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You’re busy, I understand. As busy moms, we have so many things on our plates and sometimes we’re just so exhausted. Who has time to find extra lessons for their littles, right? Wrong. I know it may be a bit of a sacrifice, but it’s so worth it in the long run. Here’s why you should be using bible lessons for toddlers in your home.
1. Bible Lessons for Toddlers Are Easy to Find & Use
The task of finding bible lessons for toddlers may sound like extra work. In fact, the idea of teaching those lessons to your toddler may seem utterly exhausting to you. Breathe! I need you to know that there is a way to simplify the process and still ensure that your toddler gets what he/she needs spiritually.
The great thing about teaching toddlers is that we can keep it short and simple. Understand the general lesson or story that you want your child to understand and insert it into your daily routine.
An Easy Way to Teach Bible Stories
Here’s a very simple to use bible lessons for toddlers:
- Spend a week or two teaching a bible story. Example: Noah’s Ark.
- Download a simple bible coloring lesson from the internet. I have some available on my new Etsy shop.
- Print what you need for the day.
- Choose a time to allow your child to color the bible lesson page as you tell them the story of Noah’s Ark. You can do this as you’re preparing breakfast. Do it on the go by handing your toddler a clipboard with the coloring page in the car. Include it as a quick lesson during your bedtime routine.
- Review the story in various ways throughout the week. Talk about it. Read the bible verse on the bible lesson coloring page. Play a quick Noah’s Ark video on Youtube for your toddler to watch. Go through the bible lesson on Bible App for Kids. Listen to or read books about the bible story. Sing songs you remember from your childhood. Example: Who Built the Ark? or Rise and Shine. Talk about animals and the sounds they make. Visit the zoo or farm (or watch on Youtube) and talk about how God made the animals. As your child plays with their toy animals, talk about how Noah had the animals on the ark.
You can make this as simple and basic or creative and deep as you’d like. The important thing is that you are teaching your toddler God’s word at an early age. After a week or two, see if your child is able to repeat some things back to you. Check to see if they remember the story. Once they have, move on to a new story and repeat the same process.
Where to Find Free Bible Lesson Curriculum
If you are a stay-at-home mom and/or you have more time to invest, consider using a full curriculum. There are so many available to you online. Some are free and some are paid. Here are some of my favorites:
- God’s Little Explorers
- Truewaykids.com
- ABCJesusLovesMe
- Mission Bible Class Ages 0-2
There are plenty more that you will discover if you do a little digging. A popular paid homeschool option is Abeka.
The curriculum that I currently use with my 2-year-old is God’s Little Explorers. I’ve also taught this same curriculum to 4-year-olds. It’s an amazing preschool bible curriculum specifically designed for toddlers. The paid version ($22) includes more content and resources than the free version. Click below to purchase yours today!
God’s Little Explorers works really well with The Read and Learn Bible and the Wee Sing Bible Songs CD.
2. You’re Laying a Solid Foundation for Your Toddlers
The second reason why you should be using bible lessons for toddlers is because it allows you to lay a solid foundation. The Bible tells us to train our children in the Lord.
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
When we start teaching bible lessons to our children at an early age, we plant seeds in their hearts that will become deeply rooted. The goal as a Christian parent is to water those seeds throughout the years so that our children grow up and one day produce the fruit of a child of God.
There is no such thing as “too early” or “too soon”. I started reading basic bible stories to my daughter when she was 6 months. Now that she is a toddler I’m simply watering those seeds by reviewing those stories in a way that she understands them and she is now familiar with them.
Repetition is good for all of us, especially children. Some studies show that toddlers may need 50 to 100 repetitions of activity to learn a new skill. As your child begins to know and truly understand the stories, you can then use those same stories to teach character lessons and life skills. Teaching the bible never gets old!
3. There Are Benefits to Teaching Bible Stories
The third reason why you should be using bible lessons for toddlers is because there are plenty of benefits to it. We are obedient to God when we train our children in the way they should go. The fact that it is a command in God’s word lets us know that it’s important to Him. God’s way is the best way and we can’t go wrong when obeying Him. Training our kids in the Lord also brings us peace and joy as parents.
When we teach our toddlers bible stories, we are laying a foundation for them to learn who God is. It’s through biblical accounts and God’s word that we can learn more about God, His character, what pleases Him, and how much He loves us.
Reading and teaching bible stories and lessons contribute to brain development. When you read to your child, you support their cognitive development. You develop a bond with them, it stimulates their imagination, improves their academic success, and so much more!
Language proficiency and increased vocabulary are also benefits of using bible lessons for toddlers. Your child becomes more comfortable and proficient in acquiring language when reading and being read to. Reading is also a great way to teach your toddler new vocabulary which will support their language and communication skills.
Lastly, reading bible stories to your toddler contributes to their pattern recognition and sequence comprehension. They begin to learn patterns and develop the ability to understand the order of events.
As an elementary teacher of over a decade and a mama who has been using bible lessons for my own toddler, I highly recommend this practice in your home. I have witnessed the things that I have shared with you in my own child, and it is my hope that you will have the opportunity to witness these things in your children as well! You’ve got this by God’s grace, Momfriend!
