickens.
4. Stir in shredded chicken and frozen vegetables. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Cut the puff pastry into squares big enough to fit into the muffin tin sections.
6. Press each square into the muffin tin, then fill with the chicken mixture.
7. Fold over the corners of the pastry to the center.
8. Brush the tops of the pies with beaten egg.
9. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.

Rainbow vegetable skewers

These colorful skewers are a fun and nutritious way to serve a variety of vegetables.

Ingredients

• A selection of colorful vegetables (like bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, zucchini, red onion, mushrooms)
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• Skewers

Instructions

1. Preheat your grill or grill pan over medium heat.
2. Chop the vegetables into chunks.
3. Thread the vegetables onto the skewers, alternating colors for a rainbow effect.
4. Brush the skewers with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
5. Grill the skewers for 10-15 minutes, turning occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and lightly charred.

DIY taco bar

Creating a DIY taco bar is an entertaining and customizable dinner idea, suitable for everyone’s taste.

Ingredients

• Taco shells or tortillas
• Cooked ground meat (like beef, chicken, or turkey)
• Shredded lettuce
• Diced tomatoes
• Shredded cheese
• Salsa
• Sour cream
• Guacamole

Instructions

1. Prepare and cook your chosen meat, seasoning as desired.
2. Arrange all the ingredients in separate bowls on the table.
3. Let each family member build their own taco, adding their favorite fillings.

Baked ziti pasta

Baked Ziti is a classic Italian-American comfort food, full of cheesy, tomato-based goodness. The combination of melted cheese, pasta and a robust tomato sauce is certain to satisfy everyone’s palate. Plus, it’s a one-dish meal, meaning less cleanup and more time spent with your family.

Ingredients

• 1 pound ziti pasta
• 2 cups marinara sauce
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Cook the ziti according to the package instructions until just al dente. Drain.
3. While the pasta is cooking, in a large bowl, mix the marinara sauce, ricotta, half of the mozzarella, the Parmesan, oregano and basil. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and cheese mixture, stirring well to coat all the pasta.
5. Transfer the pasta mixture to a baking dish and sprinkle the remaining mozzarella on top.
6. Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and slightly golden.
7. Allow it to cool for a few minutes before serving.

Chocolate dipped fruit

This simple, semi-healthy dessert is a delicious way to end a family meal.

Ingredients

• Selection of fresh fruit (like strawberries, bananas, grapes)
• Melting chocolate
• Skewers (optional)

Instructions

1. Cut any large fruit into bite-sized pieces.
2. Melt the chocolate in the microwave or using a double boiler.
3. Dip each piece of fruit into the chocolate, then place on a tray lined with parchment paper.
4. Allow the chocolate to set in the refrigerator.
5. Serve the fruit as is or thread onto skewers for easy eating.

Cooking together isn’t just about the food; it’s about the conversations that flow while the stew simmers, the teamwork it takes to assemble a dish and the shared laughter when something goes awry. When served at the dinner table, the food brings with it a slice of these cherished moments, making every bite a celebration of togetherness.

Check out these additional great recipes for kid chefs and your entire family:

A sloppy joe recipe your family will love

Microwave baked potato recipe

BLT pizza

Easy oat and honey granola

Easy microwave fudge recipe made five ways

An easy way to make a boxed brownie mix fudgy good

Peanut butter honey nut cereal clusters

Edible chocolate chip cookie dough

The post Savor the taste of togetherness appeared first on Families With Grace.

When I think about whether I’d go back and tell my younger self anything if I could, sometimes I think I would. Other times, I think I wouldn’t.

After all, the life I’ve lived has formed me into who I am today. However, as my daughter is officially in the teen years, I have been thinking more of advice to my younger self.

These nuggets of wisdom garnered over four decades of life have been hard-earned and oftentimes hard-learned. I want to pass along words of wisdom as much as I can to my children.

I know they won’t always listen. Some lessons they’ll have to learn the hard way. And they’ll learn lessons that weren’t even relevant to me as a teen, especially as it relates to social media. As a xennial, social media wasn’t on the scene for me in middle or high school.

I also realize that neither of my children are replicas of me. I see parts of myself in both of them, but they are fully and uniquely their own people.

So in thinking of advice to my younger self, I stayed away from specifics. Instead, I came up with 10 main points I wish all tweens and teens could embrace and take in.

Affiliate links are used in this post, if you make a qualifying purchase via my link, I receive a small percentage of the sale at no additional cost to you. It helps support my blog, so thank you for your support! Read my full disclosure here.

1. Don’t take everything so personally.

Honestly, at the root of not taking everything so personally is more this message: Not everything is about you.

Here’s what I mean. If you have a friend who isn’t as talkative one day, chances are he or she probably isn’t mad at your. Most likely your friend is tired or having an otherwise off day.

If your mom snaps at your for something small, she is most likely just juggling multiple things or having a rough day. It doesn’t mean you’re awful.

I’ve always been incredibly good at taking things personally. I see the same attribute in one of my children, especially.

But really and truly I’ve learned at least 90% of the time, the action or words I take so personally don’t really have anything to do with me specifically.

I wish I would have learned that sooner. I could have saved myself a lot of grief and anxiety.

2. Learn to speak up for yourself.

It took me into adulthood to find my voice. And even now, I still struggle to speak up for myself. Advocating for yourself is important.

If someone is treating you poorly, speak up for yourself and let them know it’s not OK before it’s too late.

In fact, I had a friend I was close with through middle school and most of high school. She would often say hurtful things that I let slide. And then one day, I’d had enough. I decided we were done.

Our friendship ended (for this and other reasons) when it might not have had I spoken up for myself and worked out the issues sooner.

Being a people pleaser never leads anywhere good. You can’t make everyone happy all the time.

Don’t be afraid to respectfully speak up for yourself and your needs.

And remember nobody can read your mind. If you have an issue with someone, talk to them plainly instead of passive aggressively.

3. Know you’ll find your people.

Some people make lifelong friends early on in life. My husband, for example, has a great friend who he met in fifth grade, and they have been friends ever since.

But not all of us are those kind of people. When it comes to friend “luck,” in fact, I’ve struck out more often than not. If I were to give advice to my younger self, I’d tell her to hang in there.

During the tween and teens years, you’re mostly just with the kids you know from school. Maybe you’ve found your people during these years — and that’s awesome.

But maybe you haven’t. Or maybe they are sort of your people but not quite. Know you will eventually find your people who “get” you and accept you for who you are.

As you get older and into college and work, you’ll meet more people. Some will be part of your life for a season; others will remain for a lifetime.

Don’t worry if you’ve not found your lifetime friends, yet. You still have plenty of time.

4. Stick with friends who stand by you.

Friendships are constantly shifting and changing when we’re in middle and high school. I have a plethora of stories just from my own middle and high school days! But, if you find a friend who sticks with you during hard times, keep them.

I will never forget the day in my senior year of high school when a group of “friends” spent the entire lunchtime talking negatively about me. One of my friends got up and left the table. She didn’t engage in the conversation and came to find me instead. She gave me support and encouragement.

To this day, she is still one of the only people from high school I see on a regular basis. When you identify your true friends, hang on tight.

5. Ignore other people’s opinions of you.

During middle and high school, I was very aware of other people’s opinions of me. I think that’s pretty normal. But sometimes we need to just ignore what other people think and live our lives.

Don’t be so busy worrying about what other people think of you that you let it shape the decisions you make. I know that can be easier said than done. I wish I would have learned sooner to not care about other’s opinions too much, though.

A great piece of advice I see floating around online is to not take criticism from people who you wouldn’t go to for advice.

6. Remember everyone has a story and a struggle.

To some degree, I think we all are aware everyone has more going on than we know about. Yet, we can easily forget that in the midst of dealing with our own challenges.

In giving advice to my younger self, I’d remind her she doesn’t know everyone’s story. Some people need more grace than anyone gives them. Some people need to be loved. Others need someone to call them on their actions.

Remember if you’re going through a difficult time, it doesn’t mean your friends aren’t. We can be very good at acting like everything is fine when it isn’t.

Sometimes the people who seem the happiest and most bubbly at school are the ones who cry themselves to sleep each night. Give grace, compassion and love to the people around you. Do they always deserve it? Nope. But, that’s what grace is – giving someone something they don’t deserve.

7. Don’t be so stressed about academics.

Growing up, I put so much pressure on myself to do well in school. I have theories about why I did this, but they don’t matter.

What I’ve learned is nobody in my life as an adult cares what my high school GPA was. Did having a great GPA help me land a full scholarship to college? Absolutely. But, did I need to stress as much as I did over it? Definitely not.

My advice to my younger self would be to just let it go sometimes. To do well, do her best and get good grades, but don’t make that such an important part of life.

I completely missed my 16th birthday because I had a band concert that night. My band director threatened to dock my grade to a “C” if I didn’t go to the concert.

So instead of celebrating with my family as planned (and as I wanted to), I went to the concert. I didn’t want to risk my GPA. Looking back, I should have just stayed home and celebrated. And that leads to…

8. Relax and enjoy life.

I know life seems stressful and busy when you’re a tween and teen. I do remember that, but I can also promise you are in a phase when you can choose to just enjoy life.

You have some responsibilities, sure. However, you aren’t in charge of everything in your life. While that is sometimes frustrating, it’s also freeing.

Middle and high school are the perfect times to enjoy life. Try new things. Take up a new hobby and see what you think. Spend a Saturday reading through an entire novel.

Don’t get so caught up in the stress of life that you forget to also enjoy it!

9. Life will never go according to plan.

Poor younger me. She was a planner. In fact, I still am a planner. I love to have a plan and to-do lists. They make my heart sing.

But my best advice to my younger self is to know that life won’t go according to plan, and that’s OK. Your tween and teen years are a great time to learn to embrace the unpredictability of life. Get upset about the change in what you had planned if you need to.

However, don’t get stuck there. Move forward into a plan B, C, D or however many letters it takes!

One day, you’ll look back and understand why your original plan not working out was for the best. Or at the very least, you’ll see lessons you learned as a result.

And more times than you would guess, you’ll be thankful your original plan fell through because the alternative was so much better. Make plans, but know they won’t always turn out exactly as you envisioned, and it really is OK.

10. Give yourself grace.

Yep. I do harp on this a lot, but it’s something I wish my younger self knew sooner. I’ve spent a lifetime excelling at being hard on myself. I’m nice to people around me. In fact, I love encouraging other people and always have, even as a tween and teen.

But, whew! I am mean to myself. My inner voice says awful things and has no patience for mistakes.

I’m continually learning to quiet this voice and remind myself I’m doing the best I can. I truly wish I had learned this lesson from a younger age. It would have saved me from so many negative feelings and given me self-confidence.

See the video of this post here and on the Families with Grace YouTube channel:

The post Advice to my younger self appeared first on Families With Grace.

As a child in the 1980s, I didn’t do much at all with technology. That’s not at all true for my own kiddos. They’ve been using tablets and computers since preschool. And that’s just at school.

Unlike other parenting strategies my husband and I can draw from our own childhood experiences, online safety is all new. Parents like us have to figure out how to keep our kiddos safe online and navigate the challenges that come with technology. Knowing some cyber safety tips can help.

Let’s go a step further than basic cyber safety tips. Instead let’s take a deeper look into how to keep our kids safe online.

I recently sat down with my husband, a cybersecurity expert who is a certified ethical hacker, and talked with him about cyber safety for families. These 15 cyber safety tips come through him and what works for our own family.

1. Be aware of what you post about your children.

We parents get the blame for everything. But the truth is when it comes to cyber safety, we have to be just as careful as our children. While social media may be your outlet, be aware that what you post about your kids can impact them and affect their safety. Gulp.

I have some strict rules in place for my family that we all adhere to. For example, I don’t share on any public platform our specific location, the name of my children’s school or even the full names of my children.

I’m very protective of their information and their photographs. I try to always consider how what I post could impact my kids if the wrong person got that information.

And I assume the wrong person will get any information I post publicly in order to keep myself on track.

2. Set up their email accounts to go to yours as well.

One of the settings offered in Gmail (and pretty much any email service you use) is mail forwarding. Our daughter, who is 13, has been using her email address for the past two years.

The rule from the beginning has been that all messages are forwarded to her dad’s email address. She doesn’t get anything that he doesn’t get as well.

While we trust her, we also want to be aware of what she’s doing and with whom she is interacting. The biggest thing we’ve found with getting her emails is what kinds of things she’s signing up for online, which is important.

(Check out these directions for how to automatically forward messages on Gmail.)

3. Check their direct messages.

While teens still email, they do much more when it comes to direct messaging. For any account our daughter has, she has to give us her username and password so that we can check in on it.

Right now the only social media she has and uses is Pinterest. She and I are connected so I can see her boards, but I can also log in and check her stuff.

For a while, especially during quarantine, she was really into a writing app that I didn’t use. I had the app on my phone and set up with her account so any time she got a notification, I did, too.

4. Utilize YouTube Kids.

Kids love videos, and YouTube Kids is a great way to let them have access to videos without worrying as much. We started both of our children with YouTube Kids and only in the past two years let our daughter have access to regular YouTube.

While it isn’t completely locked down, it does keep the content mostly child friendly and help keep your kids from accidentally (or intentionally) getting onto a video that is inappropriate.

Whether they are on YouTube Kids or the regular version, periodically check their search history and the videos they are watching.

Last year, my daughter was talking about a pastor she really enjoyed watching on YouTube. I checked out the videos to make sure they were solid and was pleased that they were. In fact, when Sarah Jakes Roberts came to a city near us earlier this year, I got tickets and the two of us went to see her in person.

But it could have been a different story if the “pastor” wasn’t Biblically sound or was otherwise a negative influence

5. Know their passwords.

Anything that requires a login and password is something that our kids are required to give to us as well. If there is ever a question, problem, issue or a need to do a random check, we are able to do so.

The same is true for their devices. If they have a lock-screen, we have to know the passcode to get in. We haven’t had an issue with our kiddos (really just our 13-year-old right now) not sharing this information or keeping us updated, but if we did, the consequence is loss of technology.

When it comes to cyber safety tips, one of the most important things for both adults and kiddos is to keep passwords protected. Find a system that works for you.

My husband trusts Bitwarden to manage passwords, so I use it as well. I like that I can have it installed as an extension on my laptop and on my phone, so I always have log-in information and passwords easily accessible.

Consider using a password manager to more easily keep track of your kids’ passwords (and your own!).

6. Pick the correct usernames.

Usernames for apps and games are public. Help your kids choose an appropriate username that doesn’t reveal personal information.

Our rule is that usernames can’t include their real name. My daughter uses favorite fictional characters to comprise her usernames.

We have also used variations of favorite animals. Regardless, definitely don’t allow usernames that include their name or their full name for games, apps or social media.

7. Approve of their profile photos.

Many apps and programs require a profile photo, even if it isn’t social media. Be sure to approve of your child’s profile photo for apps before they post them.

Our rule is photos of themselves are typically not allowed. There are so many fun alternatives they can use instead. In fact, my daughter’s Pinterest profile picture is a funny meme.

8. Talk about liars online.

A huge cyber safety tip for parents is to talk about online stranger danger. Most adults these days know to be cautious on who you trust online, because people aren’t necessarily who they say they are. But, kids don’t know that as well.

Our 13-year-old has gotten tired of hearing it, but we still remind her that you never know who you’re talking to in many situations. Just because someone seems like a fellow fan of a book who is also in school doesn’t mean they are.

Instead of being a 13-year-old girl, the person could be a 30-year-old man looking for an inappropriate relationship.

9. Remind them of the permanence of online content.

Just like we talked about in what we post about our kiddos, we all need to know that what we post is always online, even if we delete it. Someone can access it.

My husband’s online philosophy is that he assumes anything he posts will eventually become public, even if he is sharing it to only friends on social media. Chances are that won’t actually happen, but it’s a good rule of thumb to make sure that you aren’t oversharing or posting inappropriate things.

Our kiddos also need this information and reminder.

10. Utilize filters and device managers.

Figuring out what to use for filters and device managers can be a challenge. I’m fortunate in that my cybersecurity husband is on it. I can’t tell you what’s best, but I can tell you what works really well for us and both are free.

Our kids’ computers have Microsoft Family Safety installed on them that filters internet content and generates reports.

What we use the absolute most, though, is Google Family Link. It works on both Apple and Android devices, including Chromebooks. This allows us to see what our kids are doing on their device, set time limits and prohibit them from installing apps (even free ones) without password-protected permission from us.

The time limits include being able to set times that their device shuts down. For example, our son’s tablet is set so that he can’t use it before 7 a.m. or after 7:30 p.m. We can go in and modify that for one-time or ongoing instances.

11. Don’t allow them to install apps without permission.

I trust my kiddos. Neither of them have given me a reason to not trust them with technology, but for right now, neither of them are allowed to install apps on their devices without permission from us.

Through Google Family Link (see the previous point), their devices are set so any app installed on their phone requires password-protected permission from us.

The biggest reason we’ve instated this policy is to keep them from installing apps that will fill up their devices or are otherwise spam-y. But it also serves to make sure they aren’t able to install nefarious apps to hide things.

I know there will come a point at which they are allowed to be responsible for their own app management, but right now they are 9 and 13. I don’t see that happening any time soon.

12. Keep passwords and passcodes secret.

Our kids want to be good friends and trust their friends. And they should be able to, but they also need to understand that sharing passwords and passcodes is not OK.

In order to stay safe online, our kids’ devices and accounts need to be controlled by them (and us). Allowing anyone else access to them is asking for trouble.

13. Don’t let friends have free reign on devices.

This goes right along with protecting passwords. Nobody else should have free reign on our kiddos’ devices. Again, friends should be trustworthy, but not everyone has the same rules and standards for cyber safety.

For example, a couple of years ago, a friend of my daughter’s nabbed her tablet and starting messaging with someone on a writing app my daughter was using. Our rule was that our daughter couldn’t use her real name on the app at all, even in private messages.

Her friend started to send a message to someone that mentioned her real name. There wasn’t an issue in the end, but even just those sorts of things can happen without malintent.

14. Talk about what information is OK to share and what isn’t.

When it comes to cyber safety tips, this is sort of a no-brainer. We all know we shouldn’t share personal information online. But our kids don’t have those years of experience or even always think about how what they are sharing could be used against them.

In our family, our kiddos aren’t allowed to share where they live any more detailed than the geographic region of the country. They also cannot share their school name or their real names. Those are our rules for their protection.

15. Keep lines of communication open.

Being able to talk with your kiddos about what they’re doing online and any issues they encounter is important. We want our kids to come to us with questions. We also talk with them about various situations and how to be safe online. Technology is part of their world, and we can’t pretend it isn’t.

My husband and I are doing our best to help our kids navigate technology and the internet in safe ways. That means giving them chances to use technology and not forbidding it.

It means trusting them, but arming them with information about how to stay safe. And it also means having consequences in place for breaking our technology rules.

One of the other things we do in communicating with our kids about cyber safety is to be sure to praise them when they make the right choices. I’ve seen my oldest handle direct messages with well when the sender seemed suspicious or was telling her something required more help than she could give.

I complimented her for her responses to highlight to her what she did well. Giving praise is just as important as doling out criticism and advice.

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