Strong on the Inside: Raising Kids Who Are Known, Loved and Confident

Every parent wants their child to grow up confident, resilient and secure—but how do we help them develop strength that comes from within?

In Strong on the Inside, Alison brings together years of research and experience working in schools and universities with a deep Christian understanding of what children need to flourish. Grounded in the gospel, this practical and encouraging guide equips parents to nurture children who know they are loved, valued and secure in who God has created them to be.

Inside, you will discover how to:

• Build godly confidence by understanding what children need to know, believe and experience to develop genuine inner strength.
• Turn research into practical parenting with evidence-based insights and tools you can use in everyday family life.
• Balance risk with relationship, giving children room to grow, explore and develop independence while knowing they have a secure place to return to.
• Navigate difficult conversations and communicate effectively with your child about personal, challenging and sensitive issues.

Strong on the Inside offers parents a refreshing approach to raising children—one that combines credible research, practical wisdom and the timeless truth of the Christian faith.

About the author
Dr Alison Willis is a writer, speaker and researcher who investigates the effects of disruption, stress and trauma on learning. She is particularly interested in how teachers and students overcome the effects of stress and trauma, learning in conflict and post-conflict environments, the effects of culture on learning, and the effects of teachers’  beliefs on student learning. 

Alison is a teaching pastor at her local church on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia. Alison is also an Adjunct Senior Lecturer at the University of the Sunshine Coast and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. But most importantly, Alison is a mum. Together with her husband Daniel, she has raised two young adult daughters who also have useful things to say about children and parenting, as seen in the pages of this book.