Fun Ways to Teach Your Kids How to Control Their Thoughts

Young children often have no filter. What they are thinking may be immediately spoken without any consideration as to whether or not saying, ”What is that weird thing on your nose?” might hurt someone’s feelings. Thankfully, most children eventually learn to be a little more careful with their words. Thoughts can cause other problems. The Bible tells us thoughts can lead to attitudes and actions that are sinful. A tempting thought dwelt upon for long periods of time can eventually become a sin.

Believe it or not, children may not always be aware of their thought process. Called meta cognition, being aware of one’s thoughts is a necessary skill set if one hopes to then control thoughts that aren’t helpful or productive. There are some things you can do with your kids to help them become more aware of their thoughts and also begin teaching them how to control or change thoughts they don’t want to entertain.

  • Read or tell your kids a Bible story. Tell them to try and ”draw a picture of it in their brains” as you are talking. After you are finished, have them draw or describe the ”picture they drew in their brains”. Start with simple, familiar Bible stories. For young children you may have to stop after every paragraph or so (several verses) and have them describe what they have pictured. As they get better at the exercise, start introducing unfamiliar or more complex Bible stories for them to visualize.
  • Ask your kids to visualize a familiar item in their mind. Then tell them to ”erase” that picture in their minds and replace it with another familiar object you name. Let them take turns suggesting things for everyone to visualize.
  • Encourage your kids to daydream godly dreams. This activity is often easier at the afternoon rest time, outside on a blanket looking at the passing clouds. Encourage them to dream about somewhere they would like to go on a mission trip or doing one of the good works God has planned for them. Maybe they want to daydream about going with their friends at church on a field trip or to camp. Encourage them to add as many details to the dream as possible.
  • Encourage your kids to memorize helpful Bible verses. When a tempting thought comes into their heads, they can stop that thought and replace it with the scripture. For example, if they are upset with someone and realize they are tempted to punch him or her, they might want to replace that tempting thought with the verse ”Love is patient. Love is kind.”

Teaching your kids to recognize and control their thoughts can help them avoid the trap of lingering upon thoughts that can encourage them to sin. It’s worth taking the time and effort to help them master the technique.

Published by

Thereasa Winnett

Thereasa Winnett is the founder of Teach One Reach One and blogger at Parenting Like Hannah. She holds a BA in education from the College of William and Mary. She has served in all areas of ministry to children and teens for more than thirty years and regularly leads workshops for ministries and churches. She has conducted numerous workshops, including sessions at Points of Light’s National Conference on Volunteering and Service, the National Urban Ministry Conference, Pepperdine Bible Lectures, and Lipscomb’s Summer Celebration. Thereasa lives in Atlanta, GA with her husband Greg, where she enjoys reading, knitting, traveling and cooking.

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