Parenting

Introducing Toddlers to the Bible
This material appears courtesy of Nappaland

"Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6 (NKJV)

An endless array of choices peeks over the shelf’s edge. Which book will Tony choose for his bedtime story tonight? Clifford the Big Red Dog? Goodnight Moon (for the hundredth time!)?

After a moment, his delightfully chunky fingers close on a thick volume. "David and Goliath!" he says excitedly, bringing a toddler Bible over. Already a seed of love for God’s Word is being planted and watered in Tony’s two-and-a-half-year-old heart.

As parents, we have an awesome opportunity to share the wealth of the Bible. How do we build a genuine desire for Scripture in our children? We can do four things.

Raise readers
A child who rarely experiences the wonder of the written word is less likely to get excited about reading the Bible than one who has. Make reading a normal part of your toddler’s life—clutter her room with picture books, make the library a regular stop, let him enjoy appropriate Sunday comics with you. Do all you can to encourage the habit of reading in your toddler, and you’ve taken one giant step toward opening that child’s heart to the Bible.

Take advantage of toddler Bible resources
Good news! We can use the words of expert storytellers and the pictures of imaginative artists to relate the stories of the Bible to our toddlers in fun, child-friendly, age-appropriate ways.

L.J. Sattgast’s My Very First Bible (Harvest House) is one excellent choice for toddlers. This book’s stunning illustrations and readable rhythm make it easy to capture a child’s attention with the good news of the Scripture.

Other toddler-friendly Bibles are: The Beginner’s Bible by Karyn Henley (Gold ‘n’ Honey/Zonderkidz),
The Kids-Life Bible Storybook by Mary Hollingsworth (Chariot Books),
The First Step Bible by Mack Thomas (Gold ‘n’ Honey/Zonderkidz)
The Toddler’s Bible by V. Gilbert Beers (Victor Books)

Model the value and joy of the Scriptures
We can’t inspire a love for God’s Word in our children if we don’t have that love ourselves. Your child will know you value the Bible when he sees you reading it, hears you talking about it and watches you act on what you’ve shared. Your toddler will also adopt your attitude toward the Bible. If you approach your own reading as a chore rather than a privilege, your child will too. If your two-year-old notices excitement and enthusiasm is your own personal devotions, she’ll pick that up as well.

Rely on the Holy Spirit
Only God can spark the eternal flame of love for his Word in the hearts of his children. Pray for God’s Spirit to warm your toddler’s heart to the Scripture, to use you to expose your toddler to the joy of the Bible, and to plant the seed of truth in your child’s life. Then be ready to read when God urges your toddler to come to you (for the hundredth time) shouting, "David and Goliath!

"Introducing Toddlers to the Bible" by Mike & Amy Nappa was originally published as "Bible Introductions" in the January/February 1997 issue of Christian Parenting Today. © 1997 by Nappaland Communications Inc. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission.

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