Ways to Teach Your Kids to Read the Bible

The beginning of a new year is a wonderful time to encourage children to read the Bible daily. Even if your child has not succeeded with daily Bible reading, the new year can be a fresh starting point. Today I’m thrilled to introduce you to the brand-new Bible in a Year just for kids, and offer 5 ways to teach your kids to read the Bible daily:

1. Enjoy a wonderful devotional book and add Bible reading to the quiet time.

One of our family’s favorite devotionals, Jesus Calling for Kids, contains additional suggested Scripture readings at the bottom of the page. This is a great way for your child to enjoy guided Bible reading on a daily basis. If you are reading a devotional without suggested readings, then a simple way to encourage your child’s Bible reading is to read the context of the Bible verse included in the devotional. The context of the verse could include the verse before and the verse after or even the entire chapter, depending on the age and reading ability of your child.

2. Use Bible reading plans.

Bible Gateway hosts many wonderful Bible reading programs via email. You can choose the type and version of reading plan, enter your email address, and receive daily emails that include links to read the daily reading.

You can also find a children’s 6-week Bible reading plan for the book of John and an 8-week plan for the book of Matthew here. These shorter Bible reading plans provide a unique way to keep your child feeling successful in a daily Bible reading journey.

3. Commit to reading a portion of the Bible together as a family each day.

You could choose a book of the Bible to read together and simply read a chapter or half a chapter a day until you’ve completed the book. Then choose another book. The first four books of the New Testament, the Gospels, are a great place to begin reading with children. Even better, why not check out the Bible in a Year, a new resource that guides kids to easily read through the entire Bible in 365 days.

4. Read one chapter of Proverbs each day and complete the book in one month.

Breaking up the Bible into individual books makes it easier for reluctant readers – and the Proverbs are a great place to start!

5. Read 5 Psalms a day and complete the book in 1 month or 1 Psalm a day and complete the book in 5 months.

All of the above ideas are fabulous ways to teach your children to enjoy Bible reading on a daily basis.

One of my favorite ways to help children understand the importance of Bible reading is to simply talk about letters or cards from loved ones.

“You know, Daddy wrote you that birthday note because he loves you so very much. He had special words that he wanted you to read, just like God has special words for us.”

God feels the same towards us; He loves us so very much. Remind your kids that the Bible is His love letter to us and reading it daily helps us know how much He loves us.

Your Turn

Have you made a commitment to read the Bible in a year – this year or any year prior? Do you have any tips or suggestions for how to encourage your child to read the Bible daily? We’d love to read about them in the comments below!