The New City Catechism for Kids: Children's Edition

Love this for our family devotion times!!

Beautifully laid out, clear to read and easy to use with the children. However, it's size means that it's not a book to treasure or gather round - it'll get lost on the shelf or down the back of the sofa. Rather, it's a fit-in-your-pocket resource that kids can hold themselves. Would be better as a hardback A5, with room for notes/reflections. Recommendation on the back is: ages 4-7 (read to me), 8-11 (read myself).

‘The New City Catechism for Kids’ by Tim Keller. This is a selection of 52 questions, with answers, composed by Keller and based on various pre-existing catechisms. This is an anti-educational book. It's a classic corruption of The Bible to serve the controlling desires and questionable motives of men. The catechism is presented very simply, to be more accessible to children, so there is no exposition or reference presented. My primary concern is that this is an anti-intellectual approach to any education. Central to this is the fact that the core questions presented at numbers 25, 26, 27 and 28 are contradictory, with no explanation. The material pre-supposes absolute acceptance of itself as gospel, without even a Bible reference. There is no scope for further argument or interpretation. It is anathema to reasonable education. Among other poorly-imagined components is a listing of the Ten Commandments (question 8), followed in the next few questions by Keller’s own interpretations, which are not necessarily sound. Again, no reference or citation is offered. Of secondary concern is the possible effect of the text on the minds of children. The text explicitly states that failing to follow these rules will result in eternal, righteous punishment in Hell. Mortal fear is not an appropriate tool for instruction of young minds, but is fundamental to this text. This alone makes it unacceptable to me. Thirdly, it simply isn’t engaging. My children will be confused and bored by it (it is humourless and deathly dull). I could go on, picking apart this text, but the final point I want to make is that the fundamental concept of catechism is inappropriate for young minds. It’s valid for adult discussion of theology, but it is unsafe for the uneducated, as is any dogma. Specifically, as Christianity has evolved it has moved away from the methods more commonly associated with the Middle Ages, precisely because our education is broader and the path to true faith requires our questions to be answered in a valid manner, rather than to be dictated to us. Any belief system that relies on absolute answers with no space for discourse presents itself as insecure in its own validity.

Love this for my son. If you are familiar with the New City Catechism you probably know of its contents. This is a small version for kids that is much easier from them to memorize. My son and I have been working through and it raises more questions about Christ and theology.

We use it in a small homeschool co-op along with the curriculum and the kids are really enjoying having their own little books!

Very small pocket book to use with the kids. Absolutely perfect to use with young children. I love how the book as shortened answers to make it easy for kids to remember. Plus the app that goes along with book is free and includes songs to help with memorization. It's been such a blessing to our family!

Just a gift for friends

I can’t write enough good things about this little book! I’ve been adapting it for my 3 year old and it has helped us have more gospel centered conversations and to have an outline to talk through while disciplining. SO good.