In this episode of Growing Hearts, Claire and John Wall join us to share their experiences, favorite traditions, and insights on keeping Christ at the center of Christmas while managing the busyness of family life with young children. They offer practical tips for blending Catholic traditions with family celebrations, emphasizing ways to encourage generosity, kindness, and a spirit of gratitude throughout the holiday season. 

We’d love to hear your Christmas traditions! How do you keep your celebrations Christ-centered? Do you have unique ways of helping your family focus on the true meaning of the season? Share with us on social media with #GrowingHeartsPodcast or send us a message! 

Recommended book:

God has Made a Bethlehem

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In today’s episode, we dive into Advent—a season of hope, preparation, and anticipation as we await Christmas. We’ll uncover the deeper meaning behind Advent traditions, explore ways to bring them into family life, and discuss how Advent serves as a reminder of the joy and peace that Christ brings. Our guests, Fr. Felix and Fr. Anthony, provide insights on how this season can transform our hearts and help us focus on what truly matters during the holidays. 

We’d love to hear how your family celebrates Advent! Do you have any special traditions or ways of preparing your hearts for Christmas? Share your stories, ideas, or questions with us on social media or in the comments. Let’s inspire one another with creative ways to keep the focus on the true meaning of this season! 

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In today’s episode, we dive into the powerful theme of service and generosity, exploring what it truly means to go beyond ourselves and why this selflessness is crucial for young people. Joined by Bernie James, a dedicated teacher, community service leader, husband, and father, and Seb Burfitt, a tax advisor, father, and husband, we discuss how encouraging kids to step out of their comfort zones to serve others fosters gratitude, empathy, and a stronger sense of community. It’s all about leading by example—starting with us! 

• The importance of service in today’s self-oriented world 

• Teaching kids the value of stepping out of their comfort zones 

• Cultivating gratitude and a sense of community through giving 

• Practical ideas for parents to engage kids in acts of service 

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Find out more about the Pared Foundation: visit our website  

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In this episode, we address a question many parents face: how to explain the death of a loved one to their children in a way that reflects our Catholic faith. We'll explore the meaning of death, the hope of eternal life, and how parents can offer comforting, faith-filled answers to difficult questions. Join us as we discuss how to turn this sensitive topic into a teaching moment about the love of God, the promise of heaven, and the connection we still share with those who have passed away. 

• Exploring heaven as a place of no pain, only love, and how children can look forward to being reunited with family. 
• The reality of purgatory, heaven, and the communion of saints, and how we remain connected with those who have passed. 

• Practical ways families can honor their loved ones on the Feast of All Souls. 

• Encouraging children to pray for their deceased family members and understand that they are still spiritually connected. 

You can:  

Follow us on Instagram @growingheartspodcast  

Find out more about the Pared Foundation: visit our website  

Discover our schools by visiting: pared.edu.au/openday  

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In this episode, we dive deep into the concept of freedom and its importance in shaping our lives, our children's lives, and their faith journeys. Freedom is often portrayed as the ability to do whatever we want, but true freedom is about making the best choices, using our freedom for good, and navigating the limits and responsibilities that come with it. As children grow into teenagers, they begin to make their own choices, and as parents, we must guide them toward understanding the true essence of freedom. Our guest helps us explore how freedom is tied to compassion, respect for others, and living our faith authentically.

·     Freedom isn't just the ability to choose anything—it’s about choosing what’s right and good. How do we teach our children to navigate between good and bad choices, and how can they use their freedom for positive impact?

·      How can parents allow their children to make their own choices while providing enough space for them to take risks? Why is it important to show confidence and trust in their abilities, especially for teenagers?

·    What role does freedom play in living out our faith? How can parents create an environment where faith is joyful and freely chosen, rather than forced, allowing children to make their own decisions in regards to cultivating their faith?

Link Recommendations:

Freedom: Raising your children to make meaningful choices

You can: 

• Follow us on Instagram @growingheartspodcast 
• Find out more about the Pared Foundation: visit our website 
• Discover our schools by visiting: pared.edu.au/openday 
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In this episode, Clare Horsfall shares how stories and books can be powerful tools in helping children develop virtues, values, and an understanding of the world beyond themselves. We explore how books help children process emotions, build imagination, and introduce them to beauty, truth, and goodness. This episode is packed with actionable tips for instilling a love of reading and nurturing character through stories.

• How books help children process emotions and relate to characters' challenges.
• Why stories are essential for building imagination and fostering a sense of wonder.
• Practical tips for selecting the right books for different ages and interests.
• Balancing religious texts with other genres to promote holistic development.
• How family reading habits can shape a child's values, hope, and sense of compassion.

Recommendations:

-  Year 3-5 Reading List

- The Little House Series

- Children's bible Golden Books

- Catholic book store: Cardinal Newman Bookshop

You can: 

Follow us on Instagram @growingheartspodcast 

Find out more about the Pared Foundation: visit our website 

Discover our schools by visiting: pared.edu.au/openday

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In this episode, we dive deep into the core of personal identity and how faith can be the bedrock of self-worth, purpose, and authenticity. Join us as Caitlin West shares insights on building an identity rooted in being daughters and sons of God. We explore how parents can model unconditional love and support their children in cultivating a strong personal identity, especially during pivotal life transitions, like leaving school and entering adulthood.

Find Caitlin's Podcast and Youtube Channel here!

• The foundational elements of a strong personal identity rooted in faith.
• How parents can model unconditional love and create a safe space for their children to grow.
• The importance of a personal relationship with God for a secure identity.
• Navigating transitions like finishing school while remaining true to who you are in faith.

You can:

• Follow us on Instagram @growingheartspodcast 
• Find out more about the Pared Foundation: visit our website 
• Discover our schools by visiting: pared.edu.au/openday 

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In this episode, we delve into the heart of the Catholic faith—the Eucharist. For Catholics, the Eucharist is a profound and central mystery, yet it can be challenging to understand its depth and significance. We'll start with the basics, using real-life stories and questions to explore the beauty and miracle of the Eucharist. Join us as we uncover why the Eucharist holds such an essential place in a Catholic’s daily life.

• The Golden Box (Tabernacle): Exploring why Catholics kneel before the tabernacle and what it signifies.
• The Real Presence of Jesus: Understanding how and why Jesus chose to remain with us in the form of the Eucharist.
• How the Eucharist Nourishes Our Lives: Examining the spiritual nourishment the Eucharist provides.
• Helping Children Understand Eucharistic Reverence: How parents can teach their children the importance of reverence toward the Eucharist.
• Practical Tips for Fostering a Love for the Eucharist in Your Children: Strategies to increase and sustain your children's love and devotion to the Eucharist.

You can: 

• Follow us on Instagram @growingheartspodcast 

• Find out more about the Pared Foundation: visit our website 

• Discover our schools by visiting: pared.edu.au/openday 

Remember to hit FOLLOW so you don't miss out on any of our future episodes 

In this episode, we explore practical ways for parents to integrate faith into their family's daily life. We discuss leading by example, creating a joyful and authentic faith environment, and allowing children the freedom to explore their relationship with God. Our guests share insights from their own journeys and how they’ve managed to weave faith into the fabric of their family life, highlighting the role of affection, storytelling, and meaningful routines in nurturing a child’s faith. 

• Practical ways to instill faith to your children, such as teaching prayers, sharing faith stories, and encouraging a personal connection with God.

• Balancing Freedom and Responsibility: Encouraging children to make faith-related choices on their own, helping them develop a personal and responsible relationship with God. 

• The importance of living out faith authentically, using affection and love to mirror God’s love, and incorporating faith into daily family routines.  

• The guest emphasizes the value of creating faith-based routines like family prayer, meals together, and discussing daily experiences in the light of faith.

You can:

• Follow us on Instagram @growingheartspodcast  

• Find out more about the Pared Foundation: visit our website  

• Discover our schools by visiting: pared.edu.au/openday  

Remember to hit FOLLOW so you don't miss out on any of our future episodes!

In this episode, we are joined by Chehade Richa, a father, mentor, and teacher. Together, we delve into how parental reactions influence children's emotional development and worldview. We discuss the significance of consistency and authenticity in parenting to prevent fostering a 'two-faced' nature in kids. Discover how building trust and open communication, along with virtues like charity and patience, can create a nurturing environment for your children.

• Parental Reactions as a crucial factor in shaping children's emotional development and worldview. 

• The importance of being truly present, investing time, and sharing personal stories to build trust. 

• Integrating virtues, such as charity, patience, and forgiveness into parenting practices to nurture character and resilience in children, balancing love and expectations.  

   

  You can:  

  • Follow us on Instagram @growingheartspodcast  

  • Find out more about the Pared Foundation: visit our website  

  • Discover our schools by visiting: pared.edu.au/openday  

  Remember to hit FOLLOW so you don't miss out on any of our future episodes!