Faith Building!

Patience: It’s important to be ready and not bothered when your child needs that special attention to develop their character.
Preparation: Take time to do your homework. Use various resources to stimulate their interest in the Word. Keep in mind each child’s personality. A quiet and reserved child may not want to dance and sing, while your energetic and outgoing one will always want to. If need be take time with each child separately and/or plan activities that will bring a balance to both personalities.
Participation: Some suggestions to motivate desire and participation: Use age appropriate curriculum or Bibles. Don’t require an older child to sit in a lesson that is meant for younger sibling unless they want to and vice-a-versa.
If your child is in Pre-K – 1^st grade…use a Beginners Bible to read to them and include a fun activity like acting out the characters or singing songs that will remind them of what you’ve read.
For 2^nd –4^th grade use a Bible that will peak their interests…Picture Bibles that have more detail graphics or an Adventures in Odyssey Bible that will include scenarios that they can relate to. This is a special time for you to interact with them and learn how they respond to situations.
For 5^th –8^th graders, devotionals and In-depth Bible studies work great. I found that this is a crucial growing season in a child’s life. They’re able to grasp biblical truths and principles and carry great conversation. Be prepared to answer all their questions. To shy away from those hard questions, opens the possibility for them to go to someone else who may not share your convictions.
Family Devotionals are always good if you prefer to do Bible time as a family. The Family Walk series is great for this. This book includes a biblical topic, story, and questions to reinforce the biblical truth it is teaching. Great way to get Dad involved, too!
Praise: Remember to praise your child’s desire and participation. This is usually the time when you can reach out to your older child as a confidant. Reminding them they always have an ear with you for anything.
Prayer: Open and close in prayer. Making a list of topics (missionaries, family, relatives, friends, neighbors, etc.) will help your child to focus and help you to pray more in depth for that topic.
Transparency: You are their example of faith. Be a humble teacher. Admit when you’re wrong, apologize when you know you should, ask for prayer from your child and live a faith-full life.
Taking Heed: If your actions don’t match what you’re teaching them, you aren’t fooling anyone, not even your child. Unfortunately, by the time we realize there’s something wrong, our child has lost some or all respect for our walk in the Lord. So take heed lest you stumble your child’s faith instead of deepening it.