Resources - Raising Your Family in NYCRaising a family in New York City can be exciting but daunting. One of the ways we can support and encourage one another at Redeemer is through the sharing of resources and experience. Here, we share some of our favorites. Whether you are new to New York, new to parenthood, or just need a new idea, we hope these suggestions help you to navigate the city as a parent just a little bit better. Click on one of the categories below for a list of related resources. Note: While these resources have been suggested by Redeemer families, please know that this is not an official endorsement. Please research as you would ordinarily. Public Schools Christian Schools Homeschooling YMCA 92nd Street Y Rhinelander Center (350 E 88th) busibodies at the West Side Y (63rd between CPW and B'way) SOKOL, gymnastics, (420 E 71st St) Columbus Preschool & Gym (coach Marvin) Gym classes and parties Baby/kids classes of all kinds Classes, indoor playspace, etc. My Gym Carole Gervas, MD, Carol Brown, CNP Cary Berwald Dr. Cathy Ward Dr. Eric Rosenberg Dr. Goldstein Dr. Gandhi Karen Ginsberg Dr. Paul Grunfeld Dr. Tumika Wilson Dr. Michael Parr Dr. Diane Hanan Edward W. Wilson Pediatric Dentistry and West Side Orthodontics Dr's Rhee, Playforth and Bradley Dr. Kelly Greening Maureen Rayson, CNM, Midwife Shelly Macdonald, CD DONA (Certified Labor Doula) CYO Baseball Carlos Oliveira Soccer Academy West Side Soccer League Harlem Youth Soccer Soccer superstars Yorkville Youth Athletic Association Sports and classes Free weekly tennis lessons in city parks. Ages 6 and above. Riverbank State Park East Central Park 76th and 5th Central Park 72nd and Central Park 84th and 5th near the Met (aka the Ancient Playground) Carl Schurz park John Jay park St. Catherine's West 68th and CPW Historic playground Central Park South 77th and Amsterdam, PS9 playground Elephant Park 77/Riverside Drive River Run Park 83/RSD Hippo Park 91/RSD Diana Ross 82/Central Park West Mariners 85/CPW Claremont Playground 123/RSD (by Grant's Tomb) Battery Park in the summer www.1mother2another.com www.askdrsears.com www.drgreene.com www.makemeaning.com www.ahalearning.com Apple Store Sony Wonder Lab Bridge Market Café Metropolitan Museum www.metmuseum.org Bryant Park Radio City Music Hall Trains at Citicorp building during Christmas season. Go on a weekday morning. Café at The Boathouse restaurant in Central Park. Pottery Barn Kids - has a storytime NYPL 67th St, between 1st and 2nd Ave, 78th St. and York Ave. Wildlife Conservation Society Cast your cares on the Lord because He cares for you. I Peter 5:7 Remind yourself that you need a Savior. Romans 3:23-26 Romans 5:6-11 Meditate on Scriptures to remind you of the truth, such as: Psalm 94:19 When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul. Nahum 1:7 The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those whose trust is in Him. Isaiah 40:11 He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently lead those that have young. Isaiah 40:28-29 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Isaiah 41:10 Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 2 Corinthians 12:9 My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Guard your mind and enjoy today. Matthew 6:34 Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight. Psalm 139:1-3 O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Isaiah 26:3-4 You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal. Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything with prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. Cultivate gratefulness. Start with the gospel and consider all of the other categories of your life (husband, child(ren), home, church, friends, food, clothing, etc.) It may be helpful to write this down. Practical suggestions:
Nothing gives the believer so much joy as fellowship with Christ. He has enjoyment...in the common mercies of life, he can be glad in God's gifts and God's works; but, in all these separately, yea, and in all of them added together, he doth not find such substantial delight as in the matchless person of his Lord Jesus. -C.H. Spurgeon A list of titles we'd love to get our hands on in all of our spare time – for both personal development and child rearing Compiled by Moms of the Westside Mothers' Groups Parenting Parenting is Heart Work, by Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller – any of their books! Excellent! Shepherding a Child's Heart, by Ted Tripp Age of Opportunity, Paul David Tripp (focused on the teenage years) Heirs of the Covenant, Susan Hunt (covenantal parenting, gives us a Reason to parent in the way of the Lord) Your Home, A Place of Grace, Susan Hunt (covenantal home rearing; companion to 'Heirs', encouraging to me as a stay at home mom) Focus on the Family's "Parent's Guide to the Spiritual Growth of Children: Helping your child develop a personal faith" – goes through developmentally what a child can/needs to understand about spiritual things at each age, and practical ideas of how to present that information (second half of book is more practical, and goes through the ages) Parenting without Perfection...David John Seel (ages 10 and up) God's Design for Sex Series...Stan and Brenna Jones...There is a master book...How and When to Talk to Your Kids About Sex that is wonderful. Most people will not like his suggestions for early talking....but I love a great deal of what he has to say. There is also a set of books to read with your kids that lead through these discussions. They are so well written...not quite enough of the theology of sex for me, but a good start. They have been very helpful for our family. (first book is for three to five year olds) Parenting Today's Adolescent...Dennis and Barbara Rainey Strong Willed or Dreamer...the Creative Sensitive Child...Spears (a book on 'feelers') Reviving Ophelia...Mary Pipher...secular book on the struggles girls face...a must read if you have girls Future Men...Wilson...I always recommend Doug Wilson with some reservations. His strength is not always winsomeness, but he has some important things to say about raising Godly men...birth forward Secret Keeper...The Delicate Power of Modesty...Gresh...teenage girls Marriage Each for the Other—Bryan Chappell (pres of Covenant Seminary...great read) Intimate Allies—Longman and Allendar....very hopeful and helpful My Spiritual Health/Ministering to Women Spiritual Mothering...Hunt (view of mentoring, encouraging) Treasures of Faith ...Betters (founders of the PCA...loss of child...good words) Women Helping Women...Fitzpatrick When People are Big and God is Small...Welch...(good old idols stuff) War of Words...Paul Tripp (makes talking hard...but is hopeful!) Tom Wright Commentaries – like the John one we used this year, Wright has others. Education: Spiritual and Other For the Children's Sake...Susan Schaffer Macauley Books Children Love...Elizabeth Wilson...birth and up...summaries of books and recommendations by genre. Great resource. Honey for a Child's Heart...Gladys Hunt...a must read...promotes the use of story in family life. Honey for a Teen's Heart...Hunt...how to use books with your teen. Why Gender Matters....Sax...secular publication on the differences between male and female learning...some really helpful stuff, particularly for moms of boys...wade through the evolutionary stuff and transgender studies...great chapter on the "Oozing of Parental Authority"...even speaks well of spanking by involved parents (shock and awe), and Christian groups. Boys and Girls learn Differently...Guran For Kids ABC Bible Verses, Susan Hunt (ages 3-5, covenental approach to child's life, 27 scripture memory verses that are now a part of our daily family life & vocab) Big Truths for Little Kids, Susan Hunt (ages 4 and up, catechism memorization & explamation, takes the all-important theology of the catechism and puts it into daily life scenarios that we can relate to) Finding Jesus in Genesis (ages 5 and up, exploring scripture to see the promises God makes that are fulfilled in Christ, fictional stories with the same characters from 'Big Truths') The Story Bible...Vos...weaves the theology in the story...brilliant. The Peacemaker for Kids...Collette Sande...good with siblings stuff Wise Words...Leithhart...Stories that bring Proverbs to Life...any four year old and up The Catechism Workbook...got it from the PCA bookstore years ago. Has portions of scripture, questions, and hymns divided by ages/grades. Starts at age 3. Sing the Word from A to Z – Scripture to music. Egermeiers Bible Story Book – great way to read through bible with kids…hardcover edition contains questions in the back Bedtime Blessings by John Trent – devotionals Training Hearts, Training Minds by Stan Meade Fiction to read to children Chronicles of Narnia, C. S. Lewis A Wrinkle in Time, Madeline L'Engle (age 5 and up; interesting story, clearly written) Mick Inkpen bible stories Bible Study & Commentaries READING THE BIBLE FOR ALL IT'S WORTH – Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart READING THE BIBLE WITH HEART AND MIND – Tremper Longmann TYNDALE NEW TESTAMENT COMMENTARIES published by Inter-Varisty Press EXPOSITOR'S BIBLE COMMENTARIES published by Zondervan LIVING BY THE BOOK – Howard Hendricks and William Hendricks FOR THE LOVE OF GOD – D A Carson, volume one and two SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY: AN INTRODUCTION TO BIBLICAL DOCTRINE – Wayne Grudem NIV LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE Understanding Prayer & Prayer Guides: PRAY WITH YOUR EYES OPEN – Richard Pratt VALLEY OF VISION – a Puritan guide to prayer WORK OF GOD – a Benedictine book of prayer To better understand the character of God: THE GOD YOU CAN KNOW – Dan DeHaan KNOWING GOD – J.I. Packer THE HOLINESS OF GOD – R.C. Sproul KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOLY – A.W. Tozer To better understand the gospel & salvation: RIGHT WITH GOD – John Blanchard WHY I AM A CHRISTIAN – John Stott CHILDREN OF THE LIVING GOD – Sinclair Ferguson PUTTING AMAZING BACK INTO GRACE – Micheal Horton MERE CHRISTIANITY – C.S. Lewis To better understand loving and living for God: THE CHRISTIAN LIFE – Sinclair Ferguson THE DISCIPLINE OF GRACE – Jerry Bridges TRANSFORMING GRACE – Jerry Bridges DESIRING GOD – John Piper REDISCOVERING HOLINESS – J.I. Packer DEVOTIONAL CLASSICS – Richard Foster Great tools for specifics THE ENEMY WITHIN – Kris Lundgaard ENGAGING GOD'S WORLD – Cornelius Plantinga NOT THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE: A BREVIARY OF SIN – Cornelius Plantiga REASON TO BELIEVE – R.C. Sproul WHEN PEOPLE ARE BIG AND GOD IS SMALL – Ed Welch BOLD LOVE – Dan Allender and Tremper Longmann INTIMATE ALLIES – Dan Allender and Tremper Longmann FROM FEAR TO FREEDOM – Rose Marie Miller QUESTIONING EVANGELISM – Randy Newman THE DUTIES OF PARENTS – J.C.Ryle THE POWER OF A PRAYING WIFE – Stormie Omartian Download Love and Love Language (pdf), a three-session study covering the various expressions of love, communication skills, and forgiveness and reconciliation Listen to the talk "It Takes a City to Raise a Child" by Tim Keller. Listen to the series "Raising Covenant Families" by Dr. and Mrs. Wilson Benton. |
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