Teaching the Bible to Littles

 

Bedtime seemed hours away. It did not help that they had recently dropped their afternoon naps. "Go jump on the trampoline twenty-seven times. Then, run around the house three times," I commanded, half-joking. They were up for the challenge and were back in no time, proud of their accomplishments. Although my previous teaching experience had not prepared me for the continuous demands of motherhood, it did help me to think outside of the box when needed. 

This afternoon, it was needed. Still filled with energy, I sat them down on the living room floor and we played our own version of charades. Instead of having me guess what they were acting out, I would give them something to act out, and they would have to figure out the best way to impersonate it. It lasted for almost an hour, and they were active the entire time. From fire trucks to helicopters to made-up words that I would throw in there for fun, my little ones were active, using their brains, and having a great time with Mom. Thankfully, this tired them out until dinnertime when Dad came home, giving me the break I so desperately needed. 

Raising active children can be challenging, so attempting to homeschool them can often seem downright impossible. What I learned that day was that the methods I used in a private school setting would not translate for my young, active boys. They needed to be on the move. To have variety. 

During these active years, I needed a Bible curriculum that would help me teach the Scripture and biblical truths in bite-sized chunks without watering them down. I was not looking for anything flashy or catchy, but I needed something practical, scriptural, and easy to digest. I found all of this and more with the Bible Study Guide for All Ages, which we still use today in our homeschool.

As the name of the company states, you will find materials for all ages, even as young as three. Their preschool Bible curriculum engages students in ways that I have never seen before. The activities are on point for the age level, and they are not too demanding for even the most active child. The daily lesson plans are consistent with the same format used daily to help children get into an excellent Bible routine. They learn songs, dive deep into scripture, and learn about the Bible with large timeline posters to help them rehearse and remember what they have learned.  

The character-building aspect of the lesson is completely scripted for the parent who likes a play-by-play teaching method. Coloring sheets are included to help reinforce the principles taught. My favorite part is the lesson itself. It is engaging and straight from the Bible. When you and your children go through a Bible story, they will need colored pencils (or crayons) in hand, marking the pages as they go through them. Great preparation for studying the Bible on their own when they get older. Underlining or highlighting verses in their Bibles will already be second nature!

Though picture Bibles were sufficient for a season, this curriculum helped my children move past the basic stories like Adam and Eve, Noah's Ark, and Daniel in the Lions Den. They dove so much deeper and were offered more than just a coloring sheet and an activity where they roared like lions. The activities are thought-provoking and based on morality and scriptural truths. 

The two boys who were jumping on the trampoline and running around the house are now older and able to put their energetic tendencies to productive use. Two more young and active boys have taken their place and are just as energetic. Though they may not love my version of charades as much as their older brothers did, they do love Bible Study Guide for All Ages, and continually ask to do more. 

Disclaimer: Many thanks to Bible Study Guide for All Ages for sponsoring this post. 

All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.