How To Encourage Faith Conversations With Your Kids
Families are busier than ever– and amid all the busyness, it can be challenging to fit in every activity you want to do. You want to enjoy fun times together as a family, but you also want to find time to talk about the things that matter most. Even if you’ve made it clear that faith is a safe thing to discuss, kids might not know where to start or what questions to ask, so it’s important to take the initiative to start conversations that can have an eternal impact.
Here are a few tips to help start faith conversations at any age.
Infants & toddlers
While kids at this age may not be able to comprehend deep spiritual ideas, you can still include them in daily activities that help build the foundation for growth later in life. By incorporating God into everyday activities, you can help your child become more familiar with spiritual topics and concepts for when they’re able to understand.
Read Bible board books about creation, animals, and family.
As your kids learn to talk, teach them the meaning of faith words such as God, Jesus, Bible, and pray.
Pray with them, and explain to them that prayer is just talking to God.
Model respect and honor in the way you speak about others.
Listen to songs in the car that glorify God and express worship and gratitude.
Thank God out loud for various things in your home throughout your day, such as food, clothing, toys, or other household objects.
Preschoolers & Kindergartners
The preschool age is an age of discovery and wonder as kids begin to explore the world around them. This is a great time to speak more about who God is and how He interacts with the world. (You probably won’t have any trouble getting them to ask questions!)
Point out different parts of nature and practice thanking God for all that he created.
Ask your child to explain what they learned at church this week.
Find verses to guide them when they need correction. For example, if they’re being unkind to a sibling, ask them how they can choose a different action that honors God, and find a verse together that can help remind them to follow what God says.
When they’re scared, encourage them to share their fears with God through prayer, and reassure them that He is always listening.
Brainstorm ways that they can show God’s love to other kids around them at school or church.
Grade Schoolers
During this period of their lives, kids learn to ask more questions about the world to make sense of the things going on around them. While questions at this age may be more complicated, they can provide great opportunities to deepen your child’s faith.
Ask your child how you can pray for them, and share with them ways they can pray for you.
Teach your kids about other religions and perspectives in the world, and help them learn how to identify God’s truth versus what others say is true.
If your child has a difficult question that you can’t answer, work with them to investigate and think critically about their question.
Tell your story! Your own testimony can be a powerful way to explain how God worked in your life to bring you to salvation. Encourage questions, and be open and honest about your journey towards Christ.
Remember, you don’t always have to have the right words or all the answers to your child’s questions. The most powerful thing that you’ll ever share about your faith isn’t really something you say at all – it’s modeled in how you live your life and love God. Allow His Spirit to lead you as you engage with your kids and have conversations that really matter, and trust that He will be working in your child’s life.