The #1 Mistake Catholic Parents Make with Kids—And What to Do Instead

In this episode of The Chris Stefanick Show, I sit down with Deacon Bob Rice, who has spent 30 years on the front lines of youth ministry, to tackle one of the toughest question for Catholic families: How do we help our teens own their faith in a world of screens, stress, and nonstop noise? Bob and I unpack why smartphones are supercharging teen anxiety, decode the two pivotal growth spurts that make or break faith formation, and reveal why steady presence (even at their big game) is so important. Plus, get practical tips for building a small-team ministry and meeting kids on their turf to help bridge the generational gap.

Timestamps:

5:25 Why smartphones have teens more anxious than ever

15:08 The two key growth spurts every parent and minister needs to understand

33:53 The blueprint for assembling a small core team that actually moves the needle

50:10 A simple shift: picturing Jesus as a 12-year-old to see Him in our teens ✝️

55:10 From flannel shirts to Fortnite: meeting teens where they are—yes, even at the away game

1:00:16 Three practical steps for parents and grandparents: presence, invitation, holy dissatisfaction

Resources Mentioned:

Sharing the Gospel With Our Lives by Bob Rice: https://www.amazon.com/Sharing-Gospel-Our-Lives-Relational/dp/1639661492

The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt https://www.amazon.com/Anxious-Generation-Rewiring-Childhood-Epidemic/dp/0593655036

Life Teen’s free parent & leader toolkits:https://lifeteen.com/cym/kickstart/

Steubenville Youth Conferences: https://steubenvilleconferences.com/youth-conferences/

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