A gentle, practical guide for parents, caregivers, teachers, and ministry leaders who want to help children flourish at a slower, healthier pace.
“As a parent in today's fast‑paced world, I am deeply grateful that Grace Pouch's voice exists to guide us into the ancient and timeless teachings of Christ.”
— Joseph Fasano, author of The Magic Words
About the Book
Many children today are caught up in the frantic pace of life, rushed along by forces beyond their control. When kids grow up too quickly and experience life at top speed, they are left distracted, anxious, and struggling to find depth.
The good news is it’s possible to help children experience life at a slower pace. In Savoring Childhood, you’ll learn how to push back against the demands of our superficial, automatic, and always‑on culture as you walk through five essential ways of slowing.
Drawn from an average family’s experiments with resisting the rush of life and spiritual formation wisdom from voices like Dallas Willard and Richard Foster, Grace Pouch presents practical steps to slow things down so that children can grow deep relational roots, inward character, and a flourishing friendship with God.
God designed childhood to be abundant. Whether in your home, your classroom, or your ministry, you can learn how to partner with God to slow things down so that the children in your life can flourish.
- Identify what’s moving too fast in kids’ lives
- Set a pace of life that supports freedom, connection, and depth
- Implement practical solutions for a grounded, non‑anxious, spiritually rich childhood
Endorsements
Read a Sample Chapter
Start with a sample from the book and get a feel for the tone, stories, and practical invitations.
A Family Collaboration
The book includes pen‑and‑ink illustrations created by Grace’s daughter — a quiet collaboration that reflects the heart of Savoring Childhood.
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About Grace
Grace Pate Pouch is Content Manager for Renovaré where she curates and produces resources for spiritual renewal. She is the author of Savoring Childhood: Practical Wisdom for Slowing Down (IVP, 2026) and co-founder of the advocacy group Upstate Unplugged. She previously served as a seminary professor and Christian education specialist for elementary school children. Grace and her husband William live with their two children, Charlotte and Henry, in Greenville, SC.
Media & interviews: available upon request.
What my book looked like 2 summers ago
I wrote about 28 chapters or chapter fragments before I had figured out what my five ways of slowing down would be. Lots changed after this, but this was the day where I laid it all out on a table and saw beauty and order emerging from the chaos:
- Five sections of related chapters.
- Chapters that overlapped and could be recombined.
- Holes where I needed to add a new chapter.
My mom came by and let me talk it all through. It was a breakthrough moment in the writing process. Hang in there, authors. Wrestle through it. Find human collaborators to listen and don't outsource any of it to a bot. Soak in the good struggle. It's worth it.
Connect with Grace
Follow along for reflections on family life, spiritual formation, and the slow work of renewal.