Help Your Kids Memorize Scripture
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Helping Your Kids Memorize Scripture
Here are some ideas for helping your children hide the Word of God in their hearts:
1. Memorize. Kids as young as two can memorize simple scriptures. Teach them the reference too so they know where to find it when they’re old enough to do so. Our kids work on one scripture a week together. The oldest (almost 7) will memorize another scripture a week from our Bible curriculum, Bible Road Trip. Every day we review a set of past scriptures using the Simply Charlotte Mason index card method, except we use a 3-ring binder instead.
If you’re just starting out, keep it simple. Choose one scripture at your child’s level and recite it every day together. Start by having them repeat words or phrases after you. Then repeating the whole scripture after you. Finally, they should be able to recite it along with you and then on their own.
2. Music. Play scripture to music in the house or car. Use it to help your kids memorize scripture. Sing it when you’re going about the day’s work. Often you can find something on YouTube. Here are some of my favorite resources:
- Seeds Family Worship – great music you’ll enjoy too! Check out Seeds of Courage
and Seeds of Faith, for example. - Hidden in My Heart: A Lullaby Journey Through Scripture
- Steve Green’s Hide ’em In Your Heart CDs and DVD’s – my kids LOVE these songs!
- Fernando Ortega’s “>The Shadow of Your Wings: Hymns and Sacred Songs“
- Sing the Word
- The Singing Bible from Focus on the Family
- AgapeLand’s Music Machine and Bullfrogs and Butterflies
– my kids LOVE these songs!
3. Visuals. Find or even draw a picture that captures the idea of the verse. Put in on the scripture card or hang it up and talk about it with your child. Look at it when you memorize the verse and encourage them to say the verse whenever they see that picture.
4. Motions. Find sign language or simple hand motions that will help with memorization. Come up with your own or search on the web. For example, my son learned John 3:16 by using the hand motions recommended on this Awana site.
5. Stories. Find movies, library books, and good children’s picture Bibles to tell stories that support the scripture they are learning. Make up stories together that illustrate the point of the scripture. Even just putting on audio recordings of the Bible in the car or home as you are doing life is a wonderful way to hear the stories.
- The Action Bible (my son’s favorite)
- 365 Great Bible Stories
- Read-Aloud Bible Stories (all volumes)
- Children’s Bible ESV (full scripture text with pictures)
- A is for Adam
- God’s Little Princess Devotional Bible
- The Beginner’s Bible
- One Year Bible Devotions for Preschoolers
- Prayer for a Child
- Jesus Storybook Bible
- The Bible Story 10 volume set>
- Touch and See Bible
- Little Lamb’s Bible
6. Contextual Reinforcement. Recite and talk about the scriptures they are learning during the course of the day when it applies to a situation. When they hit their sister, talk about Romans 12:10. When they disobey, talk about Ephesians 6:1. When they are afraid, talk about Psalms 56:3-4.
There are many things we can spend our time and energy teaching to our children. But most of that will not have the lasting impact that teaching them God’s Word will. So find creative ways to make scripture a part of your family life!
but the word of our God stands forever.” ~ Isaiah 40:6-8
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