Your guide to daily Christian formation practices, at every stage of childhood
Help kids move from head knowledge of faith to a heart knowledge of Jesus—through loving communication that’s guided by their developmental needs, their sense that you care about them, and that God cares about them, too.
“And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people.”
Luke 2:52
Show the child in your life how to experience God’s love in real, everyday moments.
As your children experience your protective love daily, they are forming their experience of who they are and who God is. They’re also learning that God meets them in their feelings, their problems, and their messy moments—not in spite of those things, or worse, not once they’ve overcome those things.
The Rooted Families Guide offers practices and tips that you can use with the kiddos in your life anytime and anywhere. You’ll even receive a short series of downloadable activities you can use in addition to the practices provided in the guide, sent directly to your inbox.
If you want to help a child root their sense of self in Christ as they grow mentally, physically, and in their faith, sign up to receive your free Rooted Families Guide today!
About Dr. Jennifer Freeman
Meet the Author of Rooted Families
Dr. Jennifer Freeman served for twenty-five years as Director of Christian Formation at College of the Ozarks, where she led campus-wide initiatives in Christian formation, developed institutional programming, and taught courses shaping students’ theological and vocational identity. In that role, she built and guided institutional structures that integrated worship, discipleship, mentoring, and leadership development across the college community.
Dr. Freeman holds a Master of Arts in Global Leadership from Fuller Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Arts in Worship Studies. Her doctoral research examined how historic Christian worship and ecclesial formation move students from holding cognitive beliefs about Jesus to cultivating a living relationship with the incarnate Christ.
Dr. Freeman continues to teach, mentor, and speak on Christian formation, intergenerational discipleship, and the formative power of worship. She lives in Northwest Arkansas with her husband, Jim, and remains deeply invested in the spiritual growth of the next generation.
Children’s Stages of Christian Formation
Holding Stage
(Ages 0-4)
A sacred season of nurturing where children are embraced in the love and security of family. Through daily connection, caregivers model God’s steadfast love, planting seeds of faith and trust.
Encircling Stage
(Ages 4-8)
In this stage, children begin to explore the world around them. Caregivers intentionally surround them with truth, grace, and steady love, reflecting the faithful presence of God.
Partnering Stage
(Ages 8-12)
In this season, caregivers walk alongside children, guiding them in faith and responsibility. Through mutual trust and collaboration, children begin to take ownership of their relationship with God, learning to live out His truth in everyday life.
Conversation Stage
(Ages 12-16)
Caregivers engage in open, honest dialogue with children about their developing faith, helping them connect biblical truths to their lives. This stage fosters deeper understanding and encourages children to articulate their beliefs, growing in both knowledge and relationship with God.
Commissioning Stage
(Ages 16-20)
In this important transition time, caregivers release adolescents into spiritual responsibility, just as Jesus sent out His disciples. Teens are equipped and empowered to live out their faith, step into mission, and rely on the Holy Spirit as they embrace their calling.
FAQs
What is Christian Formation?
Who is the Rooted Families Guide for?
What about grandparents?
By reinforcing the prayers, conversations and practices parents are doing at home with kids, grandparents can significantly deepen the impact of kids’ discovery of God at work in their daily life.
Why order the Rooted Families Guide?
The Rooted Families Guide helps parents and caregivers nurture lasting faith by offering practical, Bible-based tools for every stage of a child’s growth. Our guide and email resources will help you weave Christian formation habits into daily life, planting seeds of faith that will grow and bear fruit for years to come.
Why is the Rooted Families Guide free?
The Rooted Families project is powered by a generous grant and made possible by College of the Ozarks. This support to the Rooted Families project is offered with the hope that the book and its accompanying resources will have a lasting impact on the families and children who can benefit from it. We are blessed to be able to offer these resources as a gift at this time, and pray that all who receive it will be blessed by its contents for years to come.
Who is College of the Ozarks?
For nearly 120 years, College of the Ozarks has been committed to providing a Christian education to youth from the Ozarks region. Today, the College serves infants through college students through its baccalaureate education, classical Christian laboratory school, and Child Development Center.
Over the years, the College’s emphasis on Christian education has allowed it to develop frameworks for faithfully educating children of all ages with Christian practices and experiences that nourish the students we serve and the families they come from. The Rooted Families Guide equips caregivers and families with a practical guide to support Christian formation in everyday moments, at each stage of a child’s growth—helping them plant seeds of faith that will grow and thrive for years to come.
What’s our goal for the Rooted Families Project?
Who else deserves credit for this work?
This project was made possible by College of the Ozarks faculty, staff, and students and underwritten by a generous grant. We are so thankful for all who participated and offered input in the process.
What are caregivers saying about participating in Rooted Families?
Joey Bluege, Associate Pastor, Faith Lutheran Church
Drawing on a wealth of experience and wisdom, Jennifer intentionally guides caregivers in nurturing loved ones from the cradle through adulthood in their spiritual development. This valuable discipleship tool provides a clear path through the stages of their journey. Through the truth of scripture, this thoughtfully crafted resource not only engages and shapes the child but also transforms the caregiver, as they grow together along the voyage.
Beth Howard, Faculty – Kindergarten, School of the Ozarks, a Laboratory School of College of the Ozarks
As an educator in early childhood development, I cannot express how impactful the Rooted Families Guide is to new parents and families. This guide is an excellent tool to equip all caregivers in the lifelong process of guiding children to become more like Jesus in everyday experiences, relationships, and interactions. It is also valuable in teaching the importantace of providing through each of the stages.
Kristy Orrell, Child Development Center Director, College of the Ozarks
