If you homeschool or your child attends a private Christian school, God is hopefully a part of your regular school day. You and/or the other teachers can not only teach an entire class on Bible, but your child may also hear God’s teachings and principles in numerous ways throughout the day. If your child attends public school, you may believe your children have no rights to be exposed to God at school – even if you would like them to be.
A lot of misinformation floats around every year about how “much” God is allowed into public schools. The reality is our God is bigger than any person or group of people who may want to get rid of Him. Over the years, I have done a lot of research to learn what we can and cannot do to remind our children of God throughout their school day. In spite of all of the depressing reports you may have read, there are several ways you can make sure your children are still exposed to God – even if you have enrolled them in public school. (Please be aware I am not an attorney. Double check your child’s school policies if you have any concerns. There are groups who will help you fight illegal anti-God school policies.)
- Scripture notes and/or prayers slipped in your child’s lunch box. When our daughter was younger, our local Christian bookstore sold a pack of lunch box cards. They were bright and cheery. When our daughter opened her lunch, she was met with a note quoting a scripture to encourage her or reminding her of someone in the Bible. If I remember correctly, some even had jokes/puns based on the Bible. On the back, I could write a personal note like “praying you will remember everything you studied on your test this afternoon.” If you can’t find them, it would be easy to make your own. Take some index cards and add magazine pictures, photos, scriptures, personal notes, etc.
- Buy your child a special pen or pencil with a scripture on it. Every time your child uses the pen or pencil he will be reminded God loves Him (and so do you!).
- Encourage your child to pray silently throughout the day. The idea the Supreme Court banned prayer in school is a little silly. No one can stop (nor would they try) your child from praying silently. Teach your child to thank God for the good things that happen throughout the day as well as asking for help on those tests or with mean kids.
- If your child’s school allows cell phone use during the day, make sure she has a Bible app on her phone. If not, find one of those super skinny New Testaments she can slip in her book bag. Kids can’t read the Bible when they should be doing school work, but they are not prohibited from reading scripture during breaks like lunch. She probably won’t read it every day (although she may!), but it can help to read a Psalm when she is worried or a scripture to remind her God loves her.
- If your child’s school does not have a dress code, she can wear t-shirts with godly messages or scripture on them. Christian bookstores often have shirts kids enjoy and many youth groups produce fun t-shirts, too.
- If your child has a locker, find a scripture magnet with your child’s favorite verse on it. Encourage her to place it inside her locker.
- Read this article by Focus on the Family with your children and discuss it as a family. Which of these ways of adding God to your children’s school would your children be interested in adding or joining? Remember, sometimes the best way for your children to share God’s love is by being a good friend to everyone around them. This will give them plenty of opportunities to share their faith and/or ask friends to join them at church.
So talk with your child and find some ways to add God to your child’s school day. Those visual reminders can help your child remember “whose he is” throughout the day.