Family Resources
A collection of resources to help support our local families. We will do our best to keep the list up to date. If you would like to see any resources added to the list, please reach out to office@vancouvervineyard.com.
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Free and local, the Bible Project offers videos and teachings that take a deep dive into Bible stories and themes.
Vancouver Public Schools Online Learning Resource Guide
VPS has made an extensive list of online educational resources Ranging from preschool to high school.
Offers free DIY play based activities for ages 0 - 8+
Free arts and crafts for kids
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The goal of this website is to "cue" you as a parent with what you need when you need it so you can be the parent you want to be. Parent Cue offers amazing resources such as articles, an app, and a podcast. You can find activities, tools for spiritual growth, and more all measured by phase of life. Get inspired for family time activities and find amazing parenting resources like work charts, cell phone agreements, and more!
Axis bridges the gap between generations so that kids and adults can have sincere, open, and honest conversations about their day-to-day lives. Because the best way to understand each other is to talk and keep talking. That’s where our model, the One Conversation Model, comes into play. The One Conversation Model is about using what your kid loves to keep the door open — and seizing moments to talk about deeper issues whenever they arise.
Ask Away Podcast - by Meredith Miller
Ask Away is a podcast where kids can ask anything about the Bible. Join Meredith Miller as she and her kids explore a Bible Story and then talk about questions sent in by kid-listeners!
Preparing for the Unexpected Worksheet
This worksheet is intended to help you reflect and create a plan ahead of time for how you want to respond if you discover something you never expected in your child’s life.
“Unruffled” Podcast - by Janet Lansbury
Lansbury’s approach focuses on respect for the child and acceptance of their emotions and development, but allows for firm parental limits as needed.
Power of a Praying Parent Bookmark
A printable bookmark to help encourage us to pray over the children in our life.
Lectio for Families Devotional App
Lectio for Families is a free devotional app that helps families to read the Bible and explore faith through conversation and prayer together.
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A Guide that provides access to important connections in the community related to housing and homelessness.
Foster Parent Alliance of Washington State
This page is about ways to get advice, information, or someone to talk to who understands fostering.
Recommended Bibles and Books for Kids and Parents
Recommended Bibles
The Jesus Story Book Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones
While other kids’ Bibles contain stories from the Old and New Testaments, The Jesus Storybook Bible tells the Story beneath all the stories in the Bible, pointing to Jesus as our Savior. From the Old Testament through the New Testament, as the Story unfolds, children will clearly see that Jesus is at the center of God's great story of salvation—and at the center of their story too.
Ages 2-6
The Rhyme Bible Storybook by L. J. Sattgast
The Rhyme Bible Storybook brings classic Bible stories from the Old and New Testaments to life, retold in rhyme so that children are enthusiastic to read along, excited to read aloud, and, most importantly, eager to remember their favorite Scripture verses.
Ages 2-6
My First Message by Eugene Peterson
Point your kids in the right direction―when they’re old they won’t be lost. ―Proverbs 22:6
Help your child discover the value of God’s Word. My First Message transforms family devotions into an interactive experience. The Message translation offers Bible readings that kids can easily understand. Featuring 50 of the Bible’s most cherished stories, My First Message brings their timeless lessons to life with colorful, captivating illustrations.
Ages 2-6
NIrV Adventure Bible by Zondervan
Kids will be captivated with the full-color features that make reading Scripture and memorizing their favorite verses engaging and fun. Along the way they’ll meet all types of people, see all sorts of places, and learn all kinds of things about the Bible. Most importantly, they’ll grow closer in their relationship with God.
This Bible includes the complete New International Reader’s Version (NIrV) which is written at a third-grade reading level and based on the accurate, readable, and clear New International Version (NIV).
Ages 6-10
The Gospel Story Bible by Marty Machowski
This storybook introduces your family to many captivating people, places, and events in Christian History from both the Bible's Old and New Testaments, showing how each one ultimately points to Jesus Christ. As you share these Bible Stories together, you and your family will meet Jesus and learn a new, life-changing way of recognizing Jesus Christ as the hero of every story.
Vibrant illustrations, child-friendly discussion questions, and biblical Scripture references accompany each narrative to help you lead your family in exploring the Bible.
Ages 5-11
The Action Bible by Doug Mauss
The Action Bible presents 215 fast-paced narratives in chronological order, making it easier to follow the Bible’s historical flow—and reinforcing the build-up to its thrilling climax.
The stories in The Action Bible communicate clearly and forcefully to contemporary readers. This compelling blend of clear writing plus dramatic images offers an appeal that crosses all age boundaries.
Ages 7-11
Recommended Books
A Guide to Choosing the Best Books for Children that gives the reader over 40 essays that examine specific types of children’s books and offer suggestions in each category. Among the topics covered are: imagination, faith, classic literature, middle school books, race, fantasy, contemporary children’s books, Shakespeare, art history, Newbery books, young adult novels, poetry, and more. Curated and edited by Leslie and Carey Bustard with Théa Rosenburg (a mother-daughter team and a children’s books blogger), Wild Things and Castles in the Sky will encourage and envision readers to know the power of a good story and to share it with a child they love.
Good Night Tales by C. S. Fritz
Good Night Tales leads your children through a vivid, beautiful, and imaginative adventure through Scriptural truths. This collection of Scripture-based stories brings a forest to life through animal kings, trolls, plum-loving giants, and fiddle-playing crickets. Stories include reimaginings of Israel asking for a new king, parables about searching for the kingdom of God, and Psalm 23.
Ages 3-8
The Big God Story by Michelle Anthony
In this fast-paced journey through the Old and New Testaments, kids will hear the stories of the Garden of Eden, the great Flood, the Promised Land, the kings of Israel, the holy baby born in a stable, and some unlikely friends who started a new church. Each part of the narrative highlights a different aspect of God’s faithfulness to us. Ultimately, readers will see how they fit into God’s big story of love when they write their names in the book on the last page!
Ages 4-8
The Ology by Marty Machowski
Arranged within a traditional systematic theological framework, each truth in The Ology is also connected to the larger redemptive story of Scripture. This storybook takes abstract concepts in the Bible and makes them easier to understand with the use of creative examples, illustrations, and analogies. The Ology is a starting point to learning theology and aims to create a hunger and desire in children to learn more as they grow older.
Ages 6-12
WonderFull: Ancient Psalms Made Ever New by Marty Machowski
Your children may know of the psalms, but with WonderFull by best-selling author Marty Machowski, young readers learn to use the whole book of the Psalms to pray, worship, and find help through the challenges life is certain to bring.
Ages 8-12
Sacred Parenting by Gary Thomas
Parenting is a school for spiritual formation―and our children are our teachers. The journey of caring for, rearing, training, and loving our children will profoundly alter us forever. Sacred Parenting is unlike any other parenting book you have ever read. This is not a “how-to” book that teaches you ways to discipline your kids or help them achieve their full potential. Instead of discussing how parents can change their kids, Sacred Parenting turns the tables and demonstrates how God uses our kids to change us. You’ve read all the method books. Now take a step back and receive some much-needed inspiration.
Sticky Faith by Dr. Kara E. Powell
Research indicates that almost half of high school seniors drift from their faith after graduation. Struck by this staggering statistic, and recognizing its ramifications, the Fuller Youth Institute (FYI) conducted the "College Transition Project" in an effort to identify the relationships and best practices that can set young people on a trajectory of lifelong faith and service. This easy-to-read guide presents both a compelling rationale and a powerful strategy to show parents how to actively encourage their children’s spiritual growth so that it will stick with them into adulthood and empower them to develop a living, lasting faith.
Growing With by Kara E. Powell
Many parents of a teenager or young adult feel as though they're guessing about what to do next--with mixed results. We want to stay connected with our maturing child, but we're not sure how. And deep down, we fear our child doesn't want or need us. But growing up doesn't have to mean growing apart.
Based on brand-new research and interviews with remarkable families, Growing With equips parents to take steps toward their teenagers and young adults in a mutual journey of intentional growth that trusts God to transform them all.
The Tech-Wise Family by Andy Crouch
Making conscientious choices about technology in our families is about developing wisdom, character, and courage in the way we use digital media rather than accepting technology's promises of ease, instant gratification, and the world's knowledge at our fingertips. And it's definitely not just about the kids.
Using original research from the Barna Group, Andy Crouch reveals the surprising consequences of how we use technology. He challenges readers to think about the family they want and how technology fits in those goals.