One of the ways to get kids interested in reading the Bible is to show them all of the connections to the things they are interested in and love. Have children who love nature and/or science? Take them to a dollar or craft store and find a journal, preferably one meant for drawing pictures with unlined pages. Have each child pack a sack with their journal, some drawing and coloring pencils, some paper towels and make sure to bring a camera along, too.
Go for a walk on your favorite hiking trail or explore your yard or a local park. Have your kids find things in nature they think are interesting or beautiful. Encourage them to sketch what they find. If it’s a leaf or flower, they may be able to press one between paper towels or the pages of their journal (please be mindful of rules and laws regarding removal of live things – you wouldn’t want to harm something). Take photos of interesting bugs or animals.
When you get home, encourage your child to try and find the names of the various things you found. Then have some fun in the Bible (preferably an NIrV version for ease of understanding). For younger children, you might want to label pages with which day of creation, God created that type of thing. Older children might want to find verses that either mention the item or that when added to their drawing, pressing or photo, create a beautiful piece of scripture art. You may want to even have a “gallery” of some of the favorite pieces – rotating scriptures so your kids see different ones over time.
So grab your kids, some supplies, your Bible and head outdoors. It’s another great way to help your kids begin to get familiar with God’s Words.