I am not sure when teachers first realized this – possibly when the book of Psalms was written – but it’s easier to memorize things when they are set to a tune. There are songs for the multiplication tables and lots of secular subjects. Did you realize many of the songs you sing in church are actually scriptures put to music?
Many Bible classes for kids and teens no longer focus on memorizing scripture. You may not have even considered trying to get your children to memorize passages of the Bible in your home. If you have, you may have decided the whining and complaining weren’t worth it. What if your kids began memorizing scriptures and enjoying it?
There are several ways to make memory work more fun for you and your kids. My favorite way is through song. Most people with children play music around the house and in the car a lot. Try buying a cd with scriptures put to tunes made especially to appeal to kids. Or listen to the local Christian radio station.
If you have a hymnal around the house, teach your kids some of those songs. Someone recently compiled a list for me and there are almost thirty songs in the hymnal our church has that quote some or all of a Psalm in their lyrics. If you added songs quoting other scriptures, your children could memorize quite a few scriptures just by singing along. Most churches have moved to overhead projectors, so your congregation may even be willing to sell you one of the old hymnals for a couple of dollars.
So crank up those tunes and enjoy singing with your children. Just make the tunes some scripture ones!