As We Go: Teaching Tips for the Full-Scheduled Parent

These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. -Deuteronomy 6:6-7

Discipleship doesn’t happen by accident. There has to be some intentionality and consistency to ensure we’re actually talking about God and His law with our children as they rise, as they go about their day, and as they come to lay down again.

For months, I’ve had our first God truth for the year posted, along with a couple of scripture references. I figured it was now time for a new one. I started to think of the next thing we’d focus on, but then I didn’t have to. Our children’s ministry at church has been excellent at providing us overviews of their weekly teachings; recently, I received an email containing their monthly key point and memory verse. Instead of me trying to come up with it on my own, the Lord provided.

And let’s face it, it’s busy and tiring being parents, let alone all the roles we carry and responsibilities we perform all day. But we can’t give our best to our jobs and careers, educational pursuits, professional and communal organizations, and leisure and then not invest the same into our and our children’s spiritual development.

One of the ways I’ve reminded myself to remind my son about God and His Word is by creating walls of truth. I didn’t intentionally think of this phrase and decide that’s what I’d do; it just happened over time. My son’s first piece of wall art was scripted with the words from Joshua 1:9. I’d recite it most nights before bed, and before long, my then almost two-year-old could recite the whole thing!

Since that time, I’ve continued to write Scripture or other God truths on pieces of paper and post them on his wall. My mother is always (and when I say always, I mean always) finding something to gift this child and came across two other pieces of wall art, so those went up. I had already purchased a white board to write the verses and points I’d receive from his Sunday school class, along with other things I wanted to implement in teaching him. I use one section to focus on his current struggles by finding verses to remind him his God is big enough to handle them. Those verses have also been equipping him with weaponry to fight in the strength of the Lord and not his own.

Below are a few resources to consider for passing on a legacy of truth, justice, and literacy to your kids too:

The Daily Grace Co

Focus on the Family Store

One of my former churches (shoutout to Sandhills Community Church) created a family resource called It’s Just a Phase as a guide for what to teach on faith, sexual integrity, healthy habits, and technological responsibility. I love that because we need to raise our children wholly and give them knowledge and tools for operating in all facets of their lives. There are certainly other topics to add, but I think you have enough to start here.

My final suggestion is to use media to your advantage. Find shows, movies, and songs to help teach Biblical truths and character that interest your child. My son loves to sing, so it’s been a good way for him (and even me) to learn Scripture. I have a preschooler, so these may not work for you, but some of the ones I stir my son towards are VeggieTales, Life Kids, The Beginner’s Bible, Listener Kids, TheRizers, YancynotNancy, and Wesley Wuppets.

Remember, you don’t have to be a biblical scholar. Use what you have at your disposal. Find out what your church is already teaching and reiterate those truths. Or you can buy a good resource to give you things to press upon your children’s hearts and minds. And use story books! I recently bought my son a book about the armor of God to help us both remember to keep it on and put it on. Having his walls of truth and books by his bed makes the Word of God accessible and rememberable. As I’m getting him dressed or we’re sitting on his floor playing, I can look up and over to find something to teach my son as he rises, goes about his day, and comes to lay down again.

Leave a comment or send me a message about what resources you’re currently using or one you plan to implement soon.