It’s summer time, and that means VBS and summer camps galore for families here in Texas!  In fact, we just wrapped up the sweetest and most amazing week here at FBCA called Kinder Bible School.  It is a week we plan for most of the year, and a week we greatly anticipate.  This year we took our kids on a Bible times adventure, immersing them in the culture and occupations of Jesus’ time growing up, where they got hands on experience of implementing those occupations personally by creating pottery, scrolls, and beadwork.  In the classroom, they learned that Jesus was born like them, went to church like them, and helped friends.  Shouts of excitement could be heard throughout the halls and the church.

Those shouts and laughs overflow my cup!  You see, I was not really raised in church; we did not attend regularly.  I did not attend Sunday school, VBS, or camps, and now as an adult, as a mother, as a minister, my heart is for my children, our children, YOUR children to know the Lord at a young age.  The echos of laughter in the halls remind me that every lesson, every art project, every activity, every joke, every song bring them one step closer to our Savior Jesus Christ.

Learn and Grow

Luke 2:52 tells us Jesus continued to learn and grow, and Proverbs 22:6 tells us to train up our children in the way they should go, but what does that look like for a parent who him/herself is unfamiliar with the Bible or even with Jesus?  The thought can be intimidating! So much, in fact that fears seeps in of not knowing the answers, and many just stay away from the idea of teaching their preschooler and children the Bible.

I remember being in those shoes. Well, can I tell you something, friend? I’ve learned it’s okay not to have all the answers.  That’s the beauty about our faith journey with Christ!  It is just that…a journey, not a destination.  Find a Bible study group to build community and bounce questions off of and express revelations you receive!  Just start where you are; that’s all you have to do.  Like Jesus, we will continue to learn and grow for the remainder of our lives; the important thing is to just start! Take that first step, make a commitment to lead your family, and let the Holy Spirit lead you as you do.

What do I do?

#1 Have fun! 

Learning about God does not have to be boring.  You can learn and teach by playing games, creating art, playing or making music, the ways are countless.  But have fun!  If the kids (and you!) are having fun, they’ll want to learn about Jesus.

#2 Have a Bible and/or Devotional.

It can make your head spin when you see the number of varying formats and options for Bibles and devotionals now days, for both kids and adults.  Younger children are still learning their world around them, so it is important to try to find books that have more realistic pictures of people and animals so they can begin to recognize and connect the objects in the books to the world around them.   I will say that finding books with realistic images can be a challenge for younger ages, but the important key is to stay away from images that are overly animated.

Babies to one-year olds will begin to recognize and be able point to the Bible and pictures of Jesus.  A Bible stories book is a great first step to being reading Scripture with your child.  Point out and/or have them find Jesus, animals, the sun, etc.

Two- and three-year-olds enjoy simple songs about Jesus and interactive learning methods.  As you read, act out the story.  Have them march around the room seven times and play instruments if you are talking about Jericho, or go on a lion hunt if you’re reading about Daniel and The Lion’s Den.  Search and Find books are also fun beginning at this age.  You could even do this as part of your nightly bedtime routine.

Pre-k/Kinder love to retell stories.  They may benefit from a “big kid” children’s Bible.  A resource such as this is a great tool for your older preschooler because the stories will be still age appropriate but with slightly more detail than in previous years.  This resource also prepares your child for a Bible more like yours that they can take with them to “big church.” After reading, ask them to tell you the story.   Or ask prompting questions to help retell.

#3 Rock out! 

Music is always a great way to learn because the tunes are catchy.   I still remember jumping on the trampoline with my brother when I was eight or so singing the KitKat Bar theme song as we bounced round and round.  You know the one!  Sing it with me!  “Give me a break, give me a break….”   See, catchy, right!?

Well, learning Bible truths and Scripture can be just as fun with music!  There are some great YouTube series, like Yancy and Miss Patty Cake that are packed full of lessons, songs, and FUN!  Spotify is also a great resource.  Christian publishers, like Lifeway Kids Worship and many Bible teaching churches have kids worship songs available here.

I remember when I first start started teaching preschool.  I had a foundational understanding of much of the Bible, but as I taught those simple yet POWERFUL lessons to two-year-olds, the Holy Spirit began to teach me, too.  The simple songs we sang in Sunday School like God Is So Good, the Holy Spirit brought to mind and helped me stay focused on God and persevere in some of the hardest seasons of my life.  He will do the same for you.  Truth through song will stick with you for years to come.  When my kids were small, I would put a worship radio station on every night as the kids went to bed, and it played in their rooms all night long.   They are teens now and still fall asleep to music.

#4 Get Creative! 

Any time you can bring the story to life is a WIN! Pinterest and Google are LOADED with fun preschool activities that can help you bring a tangible understanding to the story.  For instance, if you are reading about Moses parting the sea, make Moses parting the sea!  If you’re teaching about Jesus being lost for three days, make a seek n find bottle and place a teenage Jesus in there.

Final Thoughts

Learning, teaching, and living the Jesus way is what we’re called to do. Teaching your preschooler the Bible does not need to be a huge event or complicated, but it does need to be intentional.  Intentional in story reading, games, seeking and finding, an singing of songs together.  Be intentional.  Remember, you don’t have to know all the answers.  Just take the first step in leading your family and start reading together.  Visit Faith Journey for some key resources to help guide you in conversation with your preschooler and children.  With the Holy Spirit’s guidance, you and your family will learn and grow together in stature and favor.  You got this, parent!