This simple habit will shape your child's character for life
Photo Canva.com, ANP, Gerald van Daalen
Christian Life
People don't read books that much anymore. Yet, there is a lot to learn from good old literature. This is how you get children to take up the Bible and read.
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The benefits of reading are increasingly well-known. Educators worldwide recommend reading to children from their earliest days. Some even suggest reading stories to babies in the womb. Children, after all, love stories, and when adults read age-appropriate books to them, it can become a delightful and stimulating habit.
In our family, it has become a cherished tradition for my husband to read a story from a children's Bible every evening. The benefits we are noticing are significant, even though our children are preschool-aged and cannot yet read.
Royal palace
While children's Bibles are simplified and adapted versions of the Bible, I believe reading them is essential to nurture a habit, engage children with something they can understand, and introduce the basics of faith.
Moreover, some children's Bibles go beyond being just a collection of disconnected stories. They weave together the story of salvation, pointing to Christ from the very first pages. These Bibles share the Gospel while narrating the thrilling adventures of David and Goliath, Daniel in the lions' den, or Esther in the royal palace.
For our kids, reading the Bible has become an irreplaceable moment. Even when there are new books or other activities, they always ask to add at least one more story from the Bible.
Bodies
As adults, we often fail to appreciate how adventurous, fascinating, and captivating biblical stories indeed are — rich with every aspect of human experience. Children, however, quickly become engrossed in these tales and regard the Bible as an exceptional book, far surpassing others.
Despite their young age, daily Bible reading is already shaping their worldview. Some argue that Biblical education risks "brainwashing" children or imposing a singular perspective. Yet, the Bible itself underscores the importance of passing down the knowledge of God's Word. Furthermore, believing that one should not pass on a worldview to children is in itself a worldview.
When I say that Bible reading helps shape their perspective, I mean, for example, that the story of creation leads them—even at this tender age—to declare, "God made this." They do this when they see a pregnant woman, a new animal in a documentary, the snow, or marvel at how their bodies are made. Similarly, when we read other stories involving "bad guys," they often link that wickedness back to the story of the serpent who led Adam and Eve into disobedience.
Confident
Reading the Bible to children, even at a very young age, is not just an educational moment but an opportunity to build a strong foundation of values and understanding of the world. Through these stories, children not only develop their own perspectives but also begin to internalise fundamental concepts of the Gospel.
We don't know if one day they will fully embrace these beliefs or accept the good news of the Gospel. However, we are confident that, in one way or another, the timeless truths they learn at a young age will accompany them throughout their lives.
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