2 Essential Reasons to Have Bible Time With Toddlers

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"Mommy, one time we were at Grandma's house. And it was so much fun to play with her tractor."

"Mommy, do you remember when Daddy had poison ivy? It's all better now! Jesus made it better!" 

"Mommy, look! Jesus put water back into Grammi's stream! Just like we asked Him to! He came down, and then he went back up!"

After each of these quotes from my 3 year old, I just shook my head in amazement. So happy in her simple faith. So shocked at her memory. Some of these events happened almost a year prior!

As Moms, we all know that the toddler years are some of the most critical development years in a person's life. These little people are constantly gathering more information and data than we will probably ever even know. And if we are not purposeful about it, then the information and thought process that is cemented in their minds is going to be useless, at least in light of eternity.

But that is not what any of us want for our children. We are raising soldiers for Christ, and soldiers need to be able to dig deep and know what they stand for.

Just like the tree in Psalm 1. 

1. Fill Their Mind With Life! 

He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. {Psalm 1:3}

We need to fill our children's river {mind} with life-giving water. We need to give them what they need to dig deep and find nourishing strength in the Word of God. And it's never to early to start! It is not enough to tell a child how they should act. We need to be training their little hearts in "why" they should act. 

We need to teach them to delight in the word of the Lord, and to meditate on it day and night. And then when they are older, they will be that blessed person that "walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, not stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful."

Life gets hectic and busy - I know all about that! But this principle is so important, we as Moms really can't afford to put it on the back burner! We need to make it a priority in our lives, above laundry, dishes, sweeping and Facebook.

​We Moms of today have a lot to fight against to stay on track with Jesus, and on track with being present for our kids and training their hearts all day long. It's hard, but the good news is that God is ready and waiting to give us the grace and strength to make the right decisions moment by moment and day by day!

2. It's a Bible Command!

"And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children and you shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk in the way, and when you lie down and when you rise." {Deuteronomy 6:6-7}

Although this is an Old Testament verse, I think the importance and the essence of it rings true through eternity. To make the discussion of God's Word and commands a part of daily life is as important for Moms in the 21st century as it was in 1400BC. 

So, how do we do this, particularly when our children are young? Some of our favorite ways are Bible on CD and repetitious reading of the same passage until it's memorized.

My parents used to turn on Audio Bible tapes every night when us kids went to bed. We would fall asleep listening to God's word being read aloud. We loved it.

Bibles verses put to song are also a great way to hide God's word in little toddler hearts. We like these 3 CDs, available on amazon. {affiliate link}

I have been amazed at a toddler's ability to memorize things they hear repeatedly. And we have found that stories are what our kids remember the best. So we've memorized portions of the Christmas story and the gospels with them. It really is so rewarding!

​What is one of your favorite ways to teach the Word to your kids? I'd love to hear about it!

p.s. I have this verse printed and framed in our house, as a reminder to continually teach the Bible to our kids. 

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