How to Begin Reading the Bible with Your Child
Reading the Bible with your child is one of the most meaningful and lasting ways to shape their spiritual foundation. It plants seeds of truth, invites honest conversation, and teaches them to see God’s Word as a source of wisdom, comfort, and guidance. But if you’ve ever wondered where to begin, how much to read, or what to say, you’re not alone!
Here are a few simple steps and helpful tips to get you started.
1. Start Small and Keep It Simple You don’t need to cover chapters at a time—just a few verses can lead to rich conversations. Choose a time of day that works naturally with your family’s rhythm—before school, during breakfast, or right before bed—and keep the time short and consistent (5–10 minutes is a great place to start).
For young children, a Bible storybook (like The Jesus Storybook Bible or The Beginner’s Bible) helps make God’s Word accessible and engaging. For older kids, consider reading straight from Scripture, and try a translation that’s easy to understand like the NLT (New Living Translation) or ICB (International Children’s Bible).
2. Choose the Right Starting Point Here are a few great places to begin:
- The Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) These books tell the story of Jesus’ life, His love, and His miracles. Try starting with Mark—it's action-packed and shorter, making it easier to follow for younger readers.
- Genesis The beginning of everything! Kids love the stories of creation, Noah’s Ark, Abraham, and Joseph. These narratives lay an excellent foundation for understanding God's character and big-picture plan.
- Psalms Psalms are honest and heartfelt. They give kids language for prayer and show them it's okay to talk to God about anything—joy, fear, sadness, or thankfulness.
- Proverbs Short, memorable wisdom for everyday life. Great for older kids and preteens. You can read one Proverb a day and talk about what it means in your lives.
- Story Plans or Devotions Consider using a children’s devotional or Bible reading plan designed for families. Many apps (like the YouVersion Bible App for Kids) or websites offer short daily readings and guided questions.
3. Ask Questions, Not Just for Answers Engage your child with open-ended questions that invite reflection:
“What stood out to you?” “What do you think this tells us about God?” “How can we live this out today?”
Make it conversational, not like a quiz. Your child doesn’t need to have all the answers—neither do you. The goal is connection, not perfection.
4. Model Curiosity and Wonder It’s okay to say, “I don’t know,” or “Let’s figure this out together.” Let your child see that you’re still growing in faith too. When you express your own awe, questions, or excitement about Scripture, it shows them that God’s Word is alive and worth exploring.
5. Pray Together Close your time with a short prayer. Let your child pray if they want to, or you can keep it simple: “God, thank You for Your Word. Help us understand it and live it out today. Amen.”
Final Thoughts Beginning to read the Bible with your child isn’t about having all the right tools or knowing all the answers. It’s about showing up, staying consistent, and inviting God into your everyday conversations. Over time, those small moments will shape a lifelong faith and love for Scripture.
For me and my family, I have 3 boys ages 19, 11 and 5. With my 2 youngest, we would read our Bible's at bedtime since the moment they were born. I started with Bibles designed for babies, then grew into toddlers and into preschool age. One of my favorite memories of my 10 year old is when he started reciting the story of Genesis. Then he began reciting the story of David and Goliath. He is entering middle school this year and we are currently in a devotional titled, "Becoming Who I Am." It is a collection of carefully chosen Bible scriptures that address the needs of growing teenage boys. Content has been developed, considering the mind and soul of teen boys. The devotions are articulated in easy-to-understand language to keep them interested.
So pick a starting point, open your Bible (or Bible storybook), and begin this journey together—you’ll be amazed by what God does through it.
