3 Simple Ways To Lead Kids Through Scripture This Summer
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If you have kids in your life, summer is a shuffle.
Camps, sports, VBS, BBQs, vacations, visiting in-laws, birthday parties, and if you live near the coast like me, beach days. Chances are, it will fly by as you chauffeur around town and hustle through airports, so before the mayhem begins, ask yourself:
How will I instill scripture in the hearts of my kids this summer?
Psalm 78:4 expresses this beautiful resolve: “We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done.”
There is no greater joy than passing on the very words of God to the children he’s entrusted to us. There’s no higher call than fanning their affections for Jesus into flame.
This all sounds great, but like anything worthwhile, it takes a bit of planning. Discipleship doesn’t happen incidentally一it’s always intentional. But it doesn’t have to be complicated. Here’s three simple ways you can help children savor the Bible this summer一whether they’re your kids, grandkids, nephews and nieces, or neighbors.
1. Pick a vacation verse.
Choose a short passage of scripture一or a single verse一and plan to memorize it together during an upcoming trip. Ideally this is something to do as a family, but if you have a newborn or kids learning to talk, you can do this as a couple after the kids go to bed.
Some of you are already skeptical: In the midst of vacation一while cramming kids onto a plane, being uprooted from normal routines, and trying to relax一am I really expected to add another spiritual rhythm into the mix?
I hear you. But consider this. Most of us spend lots of time and money planning out our vacation. We’re motivated and organized when booking flights, Airbnbs, tours, and cruises. We want to make sure we “don’t miss a thing.” We have expectations and goals for every trip, hoping for meaningful moments and memories.
If we plan recreation and travel with gusto, why not make a simple plan for how you will grow spiritually together too? It takes little effort and pays eternal dividends.
Here’s a sample plan from our vacation last summer. Every day, memorize one verse, reciting out loud the verses you’ve already learned first. Include the full written-out passage in the document (in the translation you prefer) so you don’t have to search for it.
The way you approach this really varies depending on how old your kids are. Make it fun. Keep it simple. Be an encouraging coach who gives hi-fives and extra ice cream scoops when a child learns that day’s verse, not a drill sergeant barking orders and sucking joy from the room. Some days might be too chaotic. Take a breath. Have grace on yourself (and your kids). Try again tomorrow.
How meaningful to emerge from vacation not just with souvenirs, photos, and memories—but also scriptural treasures embedded in your souls?
2. Create a scripture memory plan.
One day I was reading a book with my then-two-year-old daughter, when suddenly she started reciting the entire thing from memory. I couldn’t believe it. It’s become a game we play: I’ll start reading a line from a book and she finishes it. Now that she’s three-and-a-half, she can recite books with literally hundreds of words.
Research confirms that young children have a stunning capacity to learn and remember words. The exact number varies, but one study suggests that toddlers learn as many as eight words every day (that’s almost 3,000 words per year!). Their brains are super-sponges.
What words are we giving them?
I’m all for reading to my kids about Hungry Caterpillars and Cats in Hats, but why let Eric Carle or Dr. Seuss monopolize the development of my child’s heart? Developmentally, now is the best time for them to internalize God’s Word. I don’t want to look back on this season with regret that I only fed them literary junk food (Don’t read too much into that—I’m a big fan of silly and simple children’s books). Scholastic is great; scripture is best.
I don’t want to be overly prescriptive when suggesting how to help kids memorize scripture. Much will be determined by their age, personality, and your family’s season of life. To spark ideas, here’s what I have lined up for Callie this summer.
First I created an Excel sheet to map out which verses we would learn together. The plan is to memorize two per month (we’ll see how that goes!)
Three times a week (Mon, Wed, Fri) I spend 10-15 minutes will Callie in the morning. We read a Bible story then watch a YouTube video that puts the scripture to song. Yes, the videos are usually cheesy, but my daughter loves it and the experience of singing with her is well worth it.
Hands down, music and rhythm are the best way to memorize things, no matter what age you are. Tunes stick!
Emily also made a memory verse sticker chart so that each time Callie memorizes a verse, she can put a sticker next to it. It’s a simple-but-fun way to incentivize and build a sense of accomplishment.
[If you want to download a PDF of this plan: here it is]
3. Choose a “life verse” for your child.
A life verse is a passage of scripture that proclaims the promises of God over your child’s life. Naturally, all scripture speaks over our kids, but a life verse helps you highlight a special theme or promise to pray over them. There’s something beautiful about honing in on a specific passage and praying it over them for decades.
We’ve chosen a psalm for each of our children. When Callie was a newborn, Emily and I read it over her each night. Now with two kiddos (and more complex bedtime routines), Emily and I occasionally set aside time一just the two of us一to pray through these psalms together, as a way to intercede for them.
If you haven’t picked out a life verse (or passage) for a child in your life, summer is a great time. Read it to them every night or once a week/month. Explain why you chose this verse for them. Put it on their wall. Sing it over them. Pray it while you tuck them in. Read it. Let the words of scripture become your prayers for your kid.
Start With the End In Mind
A transformative (and very simple) principle has gripped me lately, which impacts how I disciple my kids:
Envision the outcome I hope to see, then work backwards to figure out how to accomplish it.
So picture your summer. Beyond surviving the shuffle, what do you hope God will do in the heart and mind of your child? What knowledge and experiences do you want them to walk into September with?
For me, I want my daughter to have more of God’s Word in her heart and mind. I want her to associate memorizing scripture with joy, encouragement, and normalcy (this is just “what we do” in our family). Getting there is not difficult. It looks like spending 5-10 minutes reading and watching videos, three times a week.
What is your vision for your kids this summer? How will you get there?
