Any mom will tell you that getting kids to sit through even one minute of scriptures before bed can be soooo hard. You beg, you bribe, you set boundaries… but maybe you just need a few simple activities in your back pocket that will keep those wiggly worms engaged and excited to learn about Jesus.
And teaching with these tools doesn’t have to be done at a certain time of day or just at church, these can happen anytime, anywhere.
Let’s dive right in!
1. Tell the Story in Your Own Words
Scripture stories can include words and ideas that are difficult for young children to understand. Try telling the story in your own words first, focusing on a few important details.
For example, when teaching about Jesus calming the storm, you might focus on three things: feelings, friends, and following. For example, His friends were scared, they asked Jesus for help, and Jesus calmed the storm.
Then ask a simple question like, “What can we do when we feel scared?”
You don’t have to teach every detail at once. A simple story they understand can open the door to deeper conversations as they grow.
2. Give Their Hands Something to Do
Little kids are made to move, touch, color, and create. Instead of expecting them to sit still while they learn, make that movement part of the experience.
Let them color a picture from the story, build a boat from blocks, act out the story with toys, or draw what they think it might have looked like.
Activities like Kanga Toys' Parables of Jesus and Miracles of Jesus Aqua Brush Books can also give little hands something to do while parents introduce or retell stories about Jesus.
The activity doesn’t need to be complicated. Sometimes crayons and a piece of paper are enough.
3. Ask One Good Question
You don't need a list of discussion questions to have a meaningful conversation with a young child.
Try asking just one.
“What do you think Jesus wanted them to learn?”
“How do you think that person felt when Jesus helped them?”
“What is something Jesus did that we could do, too?”
There may not be one perfect answer. Give children time to think, and let the conversation go wherever their curiosity takes it.
4. Let Them Tell the Story Back to You
After you've read or talked about a story, ask your child to tell it back to you.
Don't worry if they leave out half the details—or add a few creative ones of their own! Retelling gives children a chance to put what they've learned into their own words.
You can make it even more fun by using stuffed animals, toys, puppets, pictures, or their own artwork to help tell the story.
You may be surprised by which little details they remember.
5. Connect the Story to Their Own Life
The stories of Jesus become even more meaningful when children begin to see how His teachings connect to their everyday lives.
After learning about the Good Samaritan, look for someone your family can help.
After talking about Jesus feeding the hungry, let your child help choose food to donate.
After learning how Jesus welcomed children, remind them just how much He loves them.
These don't have to be big gestures. The goal is simply to help children discover that the stories of Jesus aren't only stories from long ago—they can teach us how to live and love today.
Keep It Simple
Teaching children about Jesus doesn't require a perfect family lesson, an elaborate craft, or children who sit quietly through the whole thing.
Tell a story. Color a picture. Ask a question. Act it out. Try one small thing together.
Those simple moments add up.
And as children hear these stories again and again, they can begin to recognize something even more important than the details of each story:
Who Jesus is.
How He treated people.
How much He loves you.
Looking for an easy way to add hands-on learning? Explore Kanga Toys' new Parables of Jesus and Miracles of Jesus Aqua Brush Books, created to help little hands stay engaged while discovering stories about Jesus.