God and Jesus may already be household names if you’re raising your child in a Christian home. In this case, they may know God and Jesus’ name, but it may be time to discuss why they’re important.
Lead your child in prayer by asking them what they’re thankful for or about their favorite part of the day. Consider praying before meals to show your child that they can thank the Lord for everything in their life.
Avoid using bad or inappropriate language around your child. Honor your word and promises, even if things don’t go according to plan. Give people the benefit of the doubt and avoid judging books by their covers. Be respectful and kind to everyone you meet.
Have family Christian movie nights to get your kids excited about learning about faith (without them even knowing). Consider watching The Prince of Egypt, Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie, or A Turtle’s Tale: Sammy’s Adventures. Ask your pastor or fellow churchgoers if there are any Christian shows or movies they would recommend. Many churches even have libraries children can check movies out from.
Use silly voices, sound effects, or dramatic hand gestures to keep your child engaged with the story. [5] X Research source There are hundreds of kid-friendly Bible story books out there to pick from for children of all ages. If your child isn’t a big reader, introduce them to cartoon versions of these stories. Search “Bible stories for kids” on YouTube or check out The Beginners Bible’s channel.
Ask your pastor if there are any songs, artists, CDs, or radio stations they would recommend. Listen to the music before playing it for your child so you can be prepared to answer any questions they may have while listening.
For example, many children know of Jesus as the baby in the manager at Christmas, but may not understand that Christmas is Jesus’ birthday. While participating in festive activities, talk about Jesus to teach your child the reason for the season. When your child asks you questions, answer them honestly and ask a question in return. This will help them put faith in their own words. For instance, if your child asks, “Where does God live?” you might reply with something like, “God lives in heaven up in the sky, so He can watch over you every day. What do you think God does in heaven?”[9] X Research source Invite your child to ask you questions too. Creating an environment where they can question things and have meaningful conversations will strengthen their faith. [10] X Research source
Stage 1: “God created the heavens and earth. He made a beautiful garden called the Garden of Eden and Adam and Eve to live there. They could do whatever they wanted except eat the fruit from a forbidden tree. ” Stage 2: “One day, Eve was tempted by an evil snake. The snake tricked Eve into eating the fruit and disobeying God. The fruit was delicious—the best thing Eve had ever tasted! So, she ran to Adam and asked him to eat the fruit too. ” Stage 3: “Adam and Eve felt guilty because they broke God’s only rule. As a punishment, God asked them to leave the garden and never return. ” Stage 4: “God has given you the power to know what’s right and wrong, just like Adam and Eve, but you must obey His rules. ”
Ask your child questions to help them understand God’s importance. If you’re talking about how God created the heavens and earth, ask, “Why do you think God made trees?” or “What can you see that God created?”
Your child may already know Jesus’ name from holidays such as Christmas and Easter. Relay these familiar stories and emphasize Jesus’ role in them.
“God and Jesus love you very much, Michael. ” “You know how much I love you, Jessica? Well, God and Jesus love you just as much!” “God and Jesus protect you, mommy, daddy, your sister, brother, and all your friends, all because they love you. ”
Ask your child what they’ve heard about God and Jesus. Keep your language simple when discussing religion with them. Explain to your child that there are many religions and depictions of God. Express the importance to respect other beliefs even if they don’t believe them. Convey that someone doesn’t have to believe in God to be a good person.
